Stanley Park

Story

Stanley Park is a privately owned 300acre park, including an arboretum and botanical garden, located in Westfield, Massachusetts. It is open to the public daily without charge from May to November.The park was established in 1945 by the philanthropist Frank Stanley Beveridge (1879–1956). It includes a number of gardens, listed below, as well as a playground, soccer fields, tennis courts, picnic area, wildlife sanctuary, colonial pond, covered bridge, and blacksmith shop. American Wildflower Society Display Garden - indigenous shade-tolerant New England wildflowers, with peak season in early May. Arboretum (1,000 acres) - trees and shrubs with a 30ft fountain. Bog garden Herb garden - fragrant, culinary, and medicinal herbs; mid-May through mid-October. Asian garden and teahouse - alpine conifers, rhododendrons, azaleas, and flowering deciduous shrubs with an authentic bamboo Japanese Tea House. Peak season mid-May through mid-June. Rhododendron Display Garden - hundreds of rare species, sponsored by the Massachusetts Chapter of the American Rhododendron Society, with peak season mid-May through early June. Rose Gardens - Over 50 varieties and 2,500 bushes. Winner of the "Outstanding Public Rose Garden" Award from All-America Rose Selections. Stanley Park is located on Western Avenue in the suburban town of Westfield, Massachusetts. It was founded by its benefactor Frank Stanley Beveridge in 1949. The park began on a 25acre plot, but now spans 300acre with multiple gardens, trails, and playing fields. It is only a short walking distance from Westfield State University, located across Western Avenue to the northwest from Stanley Park.