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Bare Cove Park Committee

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Committees: Bare Cove Park Committee

2010 Annual Report

The Bare Cove Park Committee meets on the second Monday of each month at 7:00pm at Town Hall. Dates and times are posted on the on-line Events Calendar and on the Town Hall bulletin boards. The public is welcome to attend. Hingham's website also has information about the Park, including Committee members, history, Park regulations, a printable map, dog etiquette, and a photo gallery.

In February, the Board of Selectmen formally recognized the addition of 15.37 acres to the northwest side Bare Cove Park. Updated Visitors' Guide and Kiosk maps showing the new acreage were available in June.

J.B. Mills enlisted in the Navy at the Hingham Naval Ammunition Depot on his 18th birthday.

After the success of the Park's 35th Birthday at the Dock House last year, Park Ranger Scott McMillan worked some magic with paint and elbow-grease to spruce up the interior, and the Committee voted to install a display here, with maps, photos and artifacts from the days when the land belonged to the Navy. The "Hingham Naval Ammunition Depot Memorabilia Display" welcomed the public one Sunday morning each month from July through October. We plan to do this again in 2011.

Marilyn Harrington, Patti Coyle and Brooks Robbins joined Ron Clough (left) for a walk to Indian Point.

Dr. Greg Mertz of the New England Wildlife Center and former Committee Chairman Ron Clough each led a guided nature walk – in Tucker's Swamp and out to Indian Point. Guests saw an osprey circle its nest-platform at the Fresh River, learned some history and lots of fun facts about nature.

Frank Sheltry, a Park Committee member for 22 years and Hingham's 2002 "Citizen of the Year", passed away on September 15th at 90. His family and friends would like to have a tree planted in his beloved Park to honor Frank; we plan to do this in Spring.

The South Shore Model Railway Club again sponsored the race, and donated $7,100.00 to the Friends of Bare Cove Park cash account maintained by the Town for the Committee.

500 people ran 5 miles all through Bare Cove Park on a beautiful late-summer evening. The 3rd "End of Summer Classic Road Race" held in the Park in August drew almost 500 runners.

The Park's truck, affectionately known as "Thumper", turned 21, and is really showing its age.

Unfortunately, the truck didn't pass inspection in the Fall; the estimate to get it back up to par is over $8,000.

Putting that kind of money into a vintage truck isn't a very responsible use of public funds, so we hope that a used truck from DPW will become available, maybe by Spring. A truck is an integral part of maintaining public safety in the Park, not only as a vehicle used by our Ranger to patrol almost 500 acres and haul materials and debris, but also to plow the roads and paths in the winter.

Ranger Scott McMillan with "Thumper"

Hundreds of visitors come to the Park each day, year round. Ranger Scott, with assistance from the DPW, does an excellent job making the Park an attractive and enjoyable destination. In addition to cutting the grass fields and plowing the snow from the roads and trails, Scott continues to remove intrusive, non-indigenous vegetation. Volunteer gardener Barbara Nicosia made sure that the Triangle Garden was again a beautiful landmark in the Park, even during this summer's drought. We're lucky to have Hingham Animal Control Officer Leslie Badger in the Park often; she continues to educate dog owners and enforce the law to keep Bare Cove Park a safe and enjoyable place for everyone.

Over the years, thanks to the support of Hingham taxpayers and help from volunteers and Mother Nature, most of the old Depot buildings are gone and the Park becomes more beautiful every day. Come and see.