Increasing accessible open space at Weymouth’s public beaches
Situated along the Weymouth Fore River, Wessagusset Beach and George Lane Beach are separated by 2,000 feet of rocky coastline that is inaccessible and abuts a steep, heavily vegetated coastal bank. The new boardwalk construction project, financed by the Seaport Economic Council Program grant, aims to increase accessible open space at Weymouth’s beaches while enhancing opportunities for passive recreation along the town’s waterfront. Other project considerations include parking, erosion, stability of existing revetment/shorefront structures, storm drainage, and interpretive signage at the site.
Coastal Engineering is currently designing a new waterfront connecting link between the two beaches. The project consists of approximately 1,000 linear feet of an eight- foot-wide boardwalk, reconstruction of the existing rock revetment, new sidewalk from the upper parking area, as well as replacement of existing concrete access stairway.
Coastal Engineering is also working with Kyle Zick Landscape Architecture and the Town of Weymouth to enhance and restore the vegetation on the coastal bank of the site. The majority of the bank is comprised of invasive species that destabilize the slope. The design team is developing a vegetation management and maintenance plan that will enhance the area not only for slope stability, but for wildlife habitat and aesthetics purposes.