Harold Bent Playground
Rate this placeLast Updated: December 5, 2025
Harold Bent Playground is a popular outdoor recreation area located in the city of Sudbury, Massachusetts.
°F
°F
mph
Wind
%
Humidity
Summary
The park is named after Harold Bent, a local resident who donated the land for the playground. There are several good reasons to visit this park, including its beautiful natural setting, its well-maintained facilities, and its wide range of recreational activities.
One of the main points of interest at Harold Bent Playground is its large pond, which offers opportunities for swimming, fishing, and boating. The park also features several hiking trails, a basketball court, a playground, and picnic areas. Visitors can enjoy scenic views of the surrounding forests and wetlands, which are home to a variety of wildlife species.
Interesting facts about the park include its history as a former cranberry bog, as well as its status as a popular birdwatching destination. The park is home to many species of native birds, including the great blue heron, the bald eagle, and the osprey.
The best time of year to visit Harold Bent Playground is during the summer months, when the weather is warm and sunny, and the pond is open for swimming and boating. However, the park is also popular in the fall, when the trees change color and the wildlife becomes more active.
Overall, Harold Bent Playground is a great destination for anyone looking to enjoy the outdoors in Massachusetts. With its beautiful natural setting, fun recreational activities, and interesting historical and ecological features, this park has something to offer everyone.
Weather Forecast
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
Area Campgrounds
| Location | Reservations | Toilets |
|---|---|---|
Camp Christina Entrance
|
||
Missionary Point
|
||
Ponkapoag Camp of Appalachian Mountain Club
|
||
Spang Camp Site
|
||
YMCA Camp
|
Keith Memorial Field
Par Meter Playground
James Edgar Playground
D W Field Park
Fairgrounds