Stanley Park (Westfield, Massachusetts) facts for kids
Stanley Park is a special place in Westfield, Massachusetts. It's a non-profit park with lots of trees and plants, like an arboretum and a botanical garden. The park is open to everyone for free from May to November. Even in winter, you can still visit, but be careful!
The duck pond area has security cameras watching 24/7. These cameras were put in place to help keep the park's animals safe. You can even see the cameras live on the park's website! In 2017, a volunteer made a special sign near a bronze statue. It tells visitors why the statue is there and lets them learn more by scanning a QR code with their phone.
Contents
Protecting Nature at Stanley Park
Stanley Park cares a lot about nature. Since 2018, the park has asked visitors not to feed bread to the ducks and geese. Bread isn't good for them and can make them sick. The park also has over 300 acres of protected woodlands. These woods have many miles of hiking trails for you to explore!
Animals Living at the Duck Pond
The duck pond at Stanley Park is home to many different birds. Here are some you might see:
- American Black Ducks
- American Pekin Ducks
- Swans
- Brecon Buff Geese
- Snow Geese
Sometimes, other birds visit too! Wood ducks might stop by in the winter. In the summer, some visitors have even seen large great blue herons. A very old greylag goose lived at the pond for about 35 years until 2018.
Exploring Stanley Park's Gardens
The park was started in 1945 by a kind person named Frank Stanley Beveridge. It has many different gardens, plus a playground, sports fields, and picnic areas. You can also find a wildlife sanctuary, a colonial pond, a covered bridge, and a blacksmith shop.
Here are some of the amazing gardens you can visit:
- American Wildflower Society Display Garden - This garden shows off wildflowers native to New England. They look their best in early May.
- Arboretum - This huge area has many trees and shrubs. It also features a 30-foot fountain.
- Bog Garden - A unique garden designed for plants that love wet, marshy areas.
- Herb Garden - Here you'll find herbs used for cooking, medicine, and their lovely smells. It's best from mid-May to mid-October.
- Asian Garden and Teahouse - This peaceful garden has special evergreen trees, rhododendrons, and azaleas. It also has a real bamboo Japanese Tea House. The best time to visit is mid-May to mid-June.
- Rhododendron Display Garden - This garden has hundreds of rare rhododendron species. They are most beautiful from mid-May to early June.
- Rose Gardens - With over 50 types and 2,500 rose bushes, this garden is a winner! It even won an award for being an "Outstanding Public Rose Garden."
Stanley Park is located on Western Avenue in Westfield, Massachusetts. It started with 25 acres but has grown to 300 acres! It's also very close to Westfield State University.
The Story of Frank Stanley Beveridge
Frank Stanley Beveridge was born in Canada in 1879. He moved to Massachusetts in 1900 to go to school. Later, he moved to New York, got married, and started a family. Frank was very successful in his work. He started a company called Stanley Home Products in Westfield, MA. This company was famous for its "Stanley Home Parties," where people bought cleaning supplies. Stanley Home Products is still around today!
In 1947, Frank Stanley Beveridge also started a foundation to help others and continue his good work. He opened Stanley Park in 1949 on 25 acres of land. After he passed away in 1956, his foundation continued to support the community and the park.
Visiting Stanley Park
Stanley Park is open every day from 7:00 AM until nightfall. It opens for the season on the first Saturday in May and closes on the last Sunday in November. There is no charge to enter the park, so everyone can enjoy it!
The park has many natural walking trails through the woods and along the Little River. These trails lead to ponds, gardens, and a wildlife sanctuary. Besides nature, you can see old mills, a meetinghouse, a blacksmith shop, and an Asian tea house. There are even cool dinosaur tracks! Stanley Park is also great for sports, with playing fields, a cross-country course, a playground, and picnic areas.
Many people think Stanley Park is a wonderful place for all ages. You can see families enjoying the park, and kids love the water park area. It's a beautiful place to visit!
Fun Things to See and Do
Main Attractions
- Arboretum - About 5 acres of land with many trees, shrubs, and a 30-foot fountain.
- Carillon Tower - A 98-foot tall tower with 25 English bells and 61 Flemish carillon bells. It also has beautiful bronze doors with sculptures.
- Colonial Pond - Home to many ducks and swans. You can also see two old mills, the Old Mill and Water Mill, and a charming Covered Bridge.
- Rose Garden - Over fifty types of roses and 2,500 bushes make this a colorful and fragrant spot.
- Wildlife Sanctuary - A large area with 198 acres of trails running next to the Little River, perfect for spotting animals.
Other Cool Spots
- ADA Playscape (a playground for everyone)
- Angel Of Independence Statue
- Asian Garden/Tea House
- Basketball Courts
- Beveridge Pavilion
- Blacksmith Shop
- Carriage Shed
- Cathy’s Garden and Pavilion
- Cross Country Course
- Dinosaur Tracks
- Dorthy Perkins Garden
- Duck Pond
- Enchanted Oak
- Eternal Light (a special memorial)
- Evelyn B. Rose Garden
- Frog Pond
- Herb Garden
- Lacrosse and Soccer Fields
- Meeting House
- Mill Shop
- Recreation Picnic Area
- Rhododendron Display Garden
- Shrine Area
- The Reeds
- Tennis Courts
- Woodland Wildflower Garden
Events at Stanley Park
Carillon Concerts
Stanley Park hosts Carillon concerts on the first and third Sunday of each month. These concerts happen from May to November, starting at 3:00 PM and ending at 4:00 PM.
Friday Mornings for Children
During the summer, Stanley Park offers fun activities for children on Friday mornings. These include storytelling, skits, and puppet shows.
Zoo on the Go
A traveling zoo visits Stanley Park three times during the summer. Kids can pet animals and ask zookeepers questions about them!
Wheel Walk
An annual Wheel Walk is held to help make the park more accessible for everyone. There's usually food and games too!
Other Events
Stanley Park also hosts many events organized by other groups throughout the year.
Images for kids
-
The Angel Of Independence Statue.
