Fells will always have a special place in my heart. So many trails to choose from. You can do easy…read moreto medium difficulty trails. You can rent a kayak and explore the pond in the center of the reservation. Plenty of spots for mountain biking. Sheepfold Dog Park is where I mostly go so I can hike off-leash with my doggy. It's accessible by T (Orange Line to Oak Grove, then about a 10 minute walk to trailhead), but there are also multiple entry points with parking. Visit Fells year-round for beautiful scenery and a lovely time in nature!

The fells is a magical place. I came around sunset time (maybe an hour or so before sunset) and…read moreparked near the boat rental parking lot (paddle Boston). From here you can easily walk right to the waters edge heading toward pickerel rock. I found it to be an excellent place to be alone with your thoughts. The tranquil water and nature sounds were so calming and wonderful! As the sunsets over Spot pond and night falls, it honestly brought tears to my eyes because of how gorgeous it was.

No, this park doesn't have the name recognition that our beloved Middlesex Fells or the Arnold…read moreArboretum have for the outdoorsy types to get out and enjoy nature within a 15-20 minute drive of the city. But don't let that hamper potential plans to visit this stunningly large (200 acres!) and very secluded, walk-able trail wetlands park hidden behind some shopping in Burlington. Parking can be tricky and I often park up at the Northeastern campus which is behind the Wayside Commons shopping center. There is an area in the left hand corner of the parking lot to enter right into some great trails which are all adequately labeled. The website lists other places near some soccer fields in both Woburn and Burlington. The trails are in great shape and there are maps to show you where it is a little worse in the wetlands section. I came across these once and ended up just walking up the side of the trail as opposed to right down the middle where the water sat. They offer monthly, guided walks that look like they are totally free, although I've never been on one to confirm. I believe it is the first Saturday of every month. If you're in the area, try to seek this out because I can guarantee you won't be disappointed. My dog loves it here too and it feels like you're nowhere near the city once you get deep enough into the woods or on the wetlands trails.

This is a great area for walks. It feels safe and secure. There are sometimes people flying planes…read moreand they are very friendly people and the planes are fun to look at. The paths are worn unevenly so people with balance issues should keep an eye out as they walk. I really enjoy this park for quick walks.

A decent community field that houses 2 baseball fields and lots of field space. There is parking in…read morea small adjoining lot or along a side street.

Big local park! Great to have such space in the neighborhood. This is in the middle of my running…read moreroute. Nice to see family, kids, children playing sports.

You know you're entering a new phase in your life when you start writing reviews of playgrounds…read moreinstead of awesome restaurants/bars. That's right, yelpers... parenthood and old age are staring you down. Cummings Park Playground is the favorite playground for my 1.25yr old. The climbing/play structures are built on large sand areas, so it's like a giant sandbox (with clean sand no less). There are quite a few donated toys lying around (many of which are trucks), so there's lots to play with. 3 toddler swings, 2 big kid swings. A small basketball court with one hoop. The whole park is nicely laid out. I feel perfectly comfortable just sitting back on one of the benches and letting him walk around and explore. The best part is that its primarily used by 1-4yr olds, and there is almost always some kids there to play with (especially in the mornings). It can get busy, but it never gets too busy/insane (like Alexander W. Kemp playground in Harvard Sq). Generally speaking, the big kids and teenagers keep away. The worst part is that it has very little shade. In fact, there is no shade on the climbing structures, so they can get hot in the middle of the day. There are a few trees, but they aren't positioned particularly well. All the exciting stuff that your kids will want to play with are in the sunny spots. So I would recommend it as a early/mid-morning playground.

A few years back, I looked at an apt right across the street from this park so I recently revisited…read morethis playground with my toddler (20 months). The first thing that struck me about this park were the separate play areas for under 5 and over 5 kiddos. I tend to go to the park on Summer St but there is only one structure and when the bigger kids play Tag, I always worry about my daughter getting knocked over or off the structure. The under 5 structure has only one opening through which there is potential for a fall; otherwise, the panels are closed. The structure offers opportunity to develop the gross motor skills through climbing and crawling through tubes. I genuinely appreciate the three baby swings as well as the sand (vs wood chips). Another big bonus is that Whole Foods is just a short walk down the street. There is a small basketball court adjacent to the playground but doesn't seem to be frequently utilized. This definitely seems to be a more family friendly park!

