Pope John Paul II Park Reservation

Neponset District
(617) 727-6034

Open year-round, dawn to dusk. Formerly used as a landfill and a drive-in theatre, the site of Pope John Paul II Park was once a barrier between the people of Dorchester and the Neponset River waterfront. The park now re-connects area residents to the resources of their unique and delicate river estuary by offering picnic facilites, soccer fields, play areas, paths for walking, restored salt marsh, and extensive plantings of native trees and shrubs. The DCR's restoration of the formerly degraded, contaminated site has also benefitted area wildlife: black ducks, mergansers, teal, Snowy Egrets, and Great Blue Herons, have been spotted at the park since it opened in June, 2001. Future improvements to the park will add restrooms, a fishing pier, a ranger station, and a link to the DCR's bike path network.

Directions:
MBTA: Take the Red Line (Ashmont branch) to Fields Corner. The #20 bus route passes by two of the park's entrances: at Neponset Circle and at Hallet Street.

By Car: Take US-1 South to exit 12, Rt 3A South and merge onto Gallivan Boulevard (MA 203). The entrance is located on Gallivan Boulevard. A second entrance is located on Hallet Street.