It is no secret that Quincy, Massachusetts has a patriotic past, but in the center of downtown, there is a new park to pay tribute to the city’s history.
The public greenspace set to open Saturday is called the Hancock Adams Common and it connects several historic places in the heart of the city.
The project has been years in the making and is surrounded by history that goes back even further. It connects landmarks like Old City Hall, the United First Parish Church, known as the Church of the Presidents, and Hancock Cemetery, one of the oldest burial grounds in the nation.
“We’ve always had an appreciation for it, but we recognize the importance of the history and we’re putting that into action,” Quincy Mayor Thomas Koch said.
The park that required moving a roadway to build, features bronze statues of John Hancock and John Adams. Both were born within walking distance of the park and the walkways leading up to the statues are engraved with facts about them.
The park also has plenty of modern touches including a fountain and WiFi. It is welcome news to area business owners who hope the park brings in more tourists and neighbors.
“It is a dream come true,” Phi Du, owner of Grandasia Bridal and Prom Emporium said. “We’ve watched the construction and we couldn’t be more excited.”
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Koch said the park is just part of the revitalization that is already underway, with new restaurants and other development in the downtown. He said honoring Quincy’s past is an important part of its future.
“It reminds us who we are and the contributions made by this community to the nation,” Koch said.
The dedication ceremony will begin at 10:30 a.m. Saturday and will include remarks from Gov. Charlie Baker and Pulitzer-prize winning historian David McCullough. There will also be family-friendly entertainment and fireworks at 8 p.m. on Quincy Bay.
