Francis William Bird Park
Francis William Bird Park
4.5
About
Stroll meandering pathways and cross artisan-built stone bridges at this family-friendly park of open fields, groves of trees, and frog ponds.
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
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4.5
80 reviews
Excellent
51
Very good
21
Average
7
Poor
1
Terrible
0
Mary6Ellen
Williamsburg, VA26 contributions
Oct 2011 • Solo
Top notch place for walking, meditating, recreation, biking, etc. I went to day camp there as a kid. My mother went swimming there in the 1920s and 1930s. She went to band concerts there at the totally slate music pavilion in the 1940s. Me, I grew up at the pool and nature trails in the 1960s. It is still almost as nice as it was then, although the pool is now gone (it was cement, and they dismantled it.) I could write a BOOK about Bird Park and I just can't get started on the innuendos, but I will say that it was named after Francis William Bird, the son of the owner of the huge paper mill that drove the economy of East Walpole, MA. My grandfather, an immigrant, worked there all his life. I also worked there during high school and college. BIRD & SONS actually WAS East Walpole. Furthermore, when I went to the L.A. area in 2009, our tour bus brought us to a "villa" that had the exact same green and orange slate stone sidewalks and the exact same wrought iron fence and pretty much the exact same pool and bath house area that Bird Park had. Turns out that the developer of Bird Park had been friends with the magnate villa owner in California who had all this stuff, and he came home in 1926 and copycatted it all!!!! Bird Park was the whole first half of my LIFE, and I am proud to love it and recommend it!!!!! It is just about,literally, my HOME. I played there on the swings, played tennis there, went to day camp there, collected pollywogs there, swam there, explored there, met childhood friends there daily -- this place is so engrained in my life that I am extremely prejudiced, in the FAVORABLE manner!!!
Written September 18, 2012
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
chickadee33
35 contributions
Sep 2014 • Solo
This is a beautiful little park in East Walpole where I walk frequently. There are ponds, streams, 2 or 3 miles of walking trails, animals (have seen deer, blue heron, various other birds), mature tress, flowers and many entrances. The nice thing about the park is that it smells wonderful and there are open areas where you can get sun and shaded areas deep within the trees too. There are some nice flowers over on the side where the bird boxes are. I'd love to see more perennial gardens planted as I think it would enhance the park even more. The young kids will have a nice time at the playgrounds that have been upgraded in recent years. Families can enjoy the movies and concerts they have throughout the summer.
The park is extremely well-maintained by the Trustees of Reservations. I rarely see trash or litter around and often see someone driving around the grounds on a cart making sure the place is clean and being looked after. The only thing I would not recommend is roller-blading at this park. The stone/concrete paths are not amenable to small wheels. Biking should be ok but this park is mostly walkers /runners. I don't go there in winter but it seems perfect for cross-country skiing.
Parking should not be an issue. There are several lots at different points around the park as well as street parking on Washington Street. I park in the adjacent church lot that is shared with the park. I've never had a problem finding a space there. This beautiful gem of a park is a great place to come to relax or enjoy nature.
The park is extremely well-maintained by the Trustees of Reservations. I rarely see trash or litter around and often see someone driving around the grounds on a cart making sure the place is clean and being looked after. The only thing I would not recommend is roller-blading at this park. The stone/concrete paths are not amenable to small wheels. Biking should be ok but this park is mostly walkers /runners. I don't go there in winter but it seems perfect for cross-country skiing.
Parking should not be an issue. There are several lots at different points around the park as well as street parking on Washington Street. I park in the adjacent church lot that is shared with the park. I've never had a problem finding a space there. This beautiful gem of a park is a great place to come to relax or enjoy nature.
Written September 1, 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Frank T
Randolph, MA149 contributions
Sep 2013 • Solo
This park is great for an afternoon walk, I have often gone here to walk during my lunch hour it is convenient and not crowded. My wife and I also once took our daughter here for a picnic on a weekend and it was an enjoyable time as well. There are picnic tables, a playground, basketball and tennis courts as well. If you are in the area and are looking for somewhere for a great family day give it a try.
