D.W. Field Park facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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D. W. Field Park
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Upper Porter Pond
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 Location in Massachusetts
Location in the United States
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| Location | Avon and Brockton, Massachusetts |
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| Area | 650 acres (260 ha) |
| Architect | Negus and Punchard; Field, Daniel W. |
| NRHP reference No. | 00001341 |
| Added to NRHP | November 24, 2000 |
D.W. Field Park is a large park located in Brockton, Massachusetts, and partly in Avon, Massachusetts. The city of Brockton's parks department takes care of it. The park covers about 650 acres (263 hectares) of fields, forests, and water. It was created in 1925. The land was given by Daniel W. Field, a businessman from Brockton.
The park is known for its chain of seven water bodies. Most of these are lakes and ponds made by people. They were created by blocking Beaver Brook. The oldest pond, Cross Pond, was made in the 1790s. These water areas were used for farming or factories before the park was designed. Waldo Lake is the only one created as part of the park's plan in the 1930s.
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Exploring D.W. Field Park
A narrow road, about 6 miles (9.7 km) long, goes through the park. This road lets people reach the main parts of the park. You can get onto this road from several public streets nearby. The park entrances have gates made from local stones.
There are no special walking paths for people. Because of this, most activities happen in areas where there are parking lots. This can sometimes cause a bit of damage to the environment or the park's natural beauty.
The Observation Tower
The most famous building in the park is a stone tower. It is an observation tower built on the highest point of the park. This spot is called Indian Cave Hill or Tower Hill. The tower was built in 1928 using stones found right in the park.
Inside the tower, there are 90 steps. These steps lead up to a deck where you can look out. From the top, you can see far away, even to the Blue Hills. The park is open every day from sunrise to sunset. The tower itself is usually open only one day a year during an event called Towerfest, which happens in early October.
Other Park Features
At the bottom of Tower Hill, there is a concrete slab. It has Daniel Field's handprints and footprints pressed into it. There is also a message that says, "Please Enjoy, Do Not Destroy D.W. Field Park."
Another important building in the park is the gatehouse for the Brockton Reservoir. This building was constructed in the 1880s. The park also has an eighteen-hole golf course for visitors to enjoy.
Park History and Recognition
D.W. Field Park was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2000. This means it is recognized as an important historical place in the United States.
See also
