Pope John Paul II Park Reservation

Pope John Paul II Park Reservation is a public park spanning roughly 66 acres alongside the Neponset River in the Dorchester neighborhood. The grounds feature walking trails, athletic fields, and play areas distributed throughout the site.

The site opened as a park in 2001 after remediation of a former landfill and drive-in theater location. This transformation came through environmental restoration efforts that returned the land to public use.

The park is named after a pope who visited Boston in 1979 and held his first American Mass at this location. This naming choice connects the site to that significant religious event in local memory.

Entry and parking are free for all visitors at this location. The grounds are open from sunrise to sunset, making these the practical times for a full visit to the site.

The grounds were carefully restored with salt marshes and native plants by environmental workers. These restored wetlands now support breeding populations of herons and other water birds rarely seen in urban areas.

Location: Massachusetts

Inception: 2001

Website: https://mass.gov/locations/pope-john-paul-ii-park-reservation

GPS coordinates: 42.27990,-71.04520

Latest update: December 11, 2025 11:09