Hovey Playground
Rate this placeNearby: Hovey Park Pleasant Street
Last Updated: December 5, 2025
Hovey Playground is a popular recreational area located in the town of Waltham, Massachusetts.
°F
°F
mph
Wind
%
Humidity
Summary
The playground offers a variety of amenities including a skate park, basketball and tennis courts, a playground, and a walking trail.
One of the main reasons to visit Hovey Playground is for its skate park, which is considered one of the best in the state. The park features ramps, rails, and obstacles for skateboarders and BMX riders to practice and improve their skills.
Other points of interest at the park include the basketball and tennis courts, which are well-maintained and popular among local athletes. The playground area is also a hit with families, offering swings, slides, and climbing structures for children to enjoy.
One interesting fact about Hovey Playground is that it was named after William Hovey, a prominent businessman and philanthropist who lived in Waltham in the late 1800s. Hovey was a generous supporter of the town's public parks and green spaces.
The best time of year to visit Hovey Playground is between the months of May and October, when the weather is warm and the park is in full swing. However, the skate park is open year-round for those brave enough to tackle it in the winter months.
Overall, Hovey Playground is a great destination for anyone looking to enjoy some outdoor recreation in the Waltham area. With its top-notch skate park, sports courts, and playground, there is something for everyone to enjoy.
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
Hovey Park
Pleasant Street
Monahan Playground
St Louis Field
McPherson Playground