Doherty Gibson Playground
Rate this placeNearby: Corbett Park Cronin Playground
Last Updated: December 5, 2025
Doherty Gibson Playground is a popular destination for families and children in the city of Cambridge, Massachusetts.
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Summary
The playground is located in the Fresh Pond Reservation, which is a protected area of land that includes walking trails, a golf course, and a lake.
One of the main reasons to visit Doherty Gibson Playground is the range of activities available for children. The playground features swings, slides, climbing structures, and a sand pit. There are also picnic tables and benches for adults to relax while their children play.
In addition to the playground, visitors can explore the Fresh Pond Reservation. The reservation is home to a variety of wildlife, including migratory birds and turtles. Visitors can take a stroll along the walking trails or rent a kayak to explore the lake.
Interesting facts about Doherty Gibson Playground include its history as a former landfill site that was transformed into a public park. The playground is named after two local activists, Mary Doherty and Richard Gibson, who fought for the land to be preserved for public use.
The best time of year to visit Doherty Gibson Playground is during the spring and summer months when the weather is mild. However, the playground is open year-round and offers activities for visitors in every season.
Overall, Doherty Gibson Playground is a fun and educational destination for families seeking outdoor activities in the city of Cambridge.
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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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