Manson Park, Pittsfield

The expansive lawns at Manson Park were beautifully mown when I visited. With few people joining me at the park on the day I visited, it felt like I was wandering around the private estate of an English country manor. I wish!

Paved paths make their way around the grounds, shaded by the kind of trees that children draw (with fluffy tops perched atop a straight trunk). The park, which was built in 1948, has a playground, tennis courts, a baseball diamond, basketball court, horseshoe pit (I didn’t see it, though), and picnic tables. While no formal trail runs along the Sebasticook River, it’s easy to traverse along the banks of its shallow, rock-strewn waters for a short distance. You can also cut through some high grass to a nearby swinging bridge for snowmobiles and continue exploring the wilder section of the park on the other side of the river. You can also climb up a short, steep grade to access the neighboring cemetery.

Directions: From downtown Pittsfield take Maine Street .2 miles and turn left onto Crosby Street. Continue along the windy street to the park’s parking area.