Hammond Pond Park
Rate this placeLast Updated: December 5, 2025
Hammond Pond Park is a 140-acre park located in Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts, that offers visitors a variety of recreational activities.
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Summary
The park's main attraction is its large pond, which is popular for kayaking, fishing, and swimming during the summer months. There are also several hiking trails that wind throughout the park, providing opportunities for nature walks and birdwatching.
In addition to its natural beauty, Hammond Pond Park also features several points of interest, including the historic Skating Club of Boston and the Chestnut Hill Reservoir. Visitors can take a stroll around the reservoir and enjoy the stunning views of the Boston skyline, or explore the Skating Club's impressive collection of skating memorabilia.
One interesting fact about Hammond Pond Park is that it was once a popular destination for ice harvesting. In the early days of refrigeration, ice was harvested from the pond and shipped to cities throughout the country.
The best time of year to visit Hammond Pond Park is during the spring and fall, when the weather is mild and the foliage is at its peak. However, the park is open year-round, and visitors can enjoy winter sports such as ice skating and cross-country skiing when the pond freezes over.
Overall, Hammond Pond Park is a beautiful and unique destination that offers something for everyone. Whether you're looking for outdoor recreation, history, or simply a peaceful escape from the city, this park is definitely worth a visit.
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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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