Drake Playground
Rate this placeNearby: Leary Field Waltham Common
Last Updated: December 5, 2025
Drake Playground is a popular recreational area located in the town of Lawrence, Massachusetts.
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Summary
The park features a variety of amenities including a playground, basketball court, baseball field, and walking trails. Visitors can also enjoy picnicking and fishing in the nearby pond. The park is named after William H. Drake, a local businessman and community leader who donated the land to the town in 1927.
One of the main attractions at Drake Playground is the playground area, which features a variety of equipment suitable for children of all ages. The basketball court is also a popular spot, with many local youth and adults coming to play pickup games. The baseball field is used for local leagues and tournaments, and the walking trails offer a scenic route for exercise.
Interesting facts about Drake Playground include its history as a former landfill site before being converted into a park. The park is also a popular spot for birdwatching, with many species of birds seen in the area.
The best time of year to visit Drake Playground depends on personal preference and activities. The park is open year-round, with the summertime being a popular time for picnicking and outdoor activities. Spring and fall are also popular for nature walks and birdwatching, while winter offers opportunities for ice skating on the pond.
Overall, Drake Playground is a great place for families and individuals to enjoy a variety of recreational activities in a beautiful natural setting.
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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.
Related References
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Waltham Common
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