Discover Farm Pond Park’s Walk-On-Water Berm Trail

When you think of parks in Massachusetts, you might think of mountainous hiking trails in the Berkshires or sunset beach walks along the coast, but Do you ever think about walking on water?

There are actually several parks in Massachusetts where walking across a body of water is completely possible, but only one where you don't need a bridge to do it.

Just west of Boston you'll find Farm Pond Park, where you can walk across a grassy pathway through the pond this park is named after.

When you first see the tree lined path covered in bushes and flowers at this Framingham, MA park, you can't help but think the grassy berm people use to wander over Farm Pond is nature made. But you'd have to think again.

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To me the coolest part about this path is all the history behind it.

The Origin of the Sudbury Aqueduct

Farm Pond was once used as a water source for the expanding Boston water supply system. From 1875 – 1878, the 16-mile Sudbury Aqueduct was built to bring fresh water into Boston from the Sudbury River watershed.

READ MORE: See Inside Dartmouth's Most Recognizable Gilded Age Home

It was an engineering marvel at the time, designed to rely primarily on gravity move water through miles of brick-lined tunnels. Gatehouses and ventilating towers were built along the aqueduct line, many of them beautiful works of masonry that still stand today.

In fact, one such gatehouse sits at the very end of the Farm Pond Park walking path.

How the Berm Path Was Built

You can wander out along this former aqueduct berm, now covered in decades of bushes, trees and blooms, but you'll need to turn around when you get to the end. Although part of a larger 0.9-mile walking trail at Farm Pond Park, a fenced-in brick gatehouse prevents the path from being a complete loop of the pond.

The Framingham Parks, Rec & Cultural Affairs Department is hoping to change that however. The town is set to debate a potential floating dock addition to the pond path that would create a complete loop for visitors to walk over.

More Water Walk Options in Massachusetts

Similar to the floating boardwalk on the Lake Williams Trail in Marlborough, MA, Framingham has several options for boardwalk length in mind for Farm Pond Park.

READ MORE: Unique Marlborough Hiking Trail Lets You Literally Walk on Water

For now the connector is just a dream for this stunning trail, but the park has plenty to offer visitors in addition to a stroll over their pond. Farm Pond Park has bocce courts, a skatepark, playground and picnic area, a dog park, an amphitheater for local concerts and a boat ramp for getting out on the water.

Definitely worth the trip, especially when the trail is in full bloom.

📍Farm Pond Park, Dudley Rd Framingham, MA 01702