Wollaston Beach - Quincy, Massachusetts

Wollaston Beach, ‌on Quincy Bay in Quincy, Massachusetts, is the largest public beach in Boston Harbor with around 2.3 miles of shoreline. The northern end of the beach is a Native American Historical site, Moswetuset Hummock, where the original Moswetuset Sac’hem or Chief had a tribal council. 

Quincy Shore Drive, which runs parallel to the beach, opened on May 30, 1908. The promenade runs the entire length of the beach and is often full of dog walkers, runners, cyclists and walkers. Because of the coastal tides, the promenade has a large seawall, to prevent flooding. Boston, South Boston, Nut Island, and some of the Boston Harbor Islands are visible from the beach. 

John Connolly, a former FBI agent, who was convicted of racketeering, obstruction of justice, and murder because of his relationship with James “Whitey” Bulger, said he convinced Bulger to become an FBI informant at Wollaston Beach in the 1970s. 

During the 1980s, Quincy Bay was one of the most polluted bays in the United States. This is because of an old sewerage system dumping up to 138 tons of waste every day into Boston Harbor. The City of Quincy sued the Commonwealth of Massachusetts for the sewage dumping into the bay. There have been many attempts to clean up the beach since the 1980s, and it has improved, but it remains one of the dirtiest beaches in Boston Harbor. However, it is still a popular summer beach destination.