By Douglas Maxwell Myer, Contributing Writer
Shrewsbury – Dean Park, off of Main Street about a mile past the Route 140 intersection, provides outdoor opportunities during all four seasons. The spacious park is a great location for a visit this fall – particularly those who are interested in nature or recreational activities.
Dean Park is open to Shrewsbury residents or visitors and can hold up to several hundred people. The front entrance on Main Street will bring you to the recreational part of the park to the left and to the right is a windy paved road that passes two baseball fields before reaching a parking lot by the southern part of Dean Park Pond. There you can have a picnic on the large grass lawns, walk your dog on a leash, wander through the scenic trails by foot or on a bike, and fish on the shoreline of the pond while enjoying a wonderful view of the water. Restrooms, benches, trashcans and recycling bins are available.
At the southern part of the pond there is a fountain that is colorfully illuminated at night during the summer months. The fountains were donated to the town of Shrewsbury by the Donahue family in memory of Irving James Donahue Jr. who passed away 12 years ago. The fountains were dedicated to Dean Park in 2004 and have been a unique asset ever since.
When walking along the southwestern side of Dean Pond there is a large oak tree by the water which provides some shade for a small rock in the ground in the formation of a little seat. Visitors can sit on this stone and have a fantastic view of the pond and its frequent occupants – ducks and geese.
When progressing up to the northwestern side of Dean Pond you have the option of going in two directions. If you take a left you’ll enter into Dean Park’s recreational area where you’ll first come across a large playground and a collection of basketball courts, tennis courts, baseball fields and a sand volleyball court. In this area, there is also a bandstand used during special occasions and several shade structures and picnic tables.
Taking a right from Dean Pond’s northwestern side, you’ll travel through a small forest along a crackled paved walkway. The trail splits off and you can either take the path that goes by the residential area of School Street or the walkway that travels beside Dean Pond. Both the recreational and nature side of Dean Park loop back to the front entrance off of Main Street.
