The Parks Department is responsible for the groundskeeping of all park properties and athletic fields that belong to the Town.
Bike Park at Green Street Woods
Located at Green St. and Beacon St., across from the Transfer Station.
Hours: Dawn to dusk.
For non-emergency questions or comments, to make a donation or get involved, please send an email to friendsofgsw@gmail.com.
A Shared Space for Riders, Walkers, and Wildlife
- Hours of operation: dawn to dusk
- This is an unsupervised facility; ride at your own risk
- Helmets, proper shoes, and knee and elbow pads are highly encouraged
- Only off-road capable bicycles; no motorized equipment
- Leash and pick up after your dog
- Carry out what you carry in. No littering. No glass containers
- No smoking, vaping, alcohol, or drugs
- No unauthorized alterations of the park or its features; please suggest improvements to friendsofgsw@gmail.com
- Please keep all noise, including music, at a respectable volume and adjust upon request
- Please stay on the trails and use the features as they were intended
- In case of emergency, please call 911
- For non-emergency questions or comments, to make a donation or get involved, please send an email to friendsofgsw@gmail.com
- Green Street Woods is a collaboration between the Town of Marblehead Recreation & Parks, NEMBA, and the Friends of Green Street Woods
Have Fun & Ride Responsibly!
Dog Park at Reynolds Playground
Located of off Lime St. (Street parking available)
Marblehead Recreation and Parks Department and Marblehead Animal Control will monitor the park on a regular, but not constant, basis and will require that all users comply with the dog park rules. Use of the Dog Park will be at the sole risk of those who use it.
Dog Park Rules
Dog Park Rules
The Marblehead Dog Park is a privilege, and therefore we ask all users to comply with the dog park rules for the benefit of everyone. Marblehead Recreation and Parks Department and Marblehead Animal Control will monitor the park on a regular, but not constant, basis and will require that all users comply with the dog park rules. Use of the Dog Park will be at the sole risk of those who use it.
The Town of Marblehead does not assume responsibility for injuries or damage to personal property.
This park is made available in accordance with laws governing recreational use (M.G.L. Chapter 21 Section 17c.)
The park is open sunrise to sunset.
The park is divided into two sections:
One section for small and sedentary dogs.
One for large and active dogs.
Owners must remain with and watch their dog(s) at all times.
Dogs must remain on a leash when entering and leaving the park.
The gates to each section and to the outside must remain closed at all times.
Dogs must remain unleashed while in the dog park, and prong, spike, or choke collars must be removed.
Dogs must be healthy, fully immunized, and licensed with the registration tag displayed on the collar.
Female dogs in heat, injured dogs, and dogs with open wounds are prohibited from the park.
Intact male dogs must be closely supervised.
Dogs exhibiting aggressive behavior are to be removed immediately.
Puppies must be at least six (6) months of age before entering the dog park.
Users must pick up after their dog(s) and dispose of their waste properly, not on the Marblehead Recreation and Parks Department property.
Any person who enters the park must be at least 18 years of age or of sufficient strength to control a dog and/or ward off unwelcome attention from dogs.
Castle Rock Park
This 1.20 acre park, located off Ocean Avenue on Marblehead Neck, gets its name from the castle-like private home next to the park. Once known as “Great Head”, Castle Rock was a lookout for arriving and departing fishing fleets and for pirate and enemy ships, both British and French. It offers spectacular views of the Atlantic Ocean with benches, fishing and off-shore sailing.
Chandler Hovey Park
Chandler Hovey Park, also known as Lighthouse Point, is located at the end of Follett Street, off Ocean Avenue on Marblehead Neck. The 3.74 acre park overlooks the mouth of the harbor and the shorelines of Beverly and Manchester-By-The-Sea and offers pavilions, benches, picnic tables, restrooms, swimming and parking. Originally owned by the U.S. government, it was purchased in 1948 by Marblehead resident Chandler Hovey, who donated it to the town. It is also the location of the Marblehead Light Tower.
