Above: Looking at the range of options in our area for water play this summer. (images L-R Marlborough Rec Facebook post and photo by Beth Melo)
With the extreme heat wave behind us, and the rain (mostly) gone for this week, it looks like a beautiful week for some classic summertime fun.
For those of you who aren’t planning trips to Cape/coastal beaches or lake houses, but are still eager to frolic in the sun and water, I’m posting this year’s updated details on local places to splash around.
Southborough doesn’t have any public wading areas of our own, but there are nearby options that residents can take advantage of.
The info below is just an overview. Before you visit, please click on links for details including rules of use for each facility. (Plus any updates from authorities if there’s an unexpected, temporary closing.)
Splash pads and wading pools may get quite hot some days, but they can be an easy option for some fun water play for young ones. The following are free and open for the season:
Marlborough:
- Splash pads at Ghiloni Park and Stevens Park are open daily from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm through September 1st. The Town website does warn of potential occasional automatic shutdowns “if the chemical levels fall outside standard parameters”.
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- Marlborough also has two shallow wading pools to splash in at Sawin Street and Ward Park. Those are open daily through August 24th, noon – 5:45 pm (with gates locked at 6:00 pm). Regular disposable diapers are prohibited in the pools, but “Little Swimmers Disposable Swim Pants are allowed”.
- Northborough’s Assabet Park includes a free splash pad open to the public on Sun, Mon, Wed, Fri, and Sat from 10:00 am – 6:00 pm, except in inclement weather. (It is closed on Tues & Thurs.) (No date is listed yet for when the season will end.)
Lake Swimming. If you’re family is too old for the above options (or your kids are demanding real swimming) then you may want to find a beach. No need to drive for hours in traffic. Take advantage of parks a stone’s throw away.
The state has three local swimming holes. Unfortunately, those can sometimes be closed due to bacteria issues. And parking can also fill up, especially on weekends.
DCR has a special “alerts” page to check for advisories here. (You can also check their tweets, since they have used it in the past to announce when a park’s parking lot reached full capacity.)
The State parks only charge admission for parking. You can borrow a free pass for the day from the Southborough Library (limited availability). For the parks with beaches near us, the cost is $8/day. You can also purchase a $60 season pass, or a $10 senior-lifetime pass (for ages 62+). Daily parking can be paid for at the gate or pre-purchased through a mobile app.
Except for the occasional closures, these are open for swimming daily:
- Hopkinton State Park (10:00 am – 6:00 pm through Labor Day)
- Ashland State Park (10:00 am – 6:00 pm through Labor Day)
- Cochituate State Park in Natick (sunrise to sunset, daily): As of the morning of June 30th, a “No swim warning” Advisory is in effect due to an algae bloom. (You can check here in the future to see if it has been lifted.)
- When swimming is available: The park hours are 8:00 am to 8:00 pm, and no special hours or dates are posted online for swimming.
The Town of Marlborough also allows use of its lakeside beach by out-of-towners, though at the below non-resident rate:
- Memorial Beach – $20 per car. It is open daily 11:00 am – 6:45 pm (though the bathrooms close at 6:30 pm). There are special hours for Labor Day weekend. (Closing date not listed yet.)
Do you have a favorite water play spot not listed above? (Or have a tip about one of these to share?) Shout out in the comments.
