Jamaica Pond Project
507 Jamaicaway
(at Pond St)
Jamaica Plain, MA 02130 (617) 522-6258
- Good for Kids: Yes
17 Reviews for Jamaica Pond Project
Although the area is not a big and green as the Arboretum, I love coming down to the pond to relax, sit on a bench and read, watch people or feed the ducks (although I have to admit that the constant stream of joggers always makes me feel guilty for being so lazy - but you'll see: one of these days you'll see me running too...).
It is a beautiful and serene place, and you can even go sailing on the pond!
A fun and relazxing place to go for a walk. The paved path around the pond is well over a mile and is quite diverse place.
Some of the things you may encounter:
Ducks and Canadian geese buy the hundreds. \
People fishing.
Joggers
Asian people doing ti-chi.
Sail boats (Summer only)
Lovers of all kinds.
All kinds of moms and baby strollers.
Homeless people
Drug dealers.
Trash
Go early or late but be careful ladies, as many woman have been mugged.
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This has got to be my favorite thing about JP. Living 3 blocks from the JWay and 5 from Jamaica Pond makes it worth every bit of ghetto I have to endure. My dog loves to run around there and make friends. It's a safe and lovely place for a jog anytime of the day. And I've been so lucky recently...being out there at 7am when the fog hasn't lifted on the pond yet and the air is so thick you can't see 30 feet in front of you save for the trees makes me feel thankfully detached from busy boston living. It's serene, and i'm certain that without giant green spaces nearby i would have lost my mind already. I'm actually heading there this morning for a long bike ride down to Roslindale and back. If you live in JP and haven't been over to the pond, make the time to go explore. It's a crime not to.
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I love Jamaica Pond! Always a nice little serene treat from city life. There are always people walking their dogs and excising in the spring summer and fall. It's an amazing place to get away too!
Rating nature on a scale of 1-5 is pretty tough, rating a park maintained by a under funded state agency is much easier to do. I love the pond for some pretty sound reasons:
1. always clean
2. bathrooms open to the public
3. working water fountain
4. wide, clear walking, running and cycling paths
5. cool little sailing center
6. good little beaches for dogs to cool off on during the summer months
7. plenty of parking
8. a short walk to tons of good stuff to do in JP
But there are a couple of things that i just cant shake:
1. people drown there nearly every year, seriously dont swim here it is infested with all sorts of underwater hazards
2. there are some bums and drunks that hang out on the far side of the pond at night, i don't think they are dangerous but stick to the paths
3. to get to the pond you need to use a cross walk across the Jamaica Way which is like playing with matches and gasoline so be VERY careful
Overall, it's a great spot and very safe and clean. I personally come here at least once a week with the dog and sometimes humans too.
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I jogged around Jamaica Pond a few times. Ok, it was mostly walking and it was once. But that was the only time I wasn't thrilled with Jamaica Pond in the hundreds of times I've gone to hang out at the Pond. Because the place is awesome. It's gorgeous (unless you're too distracted to notice on account of your wheezing) and the perfect place to go relax with some crosswords and go "awww" at other people's dogs. People are friendly and diverse, and they smile. The benches are plentiful and don't usually get full, if they do they're full of people reading or whatever, not sleeping. The lantern festival is fun too, just gets crowded. But seeing all those babies dressed up for halloween is pretty adorable, and making your own lantern is fun. A lot of people seem to like jogging around the pond too. I admire them, but I just don't understand those people.
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I've sort of taken up "running." Those who have seen me understand why I use the quotes. I'm perhaps the slowest person in the world (any slower and I'd be going backwards). Maybe you're thinking you've seen me by that description. Let me make it clear. I'm the tomato-faced girl. As soon as I start exercising, my face turns bright red. Always has, and I assume it always will. Yes, it's normal. Don't worry, I see you looking at me, probably thinking I'm about to keel over. But I'll be ok.
I love this place. :)
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Did you know that baby ducks can run on water or that they jump up and eat bugs?
The Pond (used to be used for cutting ice) is a great place to go after dinner or early in the morning for a nice walk. Just make sure that you pay attention to what is going on because there can be some petty crime going on here.
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God I've run around this lake probably 3,000 times or more. One of my favorite spots in Boston. When I lived in JP I would be here every-other day. Minus a star because they cleared out a lot of the trees and bushes that surrounded the lake which I personally liked..(now it's a bit spartan), but still it's gorgeous. You can catch an amazing sunset here...and there is an albino squirrel that occasionally makes an appearance from one of the trees. I also like the lamps that line the front area...very pretty.
Jamaica Pond is not only a "serene spot" as Joe R wrote , but also geologically speaking an ancient site having been formed in the Ice Age. It s a great place to walk in all the seasons, and I give it an A for people watching because of the hugely diverse crowd. Just bundle up during winter because it does get windy, but in summer it actually stays cooler! The great American landscape architect Fredrick Law Olmsted incorporated the Pond in his Emerald Necklace design for the city back in the late 19th century.( His best known work is NYC's Central Park. )As Megan B. wrote it is a "peaceful spot", but please note it is surrounded by the ever busy Jamaica Way. If you want to hear less background traffic noise just walk on up to the Arnold Arboretum, and you truly feel like you are no longer in the city or in the opposite direction to Brookline's Olmsted Park.! Another option would be to rent a row boat at the Pond's public boathouse and row into the heart of the Pond with just water and sky as your neighbors.
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This is my favorite place to run in the entire Boston area -- maybe with the exception of the Charles River. I lived nearby the pond for almost five years and never got tired of circling it in almost any weather.
It's 1.4 miles around and makes a decent training location if you're preparing for long road races. On really nice days it will get crowded by noon, so it's best to go out early in the morning if you are looking to do some serious, uninterrupted running.
The pond itself was incorporated into Boston Emerald's Necklace park system in the late 1800s, and a boathouse was later added. If you're not into walking, running or biking, you can always take a row boat out to enjoy the beautiful scenery. The pond is surrounded by trees and green fields, as well as some big historic houses to peek at.
Here's a good resource if you're interested in general J.P. history: http://en.wikipedia.or...
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Lovely and amazingly peaceful spot. Fun with kids or for a solitary walk. Not far from Allandale Farm either. Small boat rentals available in season.
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It is with a bit of hestitation that I post about sailing on Jamaica Pond, lest it be overrun with people. That said, this is one of the most wonderful things to do in Boston. For only $10, you can rent a rowboat or a small sailboat at the boathouse (Courageous Sailing runs the operation) and head out into JP Pond. Whether it is an active sail or a leisurely glide, for me the experience is heaven. It is peaceful, beautiful and a feast for the senses with the wind and the people watching and the dogs and the swans......(sigh).
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love that this is in JP and there is a dog bowl where dogs play. my dog loves coming here, it's one of her favorite places to go, so I am here several times a week. always a nice little serene treat from city life. lots of people walking and exercising, concerts in the summer, soccer, so much to do!
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Perhaps the most serene spot I've found in Boston. Definitely worth a trip.
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I just finished enjoying the last of our warmth for a while by jogging around the pond. Those of us who are lucky enough to live within walking distance of the pond should really take advantage of it. Beautiful scenery, friendly people, and super cute dogs. I can't for spring so i can do this more often.
it's big! so many places to row! even though we took on some water due to a HOLE in the row boat, it was still a very fun time. it just added to the adventure. i'd say this pond requires a bit of a skill level and do know how to swim because i remember being a little scared when it seemed like we might not make it to shore before the leak took over. i have not been to boston in a long time, but when i do, i will certainly visit jamaica pond again.
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