Natick Report

More than you really want to know about Natick, Mass.

Natick Recreation and Parks fall brochure is out; Red Hawk Fest for high school students

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The Natick Recreation and Parks fall 2022 brochure has dropped, and registration for its many programs starts for Natick residents on Tuesday, Aug. 30, at high noon.

Register online. For questions prior to registration, call the office at 508-647-6530.

Natick, fall 2021

 

Fun and affordable programs include sports movement classes for all ages; arts and crafts; drama workshops; Teen Center; first aid and CPR certification courses; e-sports leagues featuring Mario Kart, Super Smash Bros., and others; adaptive and inclusive programs for individuals with special needs; and so much more.

Red Hawk Fest 2022 for high school students

EVENT: A free festival for high school students who live in or attend school in Natick
DATE: Sunday, Aug. 28
TIME: 4pm
LOCATION: Natick High School Memorial Field

Hosted and sponsored by Natick Police Department and Natick Public Schools

Red Hawk Fest is an opportunity for high school students to connect with friends as everyone transitions back into the school year. The event is designed for students only*, but will be supervised by the Natick Police and Natick Public School staff. Students will enjoy FREE food and fun including:

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Natick has been a dry town for much of this summer

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After a July that brought thirteen days during which temperatures reached over 90 degrees, combined with a measly 0.62″ of rainfall in the Boston area according to the National Weather Service, brown lawns in Natick are having a moment, and maybe even a proud one at that. After all, how better to virtue signal, “in our house we believe climate change is real,” than by taking the sprinkler system offline and letting nature take its course?

Natick, brown lawns

 

Lately as we drove around the various neighborhoods of Natick, manicured green lawns certainly were in evidence, but seemed to be in the minority. One reason could be that the town hasn’t made it effortless for homeowners to keep the grass green on either side of the fence.

Restrictions put into place last month mandated a two day/week watering schedule for both residents and businesses. Those occupying a building with an odd number street address must limit nonessential water use, including lawn and garden watering. to Monday and Thursday from the hours of 5pm on the select day until 9am the following day.

Residents and businesses occupying a building with an even number street address must limit nonessential water use, including lawn and garden watering, to Tuesday and Friday from the hours of 5pm on the select day until 9am the following day.

There is to be no non-essential outdoor water use on Wednesdays, Saturdays, or Sundays.

And don’t think about taking your bucket down to the South Natick Dam to scoop up some water to spread on your lawn. The pickings are mighty slim there.

South Natick dam, drought

Could the tide be turning against the perfect green lawn as the ultimate outdoor status symbol? It’s too early to call brown Natick lawns a trend, but the situation bears watching. It’s not too late to join in. Although the long-term forecast calls for more civilized temperatures in the 70s and 80s, and it looks like some rainclouds are on the horizon, summer is far from over. Your lawn can still transition to a beautiful brown expanse, a nonverbal embodiment of your feelings about water conservation.

Natick, brown lawns

 

Natick, brown lawns

 

Wellesley garden

10 summertime things to do in Natick, Massachusetts

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There’s lots to do in the summer time in Natick. Here’s our top-10 list things to do in Natick on summer days and nights. Don’t see your favorite? Let us know at natickreport@gmail.com

1) Dug Pond

Natick’s favorite place to cool off, Memorial Beach at Dug Pond, is open and available to both Natick residents and non-residents through Sunday, August 14.

memorial beach dug pond

Beach hours:
Mon.-Fri: noon-7pm
Sat. & Sun: noon-6pm

There’s a complicated pricing structure you can study up on here before you go. Lifeguards are on duty and swim lessons are available (but classes fill up fast). No concession stand this year. The changing rooms and bathrooms are open, but the  showers are not available. Docks and ladders are in the water, the diving board will be closed indefinitely. Sounds like a lot of rules to take in, but once you feel that breeze come across the beach, and you’re splashing around in the water, the summertime vibe just takes over.

2) Bike the Cochituate Rail Trail

The Cochituate Rail Trail is a 4-mile multi-use trail that runs from Natick Center to Saxonville in Framingham. The trail officially opened in late 2021 and has been an instant hit among cyclists, runners, and walkers for its smooth, paved surface that covers defunct train tracks. We like to park in the lot adjacent to Navy Yard Field at 41 South St., or at the circle at the end of Chrysler Road next to Home Depot and access the trail there.

Cochituate Rail Trail, Natick

3) Mini-golf at Village Green

Colonial-themed Village Green with its Ben Franklin statue and Statue of Liberty replica, historic-themed buildings, and huge center flag pole is a route 9 institution. Management seems always one step ahead of upkeep needs at the tidy 315 Worcester St., recreational spot, popular with families as well as the dating crowd. Prices are reasonable, and you win a free round if you sink a hole-in-one on #18.

Golf on the Village Green

4) Big golf at Sassamon Trace Golf Course

Sassamon Trace is a nine-hole executive length golf course designed in the classic tradition with the beginning golfer in mind. The public course,  located at 233 South Main St., opened in 2001.

Lessons are available, as are leagues for men, women, and juniors. The course hosts events such as an upcoming tournament to support the Natick Sons & Daughters of Italy. Register for the Sept. 16 event here.

