The sun is shining, the sky is bright blue, and not a cloud to be seen. While you might make plans to head to a park at 5 p.m, sometimes sitting at your desk for lunch or the cafe isn’t cutting it when it’s a perfect summer day. So…why stay at your desk when it’s the perfect time to head over to one of Burlington’s many parks….19 in total!
In case that number is a bit overwhelming and you’re not sure where to start, below are four parks to head to on your next lunch break.
Mary Cummings Park
Located at 25 Blanchard Rd
Mary Cummings had envisioned this park as ‘forever open as a public pleasure ground.’ This park crosses through Burlington and Woburn, so there’s plenty to explore throughout the sprawling 216-acres. Suddenly you’ll step from the concrete into a conserved green space that includes wetlands, vernal pools, forest, fields and thickets.
With plenty of benches and picnic tables, you can sit and eat after your saunter through the park.
And while you might not have time to hit one of the many trails during your lunch break, you can sit and relax and plan your next hike. Also, one of the trails is wheelchair accessible, a .8-mile loop called the Pollinator Trail.
Simonds Park
Located at 10 Bedford Street
Just a 5 minute walk from the center of Burlington, Simonds Park is bursting with fun things to do during lunch beyond eating a stale egg salad sandwich. Here are some of the features you can find at Simonds Park:
- Two lighted little league baseball fields
- One lighted softball field
- Two lighted tennis courts
- 3 pickleball courts
- Two lighted basketball courts
- Wading pool
- Playground
- Skate park
- Street hockey court
- Picnic area
- Concession stand
Bring your bathing suit and wade through the pool on a really hot afternoon, or relive your days on the court with a light pick up game with coworkers. There are so many ways to elevate your basic lunch time into a fulfilling fun afternoon before heading back to your desk.
TRW Playground
Located at 26 Mall Road
The TRW Playground is another great spot to head to especially if you’re a fitness enthusiast looking to enjoy the weather and get a good sweat in. The TRW Playground has many of the usual paths for walking and playground for the kiddos, but it also has an entire fitness court. Work on your pull-ups and if you’re not sure what to do for your workout, check out the Fitness Court® App.
- Two little league baseball fields
- One multi-purpose grass field
- Fitness Court
- Playground
- Walking path
The Town Center Pocket Park
Located at 204 Cambridge Street
Have you visited the Town Center Pocket Park? In the middle of everything, you can stop by your favorite shops then sit and relax in the pocket park. Between Coldwell Realty and Sweet Ginger, this spot is designed for you in mind.
According to an article by the Patch, Economic Development Director, Melisa Tintocali had this to say about the pocket park: “One main mission of the office is to enliven the areas around the small businesses. We have a lot of opportunities to grow this area over time. What we’re trying to do is activate it by working with the property owner and business owners to revitalize underused areas.”
While you enjoy the pocket park during the day, there are also tons of events you can enjoy after work as well. The Pocket Park will be hosting a Beer Garden event every Thursday this September. On September 8th, 15th, 22nd, and 29th, you can stop by and enjoy a refreshing beer from 4:30 to 8:30 p.m.
Whether you hike a trail at Mary Cummings Park or relax after running errands in the pocket park, we hope you have a chance to get outside and enjoy the parks of Burlington.