Wednesday, June 24, 2009
What Would Mary Do?
I didn’t have the pleasure of meeting Mary Toomey but one of the advantages of a lifetime of hard work is leaving behind a legacy of accomplishments. One of her greater accomplishments is the Abigail Adams State Park and looking up the history of this property you will inevitably come across Mary’s name and come to understand the hard work she put into the renovation of this parcel of land on the banks of the Back River.
Around 1990, Mary Toomey, a former teacher, began a crusade to clean up the waterfront along the Back River. One of these sections of riverfront properties was a former car dealership located across from the old Weymouth Drive-In site on Route 3A, adjacent to the South Shore Yacht Club and Hingham Bridge. She was able to convince the then Metropolitan District Commission to buy the property, clean it up and renovate it. Today, it is a pleasurable little piece of open space with picnic benches, seating and walkways. The flowered paths are lined with bronze tablets that contain quotes taken from letters written by Abigail Adams and there are great views of the inlet to the Back River. The property is well maintained by the State and goes well with the other State Parks located nearby, Webb Memorial and Stoddard’s Neck. At one time consideration was given to connecting the bike trails along Weymouth’s Great Esker Park to this park, but that doesn’t appear to have happened. Mary must have run out of time.
I also think that Mary Toomey would be disappointed to know that no one appears to use this fine bit of land. The several times I have gone there to read the newspaper with my coffee I have been alone. There is an occasional dog-walker and a few power walkers, but the park is more widely used as a parking lot for the nearby Yacht Club. This is particularly vexing considering all the advocates for open space that crop up whenever Legion Field renovations are mentioned. Legion Memorial Field of course, is the more widely known, historic piece of property located within sight of the Town Hall that has come to represent Weymouth’s financial and political ineptitude. If you consider all the recreational spots in North Weymouth alone, there are literally hundreds of acres of open space and miles of walk paths for the residents of Weymouth to enjoy without ever having to see anything remotely resembling a sport.
The town appears to have scrounged up a pitiful $80,000 to dig a vernal pool, which some would argue is what it was before, when it will require millions to properly rehabilitate this sports complex. Add to that the recent report that the Town Of Weymouth is considering buying land adjacent to the Abigail Adams Park in order to expand it, a total cost upwards of $400,000, one has to question the Planning Director’s priorities as well as where this money will come from. There is also the question of why we are investing in State owned property.
Is this the changing face of Weymouth? Has Weymouth become a place where we dismantle our memorials to make way for dog-walkers and a place where middle aged power-walkers displace our child athletes? I think Mary Toomey would be disappointed.
POSTED BY STAN at June 24, 2009
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Comments
This is a fine commentary but I think you're presenting a black and white argument for Legion. Either a sports field or open space for passive recreation but nothing in between. Figure out what fields are lacking in Weymouth and then propose what Legion should be used for but packing everything in and then not giving room for kite flying, frisbee playing or simply playing catch is not a respectful compromise.
Also-I find it disenguous to continue to claim that we need to maintain it in order to honor veterans. We have several veterans groups in Weymouth who do little more than clamor for parades and ask for benefits. I did not hear them voice any concerns or support for the former Mayor's plan for Legion Field. I never heard them complain or offer solutions for the deteriortation of the wall or fencing around the field. Where are they?
Posted by: Linda M. MacDonald | 2009-06-25 10:28:37 a.m.