Look Memorial Park (aka Frank Newhall Look Memorial Park) is a privately run non-profit park that…read moreopened in Northampton, Massachusetts in 1930. Located in the village of Florence, the 150 acres of land were given to the City of Northampton by Mrs. Fannie Burr Look (widow of Frank Newhall Look). Mr. Look had been a long-time resident of Northampton and the chief executive of the Prophylactic Brush Company. Operation and maintenance are dependent upon the trust fund, visitor fees, grants, and gifts. Owned by the city but operated as a non-profit organization, Look Park receives no funding from the city or state. The park contains a number of notable features including walking paths, an outdoor amphitheater, tennis courts, baseball and softball diamonds, a miniature golf course, paddle boats, playscapes, a spray park, a wildlife center, a sweet shoppe, covered picnic areas, covered bridges, and a miniature railway.
I recently visited Look Memorial Park with my family. I first visited the park last summer with my older son. We had so much fun that we decided to return this year with my wife and younger son. We first set out to visit the park's 5,000-square-foot spray park. It was a hot day and my two sons had a blast exploring the various ground jets, bucket dumps and water umbrellas. After a change of clothes, we explored one of the playscapes and the wildlife center. What we were most looking forward to was a ride on the park's miniature steamer train. Manufactured by Wichita, Kansas-based Chance Rides, the miniature train is a replica of the circa-1863 C.P. Huntington steam locomotive. The train runs every half hour on the weekends and rides last about 10 minutes. The train is transformed into 'Santa's Train' during the Christmas holiday season and it can also be rented for birthday parties. The train ride was easily the highlight of our park visit. We look forward to visiting Look Memorial Park again and again!