Cooper Park (aka Hancock Street), Cambridge
Cooper Park is a delightful little gem in the middle of Cambridge. Perhaps because of its central location between Harvard and MIT, it is often filled with international families. There are climbing structures, a sandbox filled with abandoned diggers and dolls, and a water feature that is a blessing in the summer.
Lynch Family Skatepark, East Cambridge
This urban project, located beneath the access ramps to I-93’s iconic Zakim Bridge, began as an idea by the artist who created the Make Way For Ducklings sculptures in the Boston Public Garden. The “wheel-friendly” park is designed to accommodate skateboarders, BMX riders, and inline skaters—and if that's not your thing, there are benches for observers. It is also next to the North Bank Bridge which connects North Point Park in Cambridge to Paul Revere Park in Charlestown—an easy walk that takes you to a completely different neighborhood.
Middlesex Fells Reservation, North of Boston
2,575 acres of hiking, biking, non-motorized boating, cross-country skiing, fishing, horseback riding, and off-leash trails, along with educational programs, picnic areas, playgrounds, observation towers, and dog parks, make the Fells an invaluable natural resource for the Greater Boston Area. There is plenty of parking at various points around the reservation, and over 100 miles of trails ensures you can always find something new to explore.
Hodgkins Park, Somerville
This city park has a lot to offer. Located next to a well-manicured field and baseball diamond, the fenced-in park offers an interactive water feature, lots of sand to play in, several tree-house like play structures, swings for babies and big kids...all on a spongy soft surface that cushions the inevitable tumble. There is metered parking, but it's easy to access by public transportation, and when you're all played out and ready for a pick-me-up, the cafes, restaurants, and shops of Davis Square are right around the corner.
Blue Hills Reservation, Milton
If you want to venture south of Boston, check out Blue Hills Reservation. This beauty has 125 miles of trails within 7,000 acres, covering parts of Quincy, Braintree, Canton, Dedham, Milton, and Randolph. Kids and dogs are both welcome....adults too! Download a map so you don't get lost. There's forests, meadows, and summits, oh my!
There are so many great outdoor spaces in the Boston area. We'd love to hear about your favorite local park for kids, dogs, or grown-ups...let us know so we can share them with the world, and in the meantime, enjoy the great outdoors!
