Best Springfield Parks to Explore This Spring

Spring is a great time to get outside and enjoy the fresh air. Winters in Massachusetts are cold, and many areas see not only inches but feet of snow. Most of the area parks stay open through the winter, but when the temperatures start to rise and the snow starts to melt, it’s fun to head to a local park to enjoy the nice weather. Here are some of the best Springfield Parks to explore this spring.

Stanley Park

Stanley Park is a large park in Westfield that is open year-round and is free to the public. It covers more than 300 acres and includes beautiful gardens, fields for a variety of sports, pavilions for picnics, and walking and hiking trails. A natural spring-fed duck pond is home to ducks, fish, and swans. Sit on one of the benches along the shore, or walk around the pond to take it all in. There is also a wildlife sanctuary at Stanley Park. The managed trails feature native trees, flowers, and plant life as well as birds and other wildlife. All the trails are well-marked, and you can get a map to follow if you want to explore.

Forest Park

Springfield is home to Forest Park, one of the largest municipal parks in the United States. It has plenty of open space, a playground for the kids, and several picnic areas with outdoor grilling. Head to Forest Park to play on the soccer field, the football field, or the tennis court, or sit on the sidelines and watch a game. This is also home to the Forest Park Zoo, which has monkeys, birds, large cats, and other animals. Other fun features of Forest Park include America’s first swimming pool, which originally opened in 1899, ponds to walk around, and an exhibit featuring ancient dinosaur tracks.

You can get to the park by the entrance on Sumner Avenue or Trafton Road, or you can enter from Route 5 and the Longmeadow Line.

The Dr. Seuss Sculpture Garden

If you want a different kind of park to explore, the Dr. Seuss National Memorial Sculpture Garden at the Springfield Museums is a great place to spend the afternoon. This garden celebrates Dr. Suess in the city where he was born. His wife partnered with the Museums to create the special garden after his death in 1991. Here, you’ll find a sculpture of Dr. Seuss himself, along with some of his most memorable characters. Visit Horton Court where you’ll find Sam-I-Am serving up his green eggs and ham and Horton the Elephant. Make sure to look closely at his trunk though. The clover blossom holds a tiny ball that represents Whoville.

These are some of the parks and places that are fun to explore in the Springfield area in the spring. Pack a lunch and your good walking or hiking shoes, and get outside with the family to enjoy the nice New England weather.

Image via pixabay.com

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