D.W. Field Park Expands by 30 Acres
Representatives from the Town of Avon, the City of Brockton, Wildlands Trust, and the State of Massachusetts gathered at D.W. Field Park last spring to celebrate the $1.5 million MPV award that would fund the purchase of 30 forested acres adjacent to the park.
Acre for acre, city parks may do more for people, wildlife, and the planet than any other natural setting. D.W. Field Park, Brockton and Avon’s largest and most popular open space, recently expanded by 30 acres, thanks to the nonprofit organization Wildlands Trust, the Town of Avon, the City of Brockton, public and private funders, and community support.
In March, the Town of Avon finalized the purchase of a 30-acre woodland parcel on the western edge of D.W. Field Park, with Wildlands Trust to hold a conservation restriction on the property. The acquisition was funded by two sources: a Massachusetts Municipal Vulnerability Preparedness (MVP) grant and a private foundation. Avon voters approved the allocation of MVP funds to the project last fall, and 220 donations demonstrated community support to the private foundation in December.
“This significant expansion of the park highlights the importance of collaboration and shared commitment to preserving natural spaces for the benefit of the community,” Avon Town Administrator Jonathan Beder said. “The land purchase marks a milestone for the surrounding towns, as it ensures the protection of invaluable open space that contributes to the overall health and well-being of our residents. We extend our heartfelt gratitude to the numerous individuals, organizations, and public officials who have worked tirelessly to make this acquisition possible. Their dedication to preserving our natural resources and enhancing the quality of life for our community is truly commendable.”
Featuring miles of woodland paths, a public golf course, and six water bodies sprawled across 700 urban acres, D.W. Field Park, managed by the City of Brockton’s Department of Parks and Recreation, offers a rare space to relax, exercise, and build community for hundreds of thousands in the greater Brockton area.
"I would like to thank the Town of Avon, Wildlands Trust, and the Commonwealth of Massachusetts through the MVP Program for their hard work, dedication, and commitment in acquiring these 30 acres ,” said Brockton Superintendent of Parks Timothy Carpenter. “At a bare minimum, it secures a natural vegetative buffer between the Park and any future development. More importantly, it provides an opportunity for expansion, increased access, and a myriad of new and exciting possibilities to escape urban life and return to nature. It also marks an ever-expanding collaboration between the City of Brockton and the Town of Avon in protecting and preserving this vital piece of our communities."
This work comes as part of the D.W. Field Park Initiative, a long-term community partnership led by Wildlands Trust to restore this natural and cultural treasure for local people and wildlife. This spring, Wildlands is convening community partners to plan for the future of this new parcel west of Waldo Lake.
“The D.W. Field Park Initiative is an ambitious project that brings together professional and community partners to ensure that the people of Brockton and Avon can access the same benefits of nature as rural and suburban communities,” said Wildlands Trust President Karen Grey. “It was very exciting to start this work by adding land to the park.”
The newly acquired land is outlined in red, on the northwest side of D.W. Field Park, just over the Avon border.