Great views of the Boston skyline, free street parking, and quiet peaceful vibes. What more can you…read moreask for? This is the perfect place for a picnic. I went midday on a Saturday and it was pretty quiet and a perfect calm picnic date. They seem to have newly renovated the space and there is a nice playground for the kids and some picnic tables at the bottom of the hill for families to enjoy. There was actually a birthday happening at the bottom of the hill when I was there.

A great place to enjoy some fresh air while taking in a beautiful view of Boston. This park…read morefeatures a newly renovated playground, lots of green space, and even activities such as movie nights or fourth of july fireworks specials. I love coming to the place and taking a moment to lie down on the grass and watch the clouds roll by. Bringing my boyfriend here and doing this made it all the more special too!

Beautiful park. Nice easy work to get to the shops. Smells good on a hot day as people are having…read moreBBQs. So many dogs to look at! A lot of parking if you drive there but it's an easy walk for us. Always comfortable to sit and have a snack here. There's some public bathrooms here too and they're always in good shape! Great park!

Solid little park. Theres a brand new track. At least 5 sport fields. Picnic tables. A small…read moreplayground. A water fountain to play in. You can walk around the perimeter. Great place to hang out.

Our little group had lunch in town, and two were staying a few nights to visit their son, who lives…read morenot far from here because his first job after college is in Boston. We then needed to walk the dog, and we went to Powderhouse Park. I can recommend it for a fifteen minute stroll around the perimeter, to walk the dog, or if you happen to be in the area. It has historical features of interest, which is a bonus. I am glad municipalities have green space. That is so important to live-ability. I would not say this facility is a destination. It's too small. Tufts University is nearby. The founder of that institution and the owner who bequeathed this land were cousins or something along those lines, according to the internet (a credible claim, though my fact checking was merely cursory). If I were associated with Tufts or lived nearby, I could see coming here on a regular basis. It was not crowded, which is nice.

It's a great park to walk your dog around…read more It's not the best park for a picnic, mainly because it's a great park to walk your dog around. You smell what I'm stepping in? The squirrels obviously get fed because they're fearless. Or maybe they're fearless because it's a great park to walk your dog around? Either way, they will steal your Sun Chips, so (again) leave the picnicking for another park. Still, a park is a park, even one with random topography that can induce vertigo and no real separation from the anarchy that is the Powderhouse rotary. I do find it fascinating that the original powder house is somewhat present, in a senile, flaccid sort of way. The retired turret. Old Stoneysides. And I still talk about the day when I can hold a keg party there. But I wouldn't know what to do; I'm always in the dark. Because a party with a powder keg will be giving off sparks. I really need it tonight.

Growing up in Malden, MA, "The Res" holds a special place to me. It has come back from the dead so…read moremany times, it's a 'park' that just won't die. It's not really a 'park'. It's an old reservoir that was left to become a pond. The water is nasty, and you may find dead animals floating in it. There's a few paths around it and through the woods. There is tons of fishing going on here. Every year the city holds a fishing derby and stocks the pond. Every winter kids flock to the "Seven Bumps", the hilly area of The Res. I'm not sure that you can count seven actual bumps in the winter, but it fits and has been called that for generations. At night, kids are probably drinking in the woods, and if you're walking your dog around it, it might get sprayed by a skunk. Despite all of these bad things, it looks nice when you're driving by. There are now 2 water fountains on either end of the pond, though I think only 1 works as of the summer of 2011. The city does try to clean it up, but since the water will never be cleaned fully, it kind of ends up being the largest dog park around.

A nice, but small neighborhood park. A nice escape from the nearby city bustle with some lovely…read morefountains. There was a bit of trash left around from discourteous people! Trail is good for jogging or biking though. Should have snapped some photos!

Love coming here after work for a swim in the summer! I usually go to some of the other spots along…read morethe lake but I stay on the same side so I can watch the sunset across the lake. I usually bike over you can go along the road with a few spots going through bike paths. Overall a beautiful spot. The water is impossible warm even at the beginning on the summer.

The free parking is a big draw but it fills up fast on hot days and leads to a packed beach. The…read morewater is dark but seems to warm up fast which makes swimming more enjoyable. It's super convenient if you're in the area but I wouldn't recommend traveling far to visit.

This park was a short walk from the Main Street in Arlington (Mass Ave). There are lots of benches,…read morepretty views, and a wide pedestrian and bike path.

Love spy pond. Its a cute little park. You can stroll along the water. There are picnic benches all…read morealong the walk. Theres a kids play structure. The bike path runs right behind the park. People also go kayak in the pond.