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Larz Anderson Park
Rating Details »
23 Newton Street
Brookline, MA 02446
(617) 739-7518
Brookline, MA 02446
(617) 739-7518
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
14 reviews for Larz Anderson Park
I have fantastic and very fond memories of Larz Anderson. As a child, I came here often with my whole family and we would barbecue and play games and run relay races and I would always get upset because I was the heavier child that would always lose because I couldn't run quickly. They would point and laugh at me, cracking jokes and whatnot and eventually, I'd get over it, but still...
Ah...those were the days. Even so, I'm a bit glad my family all moved away so I can enjoy the serenity and beauty to myself instead of running around with them. Jerks.
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WOWIE!!
This is a great sled park...(yes there is an ice rink too)
BUT...
There should be a picture here of oodles of kids and adults sledding in the winter...(i have added one that i took...its ok...but it only gives a sample)
Top Notch!!
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My Auntie would bring us here to sled, when I was wee. Huge Hill. Fantastic vistas of Boston from the summit. And, a skating rink. Add a pond, with a beautiful bridge, and picturesque shrine. Add large carp, and some scary looking catfish in the pond.
Add a great Community Garden Plot, a great Play Space for kids, and the Museum of Transportation Next Door.
Net Sum? A great park.
Oh, and you haven't lived until you roll down that huge grassy hill!
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This is an exceptional park, it is well maintained and very scenic.
My family spent a lot of time here when I was a kid. We played on the playground, flew kites, went ice skating, picnicked, watched the fish, hiked, played softball, and picked crab apples. It is a great place to explore.
It also has the best sledding hills ever.
The pond area is very pretty, with the exception of the canada geese. I love the structures throughout, especially the gazebo.
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I am in love with this park. *Swoon*
On Saturday, since the weather was nice and since we had only seen the park (where we're going to get married) in photos and in the winter dark (we had checked out Larz Anderson Auto Museum as a potential venue), we decided to scope it out in the daylight. The Top of the Hill has a great view downtown, plus old Japanese garden ruins, there is also plenty of parking and an iceskating rink. We spend some time checking out the view on Top of the Hill then walked down to the Larz Anderson Auto Museum and School (both closed). The park was beautiful, lush, and green -- and basically deserted. It was a slightly chilly day but gorgeous out. There is plenty of space to move around with your pet, friends, or baseball team . There are also plenty of places to duck away and smooch with your lover :D
I love the gorgeous willows on the water, the happy geese, the peaceful pond filled with koi. There are also grilling areas set up if your friends and you want to BBQ. Very pretty park and as I understand -- has great events during the summer -- free movies, car shows and of course, it's a romantic and affordable spot for a wedding!
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This gorgeous green space was one of those places I swore I'd never review. I'd never give up the secret of this hidden green space with the best views around..
Alas, it's been found out - and a recent bevy of Yelp reviews have let me know that it's time. It's time to sing the praises of Larz Anderson Park - to let the world know of its grandeur, blah, blah, blah.
First off, let me tell you ladies (and maybe gents too) - if you are planning a visit to this spot, wear sensible shoes. The drive is pretty gravelly (is that a word, it is now), and the walk up the hill can be steep. But it's worth it. Bring a sketch book, bring a friend, a journal, a camera, your current crush, and commence with your personal meditation on life, love, and the fab city you call home.
The ruins provide great shade for lounging or photo taking. And the hilltop is a beautiful spot for a wedding.
As the hobo points out - it is hard to find so plan accordingly (and don't expect a cabby to know how to get there). So grab your bud with the car, zipcar it, (you can probably bike too), take a look at a map, pack a lunch, and get a move on.
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If you have the chance to care for a child (your own, your babysitting family's or maybe a strangers...crreeepy) then you should definitely head over the Larz between 3 and 5 M through F. It is like Woodstock for kids; crowded for sure and for the little ones I take care, pure ecstasy. Not the best playground I've ever seen but we've got swings, slides and a few castles. They love it because there are always kids there and I love it for the cushy ground cover. They have sweet black platforms at the bottom of every slide so you don't bruise your bottom! Makes sliding down a lot more fun when your a good 50 pounds over the weight limit.
