Date Visited: April 24, 2016
Location: Polly Lane, Walpole, MA
Cost: Free
Parking: I counted 25 parking spots in the main parking area outside the park. Parking is free. There may be several parking lots.
As the name suggests, there are lots of birds to watch at Francis William Bird Park. Either there are lots of robins at the park or I photographed the same one over and over.
There are more than birds at the park to catch your attention.
Such as trees and flowers
the ponds and streams
and the bridges (each bridge is made slightly differently)
The trails are easy and branch off to side trails. But, since it is all concentrated in one area it is hard to get lost there.
The tree below was planted in memory of Charles Sumner Bird, a paper manufacturer, candidate for governor of Massachusetts, resident of Walpole MA and the son of William Francis Bird.
Tip of the day; don’t get too close to a goose and his or her Cheetos.
You’re not supposed to feed the birds at William Francis (and you’re especially not supposed to feed them Cheetos). It’s not good for them physically and it creates more messes on the trail. But, of course, people still do.
Along the trails, there are benches and places to enjoy the outdoors. Or, you can just chill on a rock or log. There is also a restroom (open seasonly)
Charlot (pronounced Char-lo) is a local (local to Walpole) artist, storyteller and cultural and historical expert. He specializes in Haitian art and culture. He likes to go to the park to paint and relax. He was kind enough to let me photograph him painting. He calls the first painting Silhouette Of The Drum. he was also touching up a painting he had finished previously.
Charlot is very talented. You can find out more about him here.
There are also a variety of attractions for sportsmen and sportswomen. The trails make for great running surfaces. There are four tennis courts as well as a basketball backboard (but not a court) . There are also musical and other types of events during the summer by the main field.
Birds aren’t the only animals you will find at Francis William Bird Park. The park is also popular spot for dogs. The trails and open spaces make it a great place to take your pooch.
Henry is a 3 year old Basset Hound. Cute freckles on his left front paw!
Sophia is a 5 year old Newfoundland. Sophia reminded me of a Newfoundland we had. Beautiful dog.
Buddha is a 3 month old Hound mix. I love the eyebrows!
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April 25th, 2016 at 9:44 pm
Looks like a great place, I will have to check it out! Thank you for the tour!
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April 25th, 2016 at 9:53 pm
Thank you! Yes, I highly recommend it and tell Charlot I said hi!
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April 26th, 2016 at 1:08 am
It looks like a nice big park. Very pretty. Did the goose bite you? They can be nasty.
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April 26th, 2016 at 3:15 am
No, the goose didn’t bite me. Yes, they can be very nasty!
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April 26th, 2016 at 4:09 am
This park looks like a great place for walks and such nice dogs 😀
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April 26th, 2016 at 11:50 am
It is a very peaceful place. No one seemed rushed or anything. I thought meeting the artist was a nice surprise and the dogs were wonderful! Thank you, Irene!
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April 26th, 2016 at 12:12 pm
🙂 thank you for this pleasant visit. Have a nice day 🙂
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April 26th, 2016 at 12:33 pm
Thank you for stopping by and commenting! Have a nice day also!
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April 26th, 2016 at 7:54 pm
This is one of my favorite parks in the area. Especially when dog training. People with their dogs tend to be very respectful, there are usually lots of good distractions with the kids playground, people playing frisbee or ball in the large green courtyard area, the birds and squirrels and various trails to walk on. On weekends in the summers there are frequently community concerts and events. Plus it is a fairly accessible park for this area with many paved walkways, and a number of different parking areas around the park.
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April 26th, 2016 at 8:27 pm
I was impressed by the open spaces , the well maintained grounds (a compliment to the visitors to the park as much as the people who do the upkeep there) and well marked trails. It’s much bigger than you might think if you were driving by it. It is a hidden jewel. Thank you for stopping by and commenting!
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April 26th, 2016 at 8:10 pm
Looks like a great place to visit! I will have to add it to the list!
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April 26th, 2016 at 8:40 pm
I think you’d really like it there!
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April 29th, 2016 at 7:48 pm
Buddha is handsome!!
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April 29th, 2016 at 10:15 pm
He sure is!
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