Acquire and Redevelop

In 2006, The Open Space Committee sponsored a project to acquire and redevelop two blighted riverfront parcels on the South River to a more environmentally sensitive use.

Funded with Community Preservation Funds, a Federal Land and Water Conservation Grant and private donations, park construction was completed in the fall of 2012.

Riverfront Land Restored

The South River Park was designed to be an easily accessible place where people can come to connect with nature. River views that had previously been blocked by overgrown invasive plants were cleared up and revealed.

Additional improvements such as a boardwalk to the river’s edge, a shaded picnic area, and plantings designed to attract butterflies, birds, and bees can be enjoyed throughout the park.

Visitors are often surprised with what they discover when visiting for the first time. The sounds and sights of nature offer a welcome contrast to the heavy traffic conditions abutting the park. On a lucky day you may even find a Great Blue Heron wading in the river.

Improve Access

To further this goal, in 2012 the town purchased the 37 acre Pratt Farm abutting the South River and the Bridle Trail culminating at the Keville Foot bridge bordering Dandelion Park.

In 2015 the Pratt Trails and Kayak Launch project, funded by the Community Preservation Committee created a serene trail through woodlands, a shallow marsh meadow with a footbridge over a cold water creek that links to the Bridle Trail and Kayak Launch on the South River.

The trail provides public access to the only remaining largely undisturbed property on the South River. Visitors can see a unique wetland landscape that provides critical habitat for wetland plants, birds species, small animals and brook trout that rely on the cold water stream for survival.

The South River is a large and diverse estuarine wetland system containing salt, brackish and fresh water marshes. The river supports abundant bird and fish species making it a very important wetland resource area. Because the site of South River Park lies within 200 feet of the river, it is a highly regulated site with all activities and landscape practices subject to state law ( MGL c.131 s. 40 ) and Town of Marshfield Wetlands Protection Bylaws, Article 37. The site contains 3 State Listed Rare Species and therefore subject to regulation by The Natural Heritage Endangered Species Program.

South River Park is additionally protected by a Conservation Restriction held by the Wildlands Trust of Southeastern MA. The purpose of this deed restriction is to ensure that “The Premises will be retained forever in their park-like and natural condition. Further, that this Conservation Restriction will preserve and protect in perpetuity the wildlife, aesthetic, ecological and environmental values of the Premises.”

The park design was intended to be a naturalistic park respecting the sensitive environment and serving as an example of responsible river front use. Plant materials were selected for their habitat value and drought tolerance. The park contains berry producing shrubs and a pollinator garden to attract birds, bees and butterflies. The goal is to use primarily native plantings because of the benefits to wildlife off all kinds. Low impact design is used throughout the park to reduce storm water run off and impervious surfaces have been kept to a minimum. Organic lawn care products and fertilizers are used under the direction of a professional organic landscaper. Controlling invasive Japanese Knotweed on the riverbank has been carefully managed with the help of Mass Audubon, The North and South River Watershed Association and permitted by DEP and the Marshfield Conservation Commission.