Dunn SP

Dunn SP

289 Pearl Street Gardner, Massachusetts 01440

Official Website
Dunn State Park guide and map

About this Location

Dunn State Park is named after its benefactor, John Ainsworth Dunn (1831-1915) who had a lifelong career in the chair manufacturing industry, eventually founding the John A. Dunn Company with a large factory in Gardner and offices across the country. The people of Gardner saw Dunn as a person of strong personality who made the city known in the woodworking/chair industry. He was also very involved in the civic life of Gardner. In his will, Dunn gave this park property to the city of Gardner. At that time, a picnic area, a 7-acre pond, a field for baseball games, tennis courts, and horseshoe pits were added. Over the years, Dunn Park grew to the current 120-acre day area that includes a 20-acre pond, playground, beach, picnic area, and trails for us all to enjoy.

Dunn State Park is a popular park, providing a wooded, lakeside experience close to an urban environment. There is a family picnic area, playground, and beach all of which are universally accessible. Lifeguards are on duty at the beach from mid-June through early September. The Pondhouse visitor center is open year-round with outdoor showers in summer, bathrooms, vending machines, and, in the winter, a fire blazing in the fieldstone fireplace for cross-country skiers and visitors to enjoy. The pond has a curving coastline with many interesting views of coves and an island. Ducks, gulls, and turtles are often seen here, and even the rare otter or moose! The pond is stocked yearly with trout, bass, and other fish and has numerous fishing piers, two fully wheelchair accessible.

Notable Trails

The AllTrails website has descriptions and maps of hikes at Dunn State Park.

Features

  • Restrooms on site

  • Wheelchair accessible trail

  • Entrance fee

Content from Dunn State Park guide and map

Last updated December 10, 2023