Endean Recreation area, Norwood, MA

Marjorie Turner Hollman is a writer who loves the outdoors. Link to all Marjorie’s books.

The new trail guide, Easy Walks South of Boston, uses the same template as the other trail guides, with information about Easy Walks (not too many roots or rocks, relatively level with firm footing and something of interest along the way) in towns that are contiguous to each other.

Recently I had the chance to visit several of the trails that will be in the book. Here’s what I found at Endean Recreation area in Norwood:

For a park right at the edge of the downtown, Endean is remarkably quiet. The thirty-six acres of open space offer a lot to visitors. Open grassy areas, paved and crushed gravel paths, woodland, open fields, ball fields, a public swimming pool, and a community garden promise something for nearly everyone, all within walking distance of a busy downtown.

Just beyond the cement swimming pool that was built in 1949 are two ponds, one with a fountain spraying water into the air, a delightful sight on a warm summer’s day. Both ponds are encircled by blooming wildflowers.

Water from Hawes Brook, which flows adjacent to the park, was diverted into these two ponds to offer separate bathing areas for men and women.

Once the current town pool was constructed the swimming holes were converted into ponds. They are now stocked annually with fish for the yearly town fishing derby. Another fun event at the former swimming holes is the rubber duck race. I am all in favor of cheering on rubber ducks!

A series of wide, level cement and/or asphalt walkways has been built at this property. Large trees provide plenty of shade and, for which I was truly grateful. A bridge near the ponds carries visitors over the outlet and into the brook, which cascades in a pleasing manner on its way to the nearby Neponset River. Additional paths head through woodland and the community gardens.

A 9-hole “disc golf course” invites participants to bring their small, round, plastic discs along the course and have fun with their friends. Keep an eye out, just as you would if walking through a regular golf course!

My collaborators, Marilyn and Dave Doré, have done a masterful job conducting the field work, and fact-checking the manuscript of the upcoming book. They also provided great photos of each trail/park/rail trail.

Towns covered include Avon, Abington, Bridgewater, East Bridgewater, West Bridgewater, Brockton, Canton, Dedham, Hanson, Holbrook, Norton, Norwood, Randolph, Rockland, Stoughton, Westwood, and Whitman.

Happy trails!

Marjorie

Marjorie Turner Hollman is a writer who loves the outdoors, and is the author of Easy Walks in Massachusetts, 2nd edition, More Easy Walks in Massachusetts, 2nd edition, Easy Walks and Paddles in the Ten Mile River Watershed, Easy Walks South of Boston and Finding Easy Walks Wherever You Are. Her memoir, the backstory of Easy Walks, is My Liturgy of Easy Walks: Reclaiming hope in a world turned upside down.