University Park is one of Worcester's older park acquisitions. It was purchased in the years 1887 and 1889 from Sarah Anderson, Sylvia Gates, William D. Gates and Alonzo Whitcomb.
University Park is located in both a residential neighborhood and directly adjacent to a college campus. In the middle of the park is Crystal Pond, formerly used for activities such as swimming and ice skating. Today, activities on the Pond are limited to occasional paddle boating or toy boat races. If the pond freezes thick enough, some people enjoy skating on Crystal Pond in the winter months!
The park today has is 14.3 acres. University Park is popularly known as Crystal Park by Worcester natives. That name, however, was never made official.
As you enjoy the walking trails and fountain at Crystal Pond, let your kids play on the playground at University Park!
At University Park, in addition to admiring the pond, having a picnic, walking the trails or playing on the playground, you can also play a game on the two basketball courts or the tennis court! As a bonus, the tennis court has the markings on the pavement so that you can switch it up and play a game of pickelball.
View some of the other parks in this district. Get out and explore!
Cookson Field is located within the College Hill residential neighborhood in south-central Worcester, near Holy Cross College and the Auburn border. The park site was purchased by the City of Worcester on June 3, 1936 from Herbert E. Howe, and named for Mayor Walter Cookson.
The park was purchased in 1888, and it was named Crompton Park and was then an open field which was used as a playground. Whether you and your kids are into sports, splashing around, enjoying a relaxing picnic or playing on a playground, there's something for everyone at Crompton Park!
Located just south and east of Newton Hill, Winslow & Pleasant (Peace) Park is another of Worcester's newer parks, opened in 2008. At a little over half an acre, this is a simple and quaint park, featuring picnic tables, community garden plots and ample seating to just relax and enjoy the outdoors!
