If baseball or softball is your game, Long's Field is the place for you. There are four fields at the site, and two more at adjacent Keefe Tech High School. The park is named after Richard H. Long, who gave the property to the town in 1915. There are several other attractions at the park as well, including a football field, basketball court, concession stands, swing sets and plenty of trees for shade on hot summer days.
Bowditch Field Athletic and Cultural Complex was named for Nathaniel Bowditch, a 1908 charter member of the Framingham Parks and Recreation and owner of Milwood Farm in 1946, a year after he died. Bowditch Field, maintained by the Framingham Parks and Recreation Department, is the home of the Framingham Flyers. It dates back to 1917, when the Town of Framingham agreed to purchased the fair grounds to be used as athletic fields. The Field has a long history. In the 1920s, a semi-pro football team the Lion Tamers played on the field. The first high school game was played in 1924. In 1936, the Boston Braves, a NFL franchise practiced at the field. In 1937, that team became the Washington Redskins. In 1958, high school graduation ceremonies were moved to Bowditch Field. And between 1963-1990, Framingham North and Framingham South played football before the field's largest crowds. Night lights were added in 1985. In 1997, the Boston Renegades, a professional womens soccer team played its inaugural season at Bowditch. The team continued to play there through 2008. In Nov. 2009, after approval from Town meeting, renovations began on the current field complex.
A pastoral oasis in a busy city, Garden in the Woods is a unique destination for nature-lovers, families, or anyone seeking a little serenity. New England Wild Flower Society's "living museum" conserves, protects, and displays many of the area's most beautiful native plants while also featuring rare plants, all along a winding, sometimes hilly gravel path. Figure about an hour for a leisurely stroll throughout the Garden. Guests will enjoy noting the distinct areas including the Idea Garden, New England Rare Plant Garden, Curtis Woodland Garden, and more. There is a Family Activity Area with a few fun prompts for kids, beautiful wooden benches throughout, and three additional short trails for hikers.
Must see/do at the Garden in the Woods
The lily pond is one of the prettiest spots in the garden, and if you're lucky you might see some turtles hanging out there. If you've got kids, check out the Family Activity Area and definitely grab scavenger hunt sheets from the Garden Shop. In summer months at 10 a.m. on alternating Saturdays, kids two to six will love story time, free with admission (check the website for dates and themes). Or take an evening tour on select Thursdays at 6 p.m. to see the blooms in enchanting dusk lighting while collecting gardening tips from the experts.
Best and worst time to go to the Garden in the Woods
Garden in the Woods is open to the public from mid-April to October, and there really isn't a bad time to go (except non-holiday Mondays, when they're closed). Thursdays through July offer extended evening hours. May is your best bet for blossoms including wild blue phlox and pink rhododendrons, making for an especially colorful visit. There are a lot of mosquitos, so visitors may want to avoid going on muggier days or those just after wet weather when these predators are most abundant. Check the website or call ahead to see what's blooming.
Admission to the Garden in the Woods
Admission is just over ten bucks for adults and just under for seniors over sixty-five. Kids aged three through seventeen are about five dollars, and those under three are free. Your entrance fee includes a guided walk at 10 a.m. Tuesday through Friday or at 2 p.m. on weekends. Park in their lot for free. You'll do fine on the main, one mile gravel path with strollers (but be ready to push up a few steep spots), and there are three additional short trails for those in appropriate footwear.
Wildlife at the Garden in the Woods
Plants. This "living museum" features many native plants to be cultivated and studied as well as rare species that are showcased and protected. In addition to the many flowers, ferns, trees, and other flora and fauna, you may see squirrels, chipmunks, butterflies, huge dragonflies, cardinals, and more. Each week that passes brings different blossoms; repeat visits yield unique experiences. Check the bulletin board at the entrance as well as the website to learn what flowers are blooming during your visit and look for those as you explore the gardens.
Insider tip for visitors to the Garden in the Woods
Wear bug spray; enjoy the garden, but don't let the mosquitos enjoy you. Nature-fiends will love the Garden Shop's collection of tools, books, and whimsical items, including fun stuff for the kids. Also, peruse the website for details on a variety of programs including specialized educational series, exclusive visiting hours for artists, gardening demonstrations, and more.
Author's bio: Deborah Jarvis is a freelance writer who grew up and currently lives in the Greater Boston Area. She never pahks her cah in Hahvahd Yahd and tries not to drive like she's from Boston if she can help it. She doesn't have much of a green thumb unless you count dandelions and crabgrass, so she really appreciates gardens cultivated by the experts.
Located between Dudley Road and Farm Pond, Farm Pond Park is maintained by the Framingham Parks and Recreation Department. The park offers scenic views of the pond and its swans and walking trails. There is a newly-installed playground at the end of the park, across the street from the baseball diamond. At the other end is Peace Park.
Maintained by the Framingham Parks & Recreation Department, Cushing Memorial Park sits on the former site of a hospital for troops injured in World War II.
Originally named Tercentennial Park, the Park was renamed in 2007 after the hospital, which had been named for Dr. Harvey Cushing, a famed neurosurgeon. Parks and Recreation Department employee Linda Libby successfully petitioned to rename the park.
