Outdoors Archives - Page 2 of 22

10 summertime things to do in Natick, Massachusetts

July 5, 2023 by Deborah Brown 4 Comments

There’s lots to do in the summer time in Natick. Here are our top-10 choices for fun in town 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 (West Street – next to the Natick High School), is open and available to both Natick residents and non-residents daily through Sunday, August 13. The beachfront area features changing rooms, a snack stand, and dock.

memorial beach dug pond — Memorial Beach at Dug Pond, Aug. 2020

Beach hours
Mondays-Fridays: noon-7pm
Saturdays & Sundays: noon-6pm

Rates for Natick residents range from $4 for a daily pass for ages 60+ on up to $160 for a season pass for households of four or more. The household/family plan passes are for Natick residents only. Rates are higher for non-residents who would like to use the pond, You can see the entire pricing structure here. Lifeguards are on duty and swim lessons are available (but classes fill up fast).

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

Summer hours:
Monday-Thursday: noon-9pm
Friday: noon-10pm
Saturday: 11:30am-10pm
Sunday: noon-9pm

Maggie & Milo’s opened up at 57 Eliot St., in South Natick in 2021, 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. In addition to ice cream, they’ve got hot dogs and savory snacks.

Summer hours:
Monday-Thur: noon-9pm
Friday: noon-10pm
Saturday: 11:30am-10pm
Sunday: noon-9pm

Dairy Queen (323 N. Main St.)
Summer hours: 11am-9:30pm, daily

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.

We often hit the trails behind Leonard Morse Hospital. It’s one of the town’s quiet hiking spots, and there’s ample parking. Last summer we sparred with the punching bag in the pull-up/chin-up bar area before exploring the other fitness options along the trail. We’ll check back to see if that bag is still there or if it finally had enough of our fierce body blows.

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

Actors Company of Natick, a 2022 addition to the area’s theater scene, is on a mission to create art with a purpose. This summer’s production is the Tony Award-winning musical, “Into The Woods.” The show will run July 21-July 30, at the Keiter Center for the Performing Arts, located at the Walnut Hill School for the Arts (146 Bacon St, Natick).

“Into The Woods” intertwines the classic tales of Cinderella, Little Red Riding Hood, Jack and the Beanstalk, and Rapunzel, exploring the consequences of pursuing one’s wishes and the unforeseen challenges that arise on the path to happiness. With a delightful blend of humor, heart, and poignant storytelling, this production is set to transport audiences into a world of fantasy and self-discovery.

Tickets here.

8) Get artsy at Natick Nights, visit Art Alley, then catch dinner at a Natick Center restaurant

Every Thursday night during the summer, neighbors can find food, shopping, music, and family-friendly fun in the Natick Cultural District during Natick Nights. Every Thursday night, 5pm-7:30pm features a different theme and schedule of events.

The activity continues with the Concerts on the Common series at the gazebo on Natick Common—the July 6 lineup includes music by Jam Sandwich, 5pm-7:30pm, directly followed by The Max Klau Band.

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. The Adams Street Art Alley will feature beer, wine, food, and music on July 13 & 27.

natick concert on common — Natick concert on Common, 2022.

While you’re out and about, try out one of Natick Center’s great restaurants. You can bring the family for pizza at Comella’s (45 Main St.); enjoy Mediterranean fare at Dates and Olives (28 N. Main St.); or go a bit beyond the Cultural District for Chinese and Japanese cuisine at Shanghai & Tokyo (55 E. Central St.). Here’s our Natick Restaurants page for a listing of all the places in town from Natick Center to route 9.

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.

Natick Post 107 will host the 2023 Senior Department Championship Tournament. The Tournament will be held at Natick’s Mahan Field beginning on Saturday, July 22, 2023. More info on times to follow.

10) Visit the Natick Farmers Market

The Natick Farmer’s Market is officially in its summer home located outdoors on the Common and offers over 30 vendors, live music, and an all-around great vibe. Please leave your pets at home per Health Department regulations.

DATE: Every Saturday (year-round)
TIME: 9am-1pm
LOCATION: Natick Common

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Eddie’s Park in Natick formally dedicated in honor of Eddie Kramer

June 28, 2023 by Ella Stern 1 Comment

The town of Natick, FIDO of Natick, and the Kramer family this past Sunday hosted the formal dedication of Eddie’s Park, the dog park on Rte. 135, which was named after the Kramers’ late son. While there was immeasurable grief that went into the creation of this dog park, the June 25 event was one of celebration and community. The attendees were the Kramers’ friends and family and neighbors, as well as people who just enjoy the dog park, here to support them and what they have accomplished to honor their son.

In 2014, Glenn and Allison Kramer’s 18-month-old son Eddie passed away suddenly. They needed an outlet for their own grief and for their loved ones’ support and energy, and they wanted a legacy for Eddie. Then, they heard about FIDO of Natick, a group in town that had been working on creating a dog park, and they decided to get involved.

