Ashland State Park

Ashland State Park
Massachusetts State Park
The spillway below the reservoir dam
Country United States
State Massachusetts
County Middlesex
Town Ashland
Elevation 230 ft (70 m) [1]
Coordinates 42°14′30″N 71°27′58″W / 42.24167°N 71.46611°W / 42.24167; -71.46611Coordinates: 42°14′30″N 71°27′58″W / 42.24167°N 71.46611°W / 42.24167; -71.46611 [1]
Area 472 acres (191 ha) [2]
Established 1947 [3]
Management Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation
Location in Massachusetts
Website: Ashland State Park

Ashland State Park is a 472-acre (191 ha) Massachusetts state park located in the town of Ashland. The park includes the 157-acre (64 ha) Ashland Reservoir[4] which was completed in 1895. When the reservoir was taken out of service in 1947 the property was converted to a state park managed by the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation. The reservoir's dam and spillway are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Activities and amenities

The park was unstaffed from 2009 through 2012 due to budget cuts and reopened in 2013 with funding to restore facilities that had deteriorated during the shutdown.[5][6] The park is currently seasonally staffed, operating roughly between Memorial Day and Labor Day depending on resources. In the offseason, the park is unstaffed and bathrooms and parking lot are closed, however the park is monitored and maintained year round by Department of Conservation and Recreation employees based out of Hopkinton State Park in Hopkinton, Massachusetts. The park's trails remain open to the public for use year round. The park offers wheelchair-accessible restrooms, picnic grounds and swimming beach, plus a ramp for motorized and non-motorized boating and fishing (located outside park gates at 208 Spring Street, Ashland Massachusetts). Trails are used for hiking, bicycling, and cross-country skiing.[4]

Ashland State Park incorporates the entire shoreline of Ashland Reservoir. The Warren Conference Center and Inn, Camp Winnetaska, a former Girl Scouts of America camp, and residential houses abut the shoreline.

Notable Events

In August 2014, the film Sea of Trees starring Matthew McConaughey was partially filmed in Ashland State Park.[7]

On August 24, 2016, an ultralight helicopter crashed into the Ashland Reservoir. The helicopter flying out of Marlboro Airport experienced engine trouble and was forced to land in the water. The helicopter was 200 to 300 yards of shore and submerged in water up to 30" of water. No one was injured in the crash and the fuel tank of the helicopter remained intact.[8]

References

  1. 1 2 "Ashland State Park". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey.
  2. "2012 Acreage Listing" (PDF). Department of Conservation and Recreation. April 2012. Retrieved December 29, 2014.
  3. "Sudbury Reservoir". MassParks. Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs. Retrieved December 29, 2014.
  4. 1 2 "Ashland State Park". MassParks. Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs. Retrieved August 21, 2013.
  5. Ishkanian, Ellen (November 10, 2012). "Ashland State Park reopening next year". Boston.com. Globe Newspaper Company. Retrieved February 10, 2013.
  6. McGagh, Ken (June 22, 2013). "Ashland State Park reopens". MetroWest Daily News. Framingham, Mass.: GateHouse Media. Retrieved August 21, 2013.
  7. "Matthew McConaughey in Ashland for movie". Retrieved 2016-10-03.
  8. Miller, Norman. "Aircraft crashes in reservoir at Ashland State Park". Retrieved 2016-10-03.

External links

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