5) Ice cream at Park Street and Maggie & Milo’s

Park Street Ice Cream Shoppe at 14 Park St., on Natick Common has been a family-owned town classic since 1980. Get your cones, sundaes, milk shakes and more at their indoor counter or the outdoor take-out window. They’ve got standard flavors like vanilla, chocolate, mint chip and more, but Park Street isn’t afraid to get a little wild with stuff like coffee oreo, vanilla lemon meringue, and orange pineapple chip.

Park Street Ice Cream, Natick

Maggie & Milo’s opened up at 57 Eliot St., in South Natick last summer, and the neighborhood (and those beyond) instantly embraced the place, owned by the folks who supply you with caffeine at the Charles River Coffee House. Maggie and Milo’s has had a late start this summer due to a staffing shortage, but we’ve seen their “open” flag flying during a few recent drive-bys (not that we’re stalking them for the salted caramel pretzel frappes we got addicted to last summer, or anything). In addition to ice cream, they’ve got hot dogs and savory snacks.

6) Fitness Trail behind Leonard Morse Hospital & other Natick trails

Editor’s note: the placement of a fitness activity directly after the ice cream listing was intentional.

During the early days of COVID, we often hit the trails behind Leonard Morse Hospital. It was a time when every other hiking area in town seemed overrun with desperate people who had never hiked before, and therefore knew only of the most obvious spots they’d previously driven by.

heavy big on leonard morse fitness trail

During a recent visit to the area, we were pleasantly surprised to see the addition of a punching bag to the pull-up/chin-up bar area. Since we are way better at hitting the bag than pulling or chinning ourselves up, we’re pretty happy about the new fitness arrival.

More on Natick Trails here.

7) Catch live theater by Natick’s newest performing arts group

Actors Company of Natick is a new theater company, on a mission to create art with a purpose, and they’re starting out strong with overlapping performances this summer of Julius Caesar, July 22-30 and You’re a Good Man Charlie Brown, July 23-31, both taking place at Kennedy Middle School’s brand-new 450-seat auditorium.

Tickets here.

8) Visit Art Alley then catch dinner at a Natick Center restaurant

If you’ve never heard of Art Alley, seek out the creative spot, tucked away on Adams Street in Natick Center. You could think of Art Alley as a gallery that’s open 24/7, an eclectic outdoor installation, an ongoing public art project, or a combination of all three. Look for Ginger McEachern’s UnconVENTional Garden; Denise Girardin’s peacelovenatick01760; Wings of the Butterfly; and more.

Natick Art Alley

After, try out one of Natick Center’s great restaurants. The newest addition is 7 South Bottle + Kitchen, an American comfort food spot located in the former Dolphin seafood location. Also nearby are Agostino’s (Italian); Buttercup (farm-to-table); Dah-Mee (Asian), and more.

9) Catch a Legion baseball game

Head over to Mahan Field near the high school and catch high quality Natick Legion baseball during the day or under the lights.

John Carrol Baseball Complex at Mahan Field, Natick

10) Go to the Natick Cultural District on a Thursday night

Food, shopping, music, and family-friendly fun is on the agenda every Thursday night during Natick Nights in the Natick Cultural District. Every Thursday night features a different theme and schedule of events.

Coming up on July 21: 

5pm-7:30pm—The annual summer ArtWalk festival. Downtown Natick’s largest summer arts festival will feature painters, photographers, potters, jewelry-makers, quilters, glass artists and mixed media artists who will show and sell their work in conjunction with many of the center’s businesses. Washington Street in Natick Center will also be closed to vehicular traffic during the event for outdoor dining, and local restaurants will have booths set up on the street.

7:30pm-9pm—Los Goutos will bring their modern Americana music to the Common.

natick concert on common

Cochituate State Park in Natick closed June 28-30 (updated)

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(Update (6/30/22): This post has been updated to reflect an extension of the closure.)

The Department of Conservation and Recreation is closing Cochituate State Park in Natick on Tuesday, June 28 through Thursday, June 30 for invasive aquatic species control work.

DCR points to alternative local state parks such as Callahan State Park in Framingham and Ashland State Park in Ashland.

Cochituate State Park spring

Please send tips, photos, ideas to natickreport@gmail.com

Tour de Natick was a fun Father’s Day ride, not an intense race

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As over 250 cyclists readied themselves for the Natick Rotary Club-organized Tour de Natick at the starting point between the post office and the Common Street Spiritual Center, a police officer shouted out a friendly directive: “Remember, this is a ride, not a race.”

The goal: have fun and keep the action on the 6-mile Tour de Natick course as unlike the Tour de France as possible—no crazy speeds, no glaring at the upstart about to pass you, no hyper-competitive peloton groupings. The annual Father’s Day tradition (except for two bye years due to that pesky pandemic) went off without a hitch, and raised nearly $10,000 to fund college scholarships for Natick students through race entrance fees and the event’s  20+ generous sponsors.

Tour de Natick

 

Tour de Natick

Rotary Club president Mark Canegallo said, “We’re super thankful to our sponsors. Middlesex Savings Bank has been with us every single year for 19 years. TJX stepped up as a new corporate sponsor for us, and Bernardi Auto is a major sponsor as well. Coach & Carriage Auto Body has always been a sponsor.” In addition, Wegman’s donated the food for the post-race bar-b-que.

 

Natick Rotary Club, Tour de Natick

In addition to the scholarship program, the Club gives a dictionary to each of Natick’s approximately 300 third graders. Over the past 15 years over 8,000 dictionaries, each one personalized with the receiving student’s name, have been donated.