I love to walk. I used to get exercise at Planet Fitness. I…read moreleft their a few months ago and started walking outside instead of on a treadmill in an indoor environment. Normally, I go to Bird Park in Walpole or Millenium in West Roxbury, but when I don't feel like driving very far, off to the Father Max field I go! Father Max is a large complex in a small neighborhood area, visible from the Norwood Senior Center, and located at the intersection of Hawthorne Street & Vernon Street, easily accessible via Winter & Prospect Streets in Norwood. It has 2 large fields, as well as a large pool complex area (that gets very busy in the summer!), a playground, and a baseball field. Each of the large fields are perfect for walking around, and bringing pets. here are also large soccer nets for the athletes. Playground is great for kids with slides, swings and more. Parking lot on Hawthorne Street as well. Good neighborhood park, perfect for any day (except thunderstorms....). 4 stars.

It is a very beautiful, well-maintained park I only walked a mile so far, on a pleasant summer…read moreday, but will go back.

Noanet Woodlands is another favorite woodsy area to add to my list (another recent favorite is…read moreanother Trustees property in Andover, the Ward Reservation). The two are somewhat similar with different color coded trails and a trail to reach a summit for the skyline of Boston (I didn't check that out here at Noanet Woodlands for this trip). I enjoyed coming here on the weekend: it was moderately trafficked (which I like so it's not *too* isolated), and easy/moderate trails (I prefer long, ambling hikes). The only thing is that the orange trail I took was a bit confusing/not super clear. The overall system does a good job, but I would be sure to download a map/have AllTrails active to ensure you don't end up in the wrong spot. I fortunately ran into some folks who helped me get back on track, but a heads up that it could get confusing as it did for me. Otherwise, a wonderful shady (important to know on hotter days) set of trails that I would recommend!

LOVED this park in the fall months!! It's picturesque and surrounded by wonderful shops, pubs and…read morerestaurants. Lots of history in the park as well as memorials and beautiful churches. This time of year before it gets REAL chilly in the northeast is the best time to go. You can easily take the rail out here from the city. I loved frolicking in the fall foliage and taking tons of pics! If you enjoy running and or just going for a stroll you will enjoy this area as well. There are some elevation changes more in the downtown square and just so much to look at! Sweet running store in the area that does social runs! Incredible food and coffee too. What more could you ask for? Pretty houses here as well and it is an affluent part of New England so just fun to browse and see the sights. This area was a pleasant surprise and (the Texan in me) can't wait to visit during warm weather!

Not far from the Norwood Depot train station, this park is the center of Norwood. The common has a…read morenumber of veterans monuments and memorials but is also a green space that functions as a park. Several benches and picnic tables are all around. The bandshell is used for "concerts on the common" and a handful are already scheduled for Sunday evenings through the 2021 season, http://www.norwoodma.gov/residents/holidays_and_community_events/concerts-on-the-common.php There is street parking nearby. [Review 15252 overall, 754 of 2021, number 1111 in Massachusetts.]

Ah pictures are on the digi cam and I haven't pulled them yet…read more Houghton's pond is a nice local spot to us. It's got plenty of free parking, small park for the kiddos, a viewing area for the marsh, beach side is small but nice for picnic and swim. Plenty of geese and ducks that leave their natural presents all over the beach haha but that's nature. It's def a chill spot, i normally only ever went there as a meeting point when we are riding our motorbikes and meeting up with other friends. There are porta-potty bathrooms available between the beach and the kids park. Looks to be area for food vendors but don't know if it's going to open for the summer or not haha.

I've been going to Houghton's Pond for years! It's one of…read morethe many ponds in town and is always a great place to go for chill vibes. Popular for tanning in the summer & taking kids to play. They have a playground that's perfect to bring the kids. I love having picnic days here & going for after dinner walks here! Parking: lots of free parking available & is right off the highway Exit 3 Houghton's Pond or Exit 2B.

One of - okay THE - nicest playground I've been to so far…read more It is always clean. There are plenty of benches for weary caregivers to rest while the kids run around and burn off that endless supply of energy. There are two play structures, both with slides and an array of climbing structures separated by a fence. One side for tots and one for older kids. There's a substantial set of swings (6 total - one for all ages). The playground is adjacent to a set of large baseball fields, tennis and basketball courts. There is no parking lot but I've never had trouble finding an on street space on beautiful LaGrange street. Its proximity to the plenty of shops and restaurants along Centre Street lend to making the visit to the playground a multi-purpose outing. I know how much effort it took to get the kids loaded up and out the door - so let's make the most of it! While it can get busy, it's never been so overwhelmingly crowded that my introverted personality couldn't handle it. I've always been very comfortable with the amount of kids and guardians. This is our favorite playground in the city so far, it has become our regular spot.

Great playground in West Roxbury that includes a baseball field, basketball courts and a field that…read moreyou can play soccer or even see some and entertainment my provided by DCR. I recently went there to see you too cover band called The Joshua Tree. It was very very exciting and end it hosted anybody he wanted to go there for free.

" Great walking area"…read more Def come here if in the area . Great walking spot . Nice views the park never gets old lots to do .

Very clean and nice park! I liked the sidewalks/pavement to run on. Good scenery with a lake/pond…read moreduring the run! Had soccer fields and playground I believe. They had plenty of parking! They also had a track if you prefer a flare surface and or want to get a speed workout in! The park I noticed had only porta potties and no actual restrooms

This park was great when it opened. And it was continuing on a great path of PROGRESS…read more Then all of the progress STOPPED completely! Now everything has been left, and everything is already overgrown. They need to finish it! Yet, it is a full volunteer committee, so they can work on it when they want. Who ever decided to make this a park, made a great decision though.... it's in a wonderful location (as nearby Norwood really doesn't have a large park like this). Yet they need to keep working on this or hire other people, because the paths already need work, and lots of shrubs are overgrowing. All in all, I enjoy this park and would give it 5 stars, yet won't be until they hire others or keep working on it and learn what "UPKEEP" means. I would suggest this park for others, yet for now (until the park is fixed), I would HIGHLY suggest Bird Park in Walpole.

Nice little park with interesting history. A little swampy after the rain but beautiful wetlands…read moreare fun to see

Well, there isn't a mountain here. I went to the "summit". It was a total of 236' of elevation…read moregain. On a 2+ mile walk. And though they have signs directing you to a summit view, the view is of trees. Parking lot is tiny. Maybe holds 10 cars. Yet I probably saw 30 other people while I was out. Considering you hear lots of traffic noise the whole time, you actually feel like you are in the deep wilderness due to the surroundings.

While local lab owners treat this like an off-leash dog park, it is NOT OFF LEASH…read more Why? It is next to a HIGHWAY. You can hear the HIGHWAY the entire time you are walking. If your dog gets spooked, he could end up dead, killing people in the process. The sides that aren't highway are busy roads. Please leash your dog. It's a very busy place, and there are legit and safer off leash parks nearby (Dedham dog park, Rocky Woods in Medfield, Charles River Peninsula in Needham) that are better places to let your dog roam.