Quincy Beaches: Wollaston Beach

Wollaston Beach is the largest Boston Harbor beach, providing more than one and a half miles of shoreline access. This urban beach features a continuous walkway, seawall, and concession stands on the land side of Quincy Shore Drive. The Brett Bathhouse contains outdoor showers and enclosed changing areas. Easy access is available to park areas and a new tot lot at Caddy Park. Recent improvements of Wollaston Beach include new sand and improved handicapped access. Future plans to be completed within three years include additional resanding, traffic calming measures and new, safer pedestrian walkways and crossings that will provide access to a multi-use pathway, shade shelters, benches and tot lots. Construction of these improvements should begin in early 2003. Wollaston Beach is owned and operated by the Department of Conservation and Recreation.

The City of Quincy, the MDC, The Boston Harbor Association, and the Wollaston Beach Task Force are currently working together to resolve water quality problems. As part of the plan to address these issues, The Department of Conservation and Recreation recently filed an Interim Assessment for Quincy Shore Reservation, Wollaston Beach Restoration Project. The document identifies the impacts and mitigation measures related to five main elements of the restoration project, including the proposed beach nourishment, stormwater management, shore protection, site amenities and landscaping, and transportation. The replacement of catchbasins and installation of particle separators will be key in removing total suspended solids and improving water quality. Copies of the Assessment are available by calling 508-903-2078. Many of the recommendations for water quality improvements are outlined in the “Plan to Restore Water Quality at Wollaston Beach”, 1999. Copies of the Plan’s Executive Summary are available from TBHA by calling 617-482-1722.

Access: 

Wollaston Beach is directly accessible by foot from the many residential neighborhoods along Quincy Shore Drive. Ample parking is also available. Take Wollaston Beach/Ashmont Bus #217 from the MBTA Red Line’s Wollaston station, or walk along Beach Street from the Wollaston T Station.