Francis William Bird Park facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Francis William Bird Park |
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Bird Park
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| Established | 1925 |
| Operator | The Trustees of Reservations |
| Website | Francis William Bird Park |
Francis William Bird Park is a beautiful park in Walpole, Massachusetts. It covers about 89 acres, which is a very large space! A group called The Trustees of Reservations owns and takes care of the park.
You can find over 3 miles (about 5 kilometers) of paths for walking and biking. These paths go over streams on cool granite bridges. You'll also see open grassy areas, shady trees, and pretty ponds. The park has many things to do! There are bike racks, benches, and restrooms (open in certain seasons). You can also find four tennis courts, a basketball hoop, and an outdoor stage. There's a parking lot on Polley Lane in East Walpole for visitors.
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Park History
How Bird Park Started
Bird Park was created in 1925 by a local businessman named Charles Sumner Bird, Sr. He and his wife, Anna, made the park to honor their oldest son, Francis William Bird. Their son had passed away seven years before the park was made.
Who Designed the Park?
A famous landscape architect named John Nolen designed the park. He was a student of another well-known park designer, Frederick Law Olmsted. Nolen believed that parks were very important for people's health. He thought parks should be calm places where people could relax in nature.
Nolen wrote that this park should be:
"... a quiet, fresh place in the middle of East Walpole ... with wide, sunny meadows, shady spots, and higher hills with trees for those who like shade. All of this would be set to the sound of a bubbling stream."
Taking Care of the Park
For many years, the Francis William Park Trust owned and maintained the park. But over time, some parts of the park started to get damaged and neglected.
In 2002, The Trustees of Reservations took over the park. They worked hard to make many improvements. They planted beautiful ornamental trees, like Cherry and Japanese Maple trees. They also added colorful flower beds. Recently, they started to bring back the Rhododendron Pathway through a special gift program.
Ellis Field: A Place for Sports
The Bird family knew that people needed different kinds of places to play. So, when they created Bird Park, they also provided another nearby area for active sports. This place is now called Ellis Field or Bird Athletic Field.
It's about 7 acres (28,000 square meters) and is located at June and East Streets in Walpole. This field was first used by workers from the mills owned by the Bird family. Today, the town uses it for team sports like soccer or baseball.
