King Phillip's Stockade is a small section of Springfield's Forest Park that hugs the Longmeadow border. It is named after Metacom, a Native American leader who helped lead a region-wide war against the English colonists in 1675-1676. During "King Philip's War," local Agawam Indians successfully destroyed most of Springfield. The hilltop from which the attack was launched is now a picnic area with a statue of the Windsor Indian who tried to warn the residents of Springfield. The trail is wide, paved, and is highly-trafficked. There are plenty of old-growth trees along this route.

Forest Park is one of the largest urban, municipal parks in the United States, covering 735 acres of land in Springfield. The park was established in 1884 with donations from local philanthropists, such as Everett Hosmer Barney, who also built a mansion on the park grounds. The park features a zoo, aquatic gardens, an outdoor amphitheater, and winding wooded trails. The park also hosts a popular high-tech lighting display called Bright Nights during the holiday months.