Written June 3, 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
SammyDog10
Massachusetts17 contributions
Visited today with my young son and our dog. An individual was hanging around the bathhouse (appeared to be drinking alcohol but seemed to be keeping to himself. Not something I wanted my son to witness. Since we made a couple of loops around we encountered him a second time on our way back to our car and he was urinating. Gross!! I think between that and dodging goose poop, we won't be back soon.
Written November 26, 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
bluebirds77
Boston, MA168 contributions
Oct 2013 • Family
We took a nice long walk in this park and it was a very relaxing place to spend time. It was quiet and there weren't many people there.
Written March 31, 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Travelinghengs
Springfield, MA209 contributions
May 2013 • Family
As a frequent visitor, I love this park. There is plenty of green space so it doesn't feel crowded. Lots of different trails through open fields and wooded areas. There is two small ponds with geese, turtles and ducks. Plenty of park benches to rest and soak in the sunshine. Huge open field for frisbee, football or soccer. easy access points on all sides of the park, some with parking lots. A few picnic table areas but no bbq-ing. which is a good thing in my opinion. Wheel chair and stroller accessibility could be a little better. Some of the walkways are in need of repair and are uneven but they are marked so you don't injure yourself. They have several events each summer for the community. Such as concerts, a play and ice cream social. The grounds are well cared for and the keeper is helpful and friendly. There are plenty of doggie bag dispensers so dog owners can pick up after their dogs. Very little trash or litter and makes for a very enjoyable walk. great playground for little kids. play structure and several sets of swings and monkey bars. walkers are also friendly and say hello. Never have felt unsafe in this park. I have visited in all seasons. late spring, summer and fall are great with the flowering trees, green grass and then fall foliage. Winter and early spring are little bit harder to get around. Certain areas of the walkway have poor drainage due to snow melt and most walkways remain blocked by snow. Now if you own snow shoes, its a different story. Plenty of space to trek around in snow shoes or cross country skies. Some smaller hills for added challenge. seasonal porta-potty, otherwise no facilities or restrooms. Great park for locals!
Written May 14, 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Rocco G
Walpole, MA2 contributions
Jun 2012 • Friends
We've been visiting Bird Park everday, twice a day since we moved to Walpole 24 years ago. It is truly a hidden gem out here in suburbia. It is truly a wonderful place for people of all ages. Everyone is friendly and the park is beautifuly maintained. The current park manager, Josh Hasenfus, is not only a true professional but just a really nice guy to talk with. The park is a hub of social activity as well as a great place to spend time, take the kids or walk your dog. This park is owned and maintained by the Trustees of Reservations and never owned by the town of Walpole, thank god for that. There is a lot of wildlife that visits the park daily. Wednesday morning around 7:30 I saw a healthy fox out for it's morning walk. I have seen coyotes, deer and the resident Blue Heron as well as beautiful birds, owls, hawks, muscrats and rabbits, you just need to take the time to look. Come visit the park and have fun with all of the free activities. The summer concert series are great as well as the annual Ice Cream Social.
Written June 29, 2012
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
hbombhbomb
1 contribution
great park, nice for walk or jog. my dogs love it!
Written May 8, 2011
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Phil M
Deerfield, Illinois, United States12 contributions
Jun 2019 • Family
During an extended stay in Walpole, we visited the park several times with our new granddaughter. Clean, safe and fun for all ages
Written July 8, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
curtinj
Boston, MA113 contributions
May 2017 • Couples
i can only imagine from walking the stone pathways how many of the Boston Gentry who summered on the Neponset River in Plymtonville may have as well walked here with their paroles and picnic baskets. This is truly a gem of a park and should be treasured and cared for by those who are fortunate to grace the various paths.
PS: it is also dog friendly and kid friendly
PS: it is also dog friendly and kid friendly
Written May 27, 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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