Conservation Lands and Open Space

In HinghamLehnerProp, there are over 4,000 acres of protected open space which is owned and managed by several different entities at the local and state level. The Conservation Commission currently manages approximately 1,235 acres of land for preservation and passive recreation. The Commission holds another 15 acres of land in Conservation Restrictions which are deed restrictions that limit development of a property in perpetuity. The Trustees of Reservations (Trustees) owns approximately 500 acres of land in Hingham including the Weir River Farm and World’s End. The Hingham Land Conservation Trust (HLCT) owns 80 acres of land including Whortleberry Hollow, Jacobs Meadow, and Eel River Woods, and also holds conservation easements on other parcels totaling more than 117 acres. The largest land holder in Hingham is the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) who owns Wompatuck State Park.

The most popular open space properties are listed in the table below which also includes acreage, uses, responsible entity, and links for more detailed information if available. Please see below under Related Documents for open space maps, trail maps, and other long range planning documents concerning open space and conservation lands. The Conservation Commission strongly encourages all residents to enjoy the community's open spaces for walking, hiking, bird watching, nature observation or just being. 

In every walk with nature, one receives far more than he seeks.  --- John Muir 

                                                                                                                                  

*Untended Lands
Property Name
Size (acres)
Uses
More Info Responsible 
Entity
Amonte Meadow Conservation Area 3 Nature observation   Conservation
Bare Cove Park  484 Walking; nature observation; water access Website Select Board
Bathing Beach  6 Swimming; walking; nature observation Website Select Board
Bouve Conservation Area 32 Hiking; nature observation; water access   Conservation
Bradley Pond* 2 Nature observation   Conservation
Broad Cove Conservation Area*
15 Nature observation
  Conservation
Burns Memorial Park Conservation Area
24 Hiking; nature observation Video Conservation
Cranberry Pond
14
Hiking; fishing; ice skating   Conservation
Cushing Meadow 4 Agricultural   Conservation
Eel River Woods 
12 Hiking; nature observation
Website HLCT
Fee Pond*
2.5 Hiking; ice skating
  Conservation
Foundry Pond
32 Hiking; fishing; nature observation; limited hunting
  Conservation
Governor Long Bird Sanctuary
11 Hiking; nature observation
  Conservation
Home Meadows*
70 Nature observation
  Conservation
Jacobs Meadow  50 Hiking; nature observation Website HLCT
Langlee*, Ragged*, Sarah*, Button* and Bumpkin Islands  44 Nature observation; picnicking by boat; camping (Bumpkin only) Website Select Board
Leavitt Street Conservation Land*
16 Hiking
  Conservation
Lehner Conservation Area 51 Hiking; nature observation Video Conservation
Lyford's Lyking*
7 Nature observation
  Conservation
Marchesiani Farmlands
25 Hiking; equestrian trails; nature observation   Conservation
McKenna Marsh
100 Hiking; nature observation; limited hunting   Conservation
Mildred Cushing Woods Conservation Area*
19 Hiking; fishing; nature observation; water access   Conservation
More-Brewer Park and Brewer Reservation
187
Hiking; equestrian trails; nature observation; cross-country skiing; limited hunting
  Conservation
Old Swamp River Conservation Area* 14 Nature observation; limited hunting   Conservation
Plymouth River Lands*
93 Nature observation; walking (some trails are maintained); limited hunting
  Conservation, 
Parks, Schools
Stodder's Neck  39 Walking; nature observation; water access Website DCR
Town Forest  108 Hiking; nature observation   Select Board
Triphammer Pond Conservation Area
98 Hiking; equestrian trails; nature observation; fishing; limited hunting
  Conservation
Turkey Hill/ Weir River Farm
75 Hiking; nature observation; scenic vista
Website

Conservation, Trustees
Whitney and Thayer Woods  824 Hiking; nature observation Website Trustees
Whortleberry Hollow 
13 Hiking; nature observation
Website HLCT
Wompatuck State Park  3002 Hiking; biking; equestrian trails; cross-country skiing; water access; camping Website DCR
World's End  251 Hiking; nature observation; water access Website Trustees