Dog parks already had a special place in the Kramer family’s hearts. When Glenn and Allison had lived in New York City while they were dating, they often stopped at a dog park on the Upper East Side. They didn’t even have a dog, but they loved watching the dogs play. More than that, Eddie had loved dogs.

The dog park project has been a huge part of the Kramer family’s life since then. They have sat through innumerable meetings; they’ve listened to arguments against the park; their daughters have gotten involved; they’ve had a groundbreaking and a soft opening and a socially distanced opening—and, finally, they had this event.

The dog park will change in one important way from now on. At the event, Glenn Kramer spoke of the sense of fulfillment and reward he felt when the dog park opened and he saw strangers there—people who weren’t there because they knew Glenn or Allison or Eddie, but just because they were grateful for a place to have fun with their dog. But now, visitors to the dog park will know the story behind it. At the event, two of Glenn and Allison’s daughters unveiled a plaque honoring Eddie. The plaque will now be displayed at the dog park.

Throughout the process of creating this dog park, the Kramers have strengthened their appreciation for their community. They met lots of new people through their work with the dog park. After all, many parts of Natick government were involved: the Conservation Commission, the Planning Board, the Select Board, and more. They also have continuously felt the support of their loved ones. To the gathered crowd, Glenn said, “Your love, support, and your grief have been felt…We’ve never felt alone.” His loved ones attended meetings, wrote letters, and donated generously in support of the dog park. When they asked how the dog park was coming along, he knew they were really asking how he and his family were feeling.

Many people listen to the speakers at the event — A crowd came out in support

Finally, Glenn talked about Eddie—who he was and who he is.

Eddie was a stubborn, opinionated 18-month-old who was destined to become the class clown. He liked running, snacks and deserts, shoes and hats, and dogs.

Eddie is a teacher. “He taught me more than anyone could about life, grief, death, perspective. He taught me that not everyone grieves the same way, and it’s okay to talk about loss with other grievers. He’s forever part of our story…The park is now, forever, a part of our story. It’s Eddie’s legacy,” Glenn said.

To maintain that legacy, FIDO of Natick needs volunteers and donations. Glenn encouraged the gathered crowd—and the residents of Natick—to do their part. “This park, Eddie’s Park, should outlast us, but it’s not gonna happen on its own…It’s up to us to maintain the park and Eddie’s legacy.”

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Curl up outside with a good book in Natick’s new Outdoor Reading Rooms

May 23, 2023 by Deborah Brown 3 Comments

In celebration of the Morse Institute Library’s 150th anniversary, the Town of Natick, the Morse Institute Library, and local artists have partnered to install and maintain two temporary Outdoor Reading Rooms on the front lawn of the Morse Institute Library.

Outdoor Reading Rooms are open-air ‘rooms’ where anyone may sit and read—no library card needed.

Take a look at the Outdoor Reading Room installations on the front lawn of the Morse Institute Library. No need to sequester yourself inside with a good book when there are welcoming spaces outside.

Natick Library, outdoor reading room — Come in and set a spell in the Morse Institute Library’s outdoor reading room, created by local artist Paul Belenky. Rustic wood pieces used in this installation were donated by the Keough family

The Outdoor Reading Rooms will serve the community through the summer months.

This public art program is possible due to the generosity of Cognex and the New England Foundation for the Arts.

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Natick seeks input on accessible cycling program for rail trail

April 2, 2023 by Bob Brown Leave a Comment

The public is invited to fill out a survey before April 14 about a trial program being planned by Natick to bring adaptive and accessible cycling to the Cochituate Rail Trail.

The survey is for those who might want to use such equipment, those who might want to help others use it, and anyone who has experience with such programs or has ideas about the program.

If you need assistance completing the form, please contact Melissa Carter, coordinator of adaptive programs for the Recreation and Parks Department at mcarter@natickma.org.

The town’s plan is to acquire an adaptive/accessible bicycle and a storage shed, and offer opportunities for riders or their families to make a reservation. Users would be matched with a volunteer who will give them a ride.

TriShaw Example 3 — Sample bike being considered

The MetroWest Health Foundation and MathWorks Community Grant Program are supporting this trial.

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Take a load off: Natick getting more public Adirondack chairs

March 22, 2023 by Bob Brown Leave a Comment

Natick’s starting to look downright lazy given the amount of Adirondack chairs in the wild here.

The Common will be the next place in AdiroNatick to get an infusion of these high-backed, slatted lounge chairs, thanks to a partnership between the Recreation and Parks Commission and Natick Center Cultural District. The chairs will be located near the gazebo and will of course, get fancy paint jobs by local artists.

If you get shut out of an Adirondack chair at the Common this summer, rest assured that you can always head over to the First Church across the street….