Safford Park view from Winthrop Avenue, facing west.
In 2013, the Wollaston Hill Neighborhood Association (WHNA) submitted an application for Community Preservation Act (CPA) funding to preserve a neighborhood park known as Safford Park. The association received funding to maintain the park’s passive nature while implementing improvements to enhance its use by the community for leisure, activities, and gatherings. With strong community input, a plan was developed, and the park was renovated over the course of a two-year project, reopening to the community in the summer of 2015.
Wollaston Elementary School at what is now Safford Park.
afford Park (49,236 square feet) is owned and maintained by the City of Quincy. Located at 166 Beale Street, between Winthrop and Lincoln Avenues, it was gifted to the city by Nathaniel F. Safford. Situated in the Wollaston Hill and Forbes Hill neighborhoods—collectively known as Wollaston Heights—the park served as the site of the Wollaston Elementary School from 1873 to 1913, until the current school replaced it diagonally across the street.
On January 7, 2013, the Wollaston Hill Neighborhood Association submitted a proposal to the Community Preservation Committee (CPC) requesting $177,000 for a full park renovation and the construction of a presentation venue, initially envisioned as a gazebo for performances and presentations.
"The goals of the proposal were as follows:
Restoration of this neighborhood park for use in community gatherings, including entertainment (e.g., Arts in the Park), music performances, and leisure activities.
Improvement of the park for ceremonies and decorative lighting, such as the Annual Christmas Tree Lighting, initiated by then-Councilor Kevin Coughlin in the early years of his tenure as a City Councilor.
Addressing safety and accessibility issues caused by broken or missing stairs and railings.
Additional plantings and shrubs to enhance its use.
Preservation of the park’s simplistic beauty and open-space look and feel.
On March 14, 2013, Walter Hubley, then Vice President of the Wollaston Hill Neighborhood Association (WHNA), presented the CPA proposal to the Community Preservation Committee (CPC). The proposal was well received, and the CPC recommended funding of $143,000 to Mayor Thomas Koch and the City Council for approval of the park renovation, excluding the cost of the presentation venue. Funding was approved on June 3, 2013, with the project funds to be managed by the Quincy Parks and Forestry Department in coordination with the Wollaston Hill Neighborhood Association. The WHNA, working closely with the Quincy Parks Department and Skinner Overlook Landscape & Design, developed a plan for the park’s preservation. With strong input from neighbors, landscape architect Andrew McGee crafted a design to preserve the park’s passive nature, enhance its modern-day use, and highlight its existing qualities.
Neighborhood association meeting, reviewing the park plans.
he design process involved on-site observation of the park and its current use by the neighborhood. Special attention was given to ensuring the new design would accommodate existing community use while achieving the project’s goals. The process also included multiple plan iterations and opportunities for neighbors to provide input and express any concerns.
On June 13, 2013, Walter Hubley of the Wollaston Hill Neighborhood Association (WHNA) and then-Ward 3 Quincy City Councilor Kevin Coughlin met with the Wollaston Garden Club to present preliminary plans for the park, seeking the club’s input and potential participation in the project. The club offered initial feedback and expressed enthusiasm about possibly contributing to entranceway plantings, pending the final design and site study. Additionally, the club presented Mr. Hubley with a scrapbook they had discovered in their records, containing photos and clippings from a 1962–64 beautification project their members had undertaken at Safford Park in collaboration with the city.
1963 Scapbook from the Wollaston Garden Club project at Safford Park.
"Throughout late 2013 and early 2014, preparations began for the Safford Park Preservation Project, starting with the removal of diseased trees and invasive species. The granite retaining wall was sandblasted and repointed.
Grading of the entire park’s surface was completed to address erosion and water pooling issues while creating a smoother surface for occasional soccer practices or football games by neighborhood children. A large granite and cement monument platform in the center of the park—once the base for a World War I monument featuring a Howitzer cannon—was removed to further open up the space. The Howitzer, which had been removed for metal during World War II, was never replaced, leaving the platform empty for many years.
Clara Yeomans tree planed by then Councilor Kevin Coughlin in memory of Clara's years of service to her community. (~8 years prior to the CPA project)
The old, broken, and weathered stairs and walkways were replaced. A stone structure was constructed at the upper landing of the bottom stairs to serve as a stage for presentations in the park. Electrical facilities were installed to illuminate the granite retaining wall and power Christmas lights on Clara’s tree—planted by former Councilor Kevin Coughlin in memory of Clara Yeomans, a longtime neighbor and community activist. These electrical facilities also supply power to outlets for various park uses, including PA systems for music and performances. Shrubs, including Mountain Laurel and Winter Berry, were planted atop the granite retaining wall and along bordering properties. The entire park surface was seeded with new grass in the fall of 2014. Five beautiful new trees—Red Maple, American Elm ‘Valley Forge,’ and Bi-color Oak—were planted to provide a mix of seasonal colors and future shade for generations to come.
Four rustic, stone-faced granite benches were donated by longtime neighbors George and Sandra Burke, Councilor Kevin Coughlin and his family, the Hubley family, and the Meade family. Two of these benches were placed on the stair landing to offer seating with a view of the park, while the other two were positioned in shady spots along the paths.
"The Wollaston Garden Club took on the important task of beautifying the northwest corner of Safford Park throughout 2015. Civic Beautification Chairs Jo Costello, Ann Foresman, and Kathleen Ceurvels led the effort, with assistance from club members Carol Fischer, Ruth Griffin, and others. After studying the area and completing design work, the club repurposed unused granite blocks to frame a multi-seasonal garden in the park’s corner. The Quincy Parks and Forestry Department leveled the site, positioned the granite blocks, and delivered compost to the location, enabling the Wollaston Garden Club to begin their work. Pink Knockout Roses were planted along the back row, with ground cover added to the front corner. Grasses were scheduled to be planted in the middle in the spring of 2016, once the cold weather subsided. Water facilities were also installed for garden irrigation.
"Safford Park reopened on August 31, 2015, with a ribbon-cutting ceremony and a family movie night. Neighbors gathered to celebrate the park’s return to the community. Mayor Thomas Koch praised the project as a collaborative effort, highlighting the contributions of the Wollaston Hill Neighborhood Association, the City’s Parks and Forestry Department, and the Wollaston Garden Club.
