Gurdon Bill Park

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Last Updated: December 5, 2025

Gurdon Bill Park is a beautiful and peaceful park located in the town of Westport, Massachusetts.


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Summary

It is a 142-acre park that offers visitors a variety of outdoor activities and attractions. The park is named after Gurdon Bill, a local farmer who donated the land to the town in the early 1900s.

One of the main attractions in the park is the Billington Sea, a picturesque lake that is perfect for swimming, fishing, and boating. Visitors can rent kayaks and canoes to explore the lake, or simply relax on the sandy beach and enjoy the scenery.

Another popular feature of Gurdon Bill Park is the hiking trails. The park has over five miles of trails that wind through woodlands, meadows, and wetlands. The trails are perfect for hiking, jogging, or birdwatching, and offer stunning views of the surrounding landscape.

In addition to the lake and trails, Gurdon Bill Park also has a picnic area, playground, and sports fields, making it a great place for families to spend a day outdoors.

Interesting facts about the park include its rich history, including the fact that it was once used as a training ground for Revolutionary War soldiers. The park also contains several unique ecosystems, including a red maple swamp and a freshwater tidal marsh.

The best time of year to visit Gurdon Bill Park is in the summer, when the weather is warm and the lake is perfect for swimming and boating. However, the park is open year-round and offers activities for visitors in all seasons.

       

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Park & Land Designation Reference

National Park
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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