A resident taking a stroll along the shore of the Back River in Weymouth or Hingham might see an osprey or a variety of birds in flight.  River herring swim up the Back River to Whitman’s Pond during their annual spring migration and the stream popular byway for kayakers.

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This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., Posted Sep. 29, 2015 at 12:59 PM at weymouth.wickedlocal.com 

WEYMOUTH

A resident taking a stroll along the shore of the Back River in Weymouth or Hingham might see an osprey or a variety of birds in flight. River herring swim up the Back River to Whitman’s Pond during their annual spring migration and the stream is a popular byway for kayakers.

Back River Association president Linda DiAngelo said these features make the Back River and its natural beauty a hidden jewel.

“This history of this river is phenomenal,” DiAngelo said. “An archaeological group did digging years ago and found a few thousand artifacts going back 8,000 years.”

The river straddles Great Esker Park, Abigail Adams Memorial Park in Weymouth, Bare Cove Park and Stodder’s Neck in Hingham, but there is no direct link to these areas for visitors.

A design for the pathways cost $250,000 to complete under state funding in 2007, according to State Rep. James Murphy, D- Weymouth.

Murphy said he hopes to persuade Gov. Charlie Baker’s administration to fund construction of a trail network between the parks and a design for the pathways was completed seven years ago.

“I was able to secure some money in the state budget for the trail system,” Murphy said. “The goal is to keep things focused on the trail system. We have a new (gubernatorial) administration.”

Murphy said he tried to impress the importance of preserving the beauty of the Back River area and funding for completion of a trail network during a boat tour with state and local officials Sept. 23.

“We had fish and game commissioner George Peterson there,” Murphy said. “He came with Department of Conservation and Recreation Commissioner Carol Sanchez. I’ve also been in contact with Secretary of Energy and Environmental Affairs Matthew Beaton.”

DiAngelo said a trail system through the parks would help more people appreciate the natural setting and enjoy more passive recreation opportunities.

“I feel it can be done safely,” DiAngelo said.

Murphy said having a continuous trail would create a 30-mile linkup to the parks when it is finished.

“The linked trail system would be a draw for people in the Boston area, the South Shore and all over the state,” Murphy said. “You would be able to walk miles along the ocean front. There are 800 acres that would be opened up if a trail system was built.”

DiAngelo said a trail network would create more public awareness about the Back River.

“I’m very excited about this proposed project and I see more people getting involved with our group,” DiAngelo said.

Murphy said the late Mary Toomey, 89, a local environmental activities and Mary Sears an oceanographer with the Woods Hole Institute did much with getting pollutants removed from the river and preserving the area for future generations to enjoy.

“Mary Toomey started boat tours to bring attention to the Back River,” Murphy said. “Today the water is clean, the wildlife is strong and the eco-system is strong. Now when you ride on the Back River it is clean. People are swimming in it and boating. It is unbelievable. That is due to a lot of hard work over the years.

The next phase is to open access to the Back River.”DiAngelo said Toomey and Sears did much to identify sources of pollutants entering the river nearly 50 years ago.“The two of them collaborated with local and state officials to save the dying river,” DiAngelo said.

“We now have nine open space parks and are creating an emerald square.”DiAngelo said the Back River Watershed Association wants to honor Toomey and Sears’ legacy by protecting the stream, its estuary and shoreline from development.“It has been designated an area of critical environmental concern,” DiAngelo said. “The estuary has been named as an important natural resource in the northeast by Dr. Sears.

Our herring run is vital to all of that.”DiAngelo said the river needs to be protected from shoreline because it is an important route for the state’s second largest herring run.“The Back River supports 31 native species of fin fish, shell fish and 150 species of birds that have been document by the Audubon Society,” DiAngelo said.

Email Ed Baker at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Follow him on Twitter @EdBakerWeymouth.