Mount Hood Park Association: Protecting Melrose’s “Green Jewel”
Written and Photographed By Nancy Clover
Tucked into the southeast corner of Melrose, Mount Hood Memorial Park stands as one of the city’s most treasured spaces — rich in history, natural beauty, and community spirit. At the heart of preserving and promoting this incredible resource is the 55-year-old Mt. Hood Park Association.
Long before it became the park we know today, Mount Hood — once called “Bear Hill” by Indigenous peoples — served as a lookout point across the region. In the early 1900s, local visionary John C. Slayton began transforming the land, eventually donating it to the city. By the 1930s, with support from the Works Progress Administration (WPA), the park and golf course were developed into a true public asset—and a beloved four-season recreation destination.
The Mt. Hood Park Association is a neighborhood-based volunteer group dedicated to the preservation, protection, and promotion of Mount Hood Memorial Park & Golf Course. Under the leadership of Army veteran Myron Dittmer and the help of about 40 families, the Association plays a vital role in keeping the park’s 235 acres vibrant and accessible for all.
Their work includes:
- Advocating for the park’s maintenance and future improvements
- Partnering with the City of Melrose and community organizations
- Hosting inclusive, family-friendly events
- Raising awareness about the park’s environmental and historical significance
- Ensuring this “Green Jewel” thrives for generations to come
Myron Dittmer
Mount Hood features an 18-hole golf course, clubhouse with function rooms, golf simulators, snack bar, and pro shop. The park has picnic areas, a tot lot, scenic walking trails, multiple ponds, and an observation tower. Long Pond offers opportunities for fishing in warmer months and ice skating in winter. The hills provide excellent sledding and cross county skiing in the winter. The park is also home to a wide variety of flora and fauna, offering a peaceful escape into nature right in the heart of the city. You may notice 5 large towers, affectionately called the “Watchmen o Mt Hood” they are FAA radar towers for Logan airport.
High atop Mt. Hood near Slayton Tower, a granite bench bears the inscription: “Greater love than this hath no man: than a man lay down his life for his friends.”
Those words capture the heroism of Major Doak A. Weston, a 30-year-old Air Corps pilot who, 80 years ago, gave his life to save the citizens of Melrose.
On September 24, 1945, a twin-engine B-25J was carrying six men for a training flight to Boston. On the return trip, the aircraft developed engine trouble, and one engine caught fire. Major Weston ordered his crew to bail out — all five did and landed safely. But knowing the plane was over a heavily populated area, Weston stayed at the controls, determined to find a safe place to bring it down aimed for the open stretch of Mount Hood Golf Course. The B-25 crashed and exploded at the 8th green, killing Major Weston.
At the site today stands a black granite memorial etched with the names of the crew, a rendering of their B-25, the Air Corps seal, and the Distinguished Flying Cross — awarded posthumously to Major Weston “for heroism or extraordinary achievement while participating in an aerial flight.”
The Association’s events bring people together and highlight the park as a shared community space. Want to get involved? Reach out to Myron Dittmer at mdittmer@mthoodpa.com to learn more about volunteering or supporting the Association.
The Mt. Hood Park Association is a powerful reminder of what local passion can do — protecting a beloved landscape while building a stronger, more connected community.