The park hosted Framingham High graduation ceremonies in 2010, as Bowditch was under construction.
It is a popular park for walking or cycling. Helmets are required for all children under age 16. There are several picnic tables and the park is used often for family gatherings.
Located on the grounds of the Park is Cushing Memorial Chapel. Dedicated in 1943, the chapel is one of the few buildings that remain of the former Cushing General Hospital Complex.
The town hosts special services at the chapel on Veteran's Day.
The chapel is available for rental for private services, ceremonies and weddings. The Framingham Garden Club has planted several trees around the Memorial Chapel.
Also on the grounds of Cushing Park is the September 11th Living Memorial to the 17 individuals with ties to Framingham who died on Sept. 11, 2001.
Dogs are permitted but must be on leash at all times.
Residents may adopt a birdhouse at the park.
The Framingham Parks and Recreation Department is on Phase 3 of the Master Plan of the Park. Currently, there is construction on the Winter Street side.
Located on the grounds of Framingham High School on A Street near downtown Framingham, Winch Park Tennis Courts features six regulation tennis courts for free. The courts are lighted and the nets are well maintained. Times are limited to 60 minutes for singles matches and 90 minutes for doubles matches. Free parking is available on the street next to the court. The courts are reserved for park and recreational lessons Monday through Thursday, 9am to noon.
The Framingham Centre Common is an area of lush greens and historic buildings located in the town's center. The location plays host to a number of community events, including musical concerts, performance art, markets and more.
Callahan State Park is a perfect park for hikers, dog lovers, kite flyers, horseback riders, mountain bikers, cross-country skiers, snowshoers, and sledders. There are several large fields and ponds and nearly eight miles of wooded trails within Callahan's 820 acres. Callahan is a favorite spot for dog owners, and dogs are usually off-leash here, so if you are afraid of dogs, be aware that you might encounter a canine adventurer who is looking to make new friends.
Must see/do at Callahan State Park
If there's snow on the ground, grab your snowshoes or cross-country skis and explore this winter wonderland. Park by the South Entrance on Millwood Street and sled down the Earthen Dam into the field with a relatively easy hike back up Moore Road. On a windy day, stand along the Earthen Dam trail for ideal kite-flying. In any weather, continue into the park via Moore Road to an especially picturesque spot with a second open field, Eagle Pond on the right, and the woods further ahead. There is also a picnic table here, so it's a great spot to have a snack or lunch. Be sure to go into the woods and explore the many hiking trails.
Best and worst time to go to Callahan State Park
If possible, avoid going to Callahan for several days after wet weather. Even if the sun is shining, the trails remain quite muddy and take days to dry out. This also applies to the spring thaw: the shaded woods can be very messy, so plan footwear accordingly and bring towels to dry off muddy dogs. Especially in or after wetter conditions, there will be a lot of mosquitos in the woods, so bug spray is a must.
Admission to Callahan State Park
Admission and parking in any of the three lots are free.
Wildlife at Callahan State Park
Callahan is a great spot to find endangered pink Lady Slipper orchids. Listen for chicadees and woodpeckers. Visitors have also sighted garter and water snakes; snapping, red bellied, and spotted turtles; coyotes; fisher cats; white-tailed deer; red foxes; herons; egrets; red tail hawks; largemouth bass in the ponds; and many other species of indigenous New England wildlife.
Insider tip for visitors to Callahan State Park
Always check for ticks, even if you stay on the main paths. Definitely check your dogs for ticks, too. Both deer and dog ticks are abundant at Callahan, and deer ticks can carry Lyme Disease. While dogs are required to be on leash on the main trails (as opposed to on the smaller trails labeled as "hiking trails"), most dogs are not leashed anywhere in Callahan with the possible exception of the first field by the South Entrance or in the parking lots. Also, always keep an eye out for horse manure on the trails; horses and their riders tend to frequent the park early in the day, but poop is an all-day thing.
Author's bio: Deborah Jarvis is a freelance writer who grew up and currently lives in the Greater Boston Area. She never pahks her cah in Hahvahd Yahd and tries not to drive like she's from Boston if she can help it. Her dogs love to go to Callahan and are lifetime members of Mud-seekers Anonymous.
The Framingham Parks and Recreation Department's offices are located at 475 Union Ave., next to Bowditch Field Athletic Complex. The department oversees public parks, athletic fields, and town beaches. The department also maintain other recreational facilities available to the public and issues permits for rental use. The department runs a very popular child and adult program. Some residents line up an hour before registration for some programs. Children's programs include pre-school play groups, basketball, swimming, keyboard, karate, ice skating, tennis and more. Adult programming includes yoga, tennis, CPR, and more. Special programs include trips to New York City and Atlantic City.
Anna Murphy Playground has a baseball field, a basketball hoop, tennis courts and a playground for children. Located just off of Lake Waushakum at the corner of Cove and Lake avenues, the park has traditionally been a popular Little League field. The park's namesake, Anna Murphy, was a principal of the nearby former Memorial School.