It doesn’t get much nicer than Francis William Bird Park in Walpole, Mass., no matter what time of the year.
The 89 acres of rolling parkland features developed large stone pathways as well as clearly marked dirt paths, open fields, three ponds, bubbling brooks, stone bridges, beautiful tree groves, stately red maple trees, a picnic area, benches along the way, basketball and tennis courts, and a new playground for kids.
Seasonal events include the October Pumpkins in the Park pumpkins competition, an Easter Egg Hunt in the spring (taking place March 26, 2016), summer concerts at the outdoor stage and movie nights, and cross country ski or snowshoe treks in the winter.
Owned and operated by the Trustees of Reservations, Bird Park is open sunrise to sunset and is free to the public. Bird Park is only 18 miles southwest of Boston, making it an ideal scenic escape for urbanites or anyone else looking for rest and relaxation.
As a little background, Architect John Nolen designed Bird Park, which was created and endowed by Charles Sumner Bird in 1925 and his wife Anna in memory of their son Francis William Bird (1881-1925). Nolen envisioned Bird Park as “a sequestered breathing place in the heart of East Walpole, a combination of broad, sun-swept meadow lands, speckled with shadowed glades, higher tree-screened knolls for the lover of shade, the whole set to the music of a babbling stream.”
Did he ever get this right — some things are just timeless and Bird Park represents the “great outdoors” as well as any place in the Boston area!
The three miles of walking paths make for a truly idyllic stroll through a park that makes you feel like you’re in another world. You almost feel like you’re shielded a growing suburban, faster-paced world. I strongly recommend you check out this peaceful, southwest suburban Boston gem of a public park.
Bird Park is located on Washington Street in Walpole MA. Tel. (508) 669-6136. Log onto the Bird Park page at the Trustees web site for updates, including info on seasonal events.
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