Oh and for those who don't play with kids regularly...did I mention the temple of love?
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You know why you have never been to Larz Anderson Park before? Because it is simply impossible to get to. That's right don't even bother trying unless you have areal photographs and a team of Sherpas to guide you in. That might not even be enough, you may need a team of alpacas to carry your supplies in, a months worth should do you for this trek.
In other words, check out a Google map and head on over to this place, it's worth the trip. It's not that hard to find. By car it's sort of near Jamaica Pond, in fact just follow that crazy windy road that looks like it should be closed 'for lack of the likelihood that you will not careen into a rock face on this road' trust me, it's just up ahead. Once you get there, take in the view of the city, roll down the grassy slopes or if it's winter time - ski, sled or slide on your butt to the bottom (but watch out for the death road below). This place gets really crowded on 4th o' July as it has the best view of the Esplenade fireworks this side of the Charles so if you want to do that this summer, just get to Larz early.
Oh, yeah, one little note and you'll thank me for this - there is almost always a Brookline police officer floating around so.....plastic cups!
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As a parent of a four year old and a two year old, I find myself spending a lot of time at the Larz Anderson playground--one of the best in the Boston area. First of all, most of the playground is shaded. Second, there are many structures, all of which are kept in good shape and which the kids use and enjoy. There are bathrooms (kept reasonably clean, considering they're by a playground) and drink vending machines.
The park itself is immaculately kept. There's a pond with bridges, a gazebo, carp, ducks and the vermin called Canadian geese.
I don't skate, so I can't write about the skating rink. There's two baseball fields, a soccer field, and one huge hill that's great for kite-flying or rolling down.
The picnic areas (including the large closed-in one) have big tables and grills, but you have to reserve them and pay. It's cheaper for Brookline residents, which is kind of annoying because they have more money than the rest of us to begin with. If the money helps keep the park in the amazing shape it's in, it's worth paying for.
Parking lot can fill up fast, especially if there's a game. The street parking is a little scary when you're there with kids, but I've never not found a spot.
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Literally stumbled upon this place while going for a long walk in a different direction that I usually do. Right next to a nifty car museum and an old little red schoolhouse. There is a beautiful gazebo, two stone bridges, a dark pond, picnic areas, and apparently Chinese, Japanese, and Italian gardens as well. I gots to go back and find those. Also look out for the GIANT koi fish in the pond. No joke, it was probably 3 feet long.
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Until last weekend, I'd only been up here in the past to take little dogs for walks. I was in attendance for a beautiful wedding set up on the hill overlooking the city of Boston. The park is beautiful, and I love the ruins, that there's tons of parking, that you could drive up and neck while overlooking the city, AND that you can stop by the auto museum below. It's a really great park, and you're sure to find kids sledding all over the hills here in the winter, because it's hard to find good hills in Boston. It's a beautiful spot to escape the city (it's right off route 9, so very easy to get to) and enjoy some of nature's beauty.
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This is a great hidden park in Brookline. I'm not even sure I saw all of it--it's pretty big. A friend and I walked around the pond, sat on one of the many benches and looked at the water and talked. It's a lush green and private park. There are ducks. There is a great playground, tennis courts (? I think I saw tennis courts), and a public restroom. I'm looking forward to sledding and skating here in the wintertime.
The JP/Brookline border has such great parks and this one is no exception. Great for admiring downtown views and excellent for sledding in the winter the park is worth the hike. If you are runner make it part of a Arboretum and JP Pond run and you will definitely start to feel those muscles burn! There is also a outdoor skating rink and a cool auto museum. (sadly I never did either, but that shouldn't stop you from doing them!)
My comments shall address the ice rink. It's outdoors and up on a hill. It's a thrill to be skating outdoors and the vistas are quite amazing. The ice isn't so great, but that's the price you pay for communing with mother nature. There is a nice heated little house and average snack bar. If you don't live in Brookline you pay $7 to get in. They rent skates and I haven't found it to be dangerously crowded like other rinks.
