Wollaston Beach
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Wollaston Beach is a public beach located along Quincy Shore Drive in the Wollaston, Massachusetts. It is located on Quincy Bay, part of Boston Harbor. It is cared for by the Friends of Wollaston Beach (FWB), the Quincy Shore Reservation, and the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR).
Wollaston beach is is the largest Boston Harbor beach with roughly 2.3 miles[1] of shoreline, and features a continuous walkway, a seawall, parking space, and concession stands and park areas on the land side of Quincy Shore Drive.[2] The views from Wollaston beach include Boston, including South Boston and the Edison power plant there; parts of Quincy, including Germantown; and the South Shore, including Hingham and Hull, where the Hull wind turbine is located.
The Friends of Wollaston Beach host regular events and fundraisers,[3] and the beach has been deemed safe for swimmers by the Quincy Health Department.[4] Wollaston Beach is also a favorite recreation area for boating and fishing, as several fishing and sailing tournaments are held each year. The Wollaston Yacht Club is located on the Beach and was founded in 1898. The Club hosts several of these tournaments each year.
[edit] Recent history
In the 1980s, Massachusetts Bay, Wollaston Beach included, was one of the most polluted areas in the United States due to a waste-disposal system that discharged approximately 138 tons of waste each day. Officials permanently closed the beach to shell fishing and even swimmers. In 1982, the city of Quincy successfully sued the Commonwealth of Massachusetts for violating the Clean Water Act.[5] The city of Quincy has been a leader in environmental cleanup around Massachusetts Bay,[6] and, in 1988, a program was established to help clean up Massachusetts Bay beaches.
In 1990, Massachusetts Bay was selected by the Environmental Protection Agency as an Estuary of National Significance.[7] Despite the environmental challenges, Wollaston Beach continues to be a well-known spot for walking along the boulevard and sun bathing.