Crocker Park
Crocker Park, with some of the best views of Marblehead Harbor, is situated on 2.82 acres of land off Front Street. The site of the park was originally known as Bartoll’s Head but was named after Uriel Crocker, who donated a large portion of the land to the town in 1885. The park is home to a plaque commemorating Marblehead’s contributions to the U.S. Navy. Crocker Park offers a pavilion and gazebo, benches, restrooms and a swimming float and hosts numerous weddings and summer-evening concerts.
Fort Sewall
Fort Sewall, formerly an armed fort owned by the United States and used to defend against British invaders, is now a peaceful park offering some of the best views of Marblehead Harbor. Originally known as Gale’s Head, it was later renamed Fort Sewall in honor of Marblehead native and Massachusetts Supreme Court Justice Samuel Sewall. The Fort’s greatest moment in history was on Sunday, April 3, 1814, when the U.S. Navy’s Constitution, being chased by two British frigates, escaped into Marblehead Harbor under the protection of the fort’s guns. The “Fort”, which was deeded to the town by the Federal Government in 1922, still contains bunkers and underground rooms once used to detain prisoners. It is located at the very end of Front Street and has restroom facilities.
Fountain Park
Fountain Park, at one time known as Bailey’s Head, was the site of a fort during the Revolutionary War and later the War of 1812 when it was called Fort Washington. The land was donated to the inhabitants of Marblehead by James J.H. Gregory in 1888. Fountain Park is located on Orne Street, opposite Old Burial Hill.
Hammond Park
Located at the end of Commercial Street next to the Municipal Light Department building, this small park provides benches overlooking Marblehead Harbor.
Memorial Park
This .32 acre parcel borders both Essex Street and Pleasant Street. Its benches allows visitors to relax while paying respect to Marblehead’s Fallen Heroes. The park honors those who have died at war with memorials for all wars and conflicts.
Seaside Park
Seaside Park, a portion of which was part of a town-owned farm known as Cow Fort, was laid out as a park in 1895. Its 33.7 acres consists of lighted tennis courts, a basketball court, baseball diamond, summer street hockey, winter sledding, exercise trails and a classic small-town grandstand. Seaside Park is located on Atlantic Avenue across from the Marblehead Police Station.
Fort Beach & Lovis Cove
Fort Beach, located at the entrance to Fort Sewall, offers a broad view of the end of Marblehead Neck and Chandler Hovey Park. The local fishermen still moor their dinghies (small boats) from “out-haul lines” fastened to the rocks. Opposite the beach fishermen have constructed picturesque wooden shacks for storing their gear and have decorated them with nets, buoys and other marine paraphernalia. Lovis Cove is located several yards from Fort Beach, opposite Selman Street. Also known as “Screeching Woman’s Beach,” local folklore has it that a 17th century pirate crew landed on the beach and murdered a woman passenger from a captured ship. She was buried in a nearby swamp, and “for 150 years, on the anniversary of her outrageous death, at the dead of night, her cries for help could be distantly heard.” Of the womans death, Oliver Wendall Holmes wrote:
“Of the screeching Woman of Marblehead
(The fearful story that turns men pale)
Don’t bid me tell it…
My speech would fail.”
Gas House Beach
This small community beach is located on Little Harbor in one of the oldest sections of the Marblehead waterfront. It was here, in 1629, that the first settlers established the “plantacion” called “Marble Harbor.” Gashouse Beach got its name from the gas generating plant that burned coal there in the late 1800’s to create gas for the town’s street and house lamps. Gashouse Beach is located on Gashouse Lane, off Orne Street.
Grace Oliver Beach
Grace Oliver Beach, less than one acre in size, is a community beach located off Beacon Street. It is named after the woman who during the 19th century lived in a house on nearby Doliber Point. The water is shallow and the beach well-protected, making it an ideal place for children.
Riverhead Beach
Riverhead Beach is on Marblehead Harbor, across the Causeway from Devereux Beach. Its 1.65 acres offers a beach area and a boat ramp.
Stramski’s Beach
Stramski’s Beach, on Salem Harbor, is located at Gerry Playground at the end of Stramski Way off West Shore Drive.