Blackburn Memorial Park
Rate this placeNearby: Francis William Park Washington Green
Last Updated: December 5, 2025
Blackburn Memorial Park is a beautiful park located in the town of Gloucester, Massachusetts.
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Summary
This park is a great place to visit for a variety of reasons, including its stunning scenery, rich history, and diverse amenities.
One of the main draws of Blackburn Memorial Park is its picturesque location on the Annisquam River. Visitors can enjoy stunning views of the water and surrounding wildlife, including a variety of birds and marine animals.
There are also several points of interest to see within the park itself, including the Blackburn Tavern, which dates back to the early 18th century and serves as a museum of local history. Other notable features include a boat ramp and pier, picnic areas, and walking trails.
Interesting facts about Blackburn Memorial Park include its status as the site of several historic shipyards, as well as its association with several notable figures from American history, including the poet Ralph Waldo Emerson and the inventor Alexander Graham Bell.
The best time of year to visit Blackburn Memorial Park depends on what activities you are interested in. The park is open year-round, but summer is a popular time for boating and other water-based activities, while fall and winter offer great opportunities for hiking and nature watching.
Overall, Blackburn Memorial Park is a must-visit destination for anyone interested in history, nature, or simply enjoying the great outdoors.
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Park & Land Designation Reference
Large protected natural areas managed by the federal government to preserve significant landscapes, ecosystems, and cultural resources; recreation is allowed but conservation is the priority.
State Park
Public natural or recreational areas managed by a state government, typically smaller than national parks and focused on regional natural features, recreation, and education.
Local Park
Community-level parks managed by cities or counties, emphasizing recreation, playgrounds, sports, and green space close to populated areas.
Wilderness Area
The highest level of land protection in the U.S.; designated areas where nature is left essentially untouched, with no roads, structures, or motorized access permitted.
National Recreation Area
Areas set aside primarily for outdoor recreation (boating, hiking, fishing), often around reservoirs, rivers, or scenic landscapes; may allow more development.
National Conservation Area (BLM)
BLM-managed areas with special ecological, cultural, or scientific value; more protection than typical BLM land but less strict than Wilderness Areas.
State Forest
State-managed forests focused on habitat, watershed, recreation, and sustainable timber harvest.
National Forest
Federally managed lands focused on multiple use—recreation, wildlife habitat, watershed protection, and resource extraction (like timber)—unlike the stricter protections of national parks.
Wilderness
A protected area set aside to conserve specific resources—such as wildlife, habitats, or scientific features—with regulations varying widely depending on the managing agency and purpose.
Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Land
Vast federal lands managed for mixed use—recreation, grazing, mining, conservation—with fewer restrictions than national parks or forests.
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