Hingham school committee approves land swap to protect Plymouth River nature trail

The Hingham School Committee voted to approve a memorandum of agreement with the Select Board to swap a parcel of protected land so the town can proceed with siting a new Center for Active Living at Bear Cove while preserving an equivalent portion of the Plymouth River Elementary nature trail.

The agreement formalizes a land exchange sought by the town: the Bear Cove/ Park Drive parcel (about 5.5 acres), targeted for the Center for Active Living, would be made available for development contingent on dedication of an equivalent, protected parcel at the Plymouth River School nature trail. School committee members said the swap will allow the town project to proceed while ensuring the nature-trail area, which includes vernal pools and wetlands, remains protected in perpetuity.

Committee discussion was brief. The item had been discussed at a previous meeting and was brought back for a second reading. A motion to approve the memorandum of agreement was made, amended for correct terminology (memorandum of agreement versus memorandum of understanding) and seconded; the committee voted in favor.

The committee did not attach additional conditions or amendments to the memorandum during the meeting. Committee members said they support protecting the trail area and that the swap is intended specifically to preserve the ecological features of the Plymouth River nature trail.

The committee’s approval authorizes the school committee to enter the agreement with the Select Board. The motion passed without a recorded roll-call in the transcript; no dissenting votes were recorded.

Next steps include implementing the terms of the memorandum in coordination with the town and any required filings or perpetuity protections for the preserved parcel.