Fresh Pond--Black's Nook

Tips for Birding

Parking at each of the lots on the property requires a Cambridge resident sticker to park there.  There are no unrestricted public lots nearby.  However, there are many businesses.  Those closest to the pond are likely to tow as parking pressure is high.  Your best bet is probably to park at the far end of the Fresh Pond Mall parking lot.  On Sundays, resident parking restrictions on streets are not in effect, and it may be possible to park along Huron Ave on the south side of the pond.

About this Location

Black's Nook is a small pond located near Fresh Pond in Cambridge. It was created in the 19th century as a clay pit for brickmaking and later became a dumping site for industrial waste. Today, it is a protected wildlife sanctuary and a popular spot for birdwatching, fishing, and walking.

About Fresh Pond Important Bird Area

See all hotspots at Fresh Pond Important Bird Area

Fresh Pond is a large body of water located in west Cambridge. As recently as the late 1800s, Fresh Pond was still located in a wetlands complex of the Alewife Brook drainage. Subsequent landfilling and drainage, primarily for commercial development, has destroyed most of the wetlands, although several small ponds remain in the vicinity of Fresh Pond. The pond is a recreational and ornithological oasis in a densely populated semi-urban landscape, and as described below it is an important migratory stopover for waterfowl. The pond perimeter is fenced and surrounded by a dirt-and-paved, heavily used, walking trail. A very narrow strip of trees line the pond along the inside of the fence, and a wider belt of woodland surrounds most of the pond. The vegetation of the woodland is a mixture of native and non-native species and naturally established and planted individuals. The western boundary of the pond is level and includes a nine-hole public golf course; the eastern border of the pond slopes steeply upward to Fresh Pond Parkway.

Features

  • Wheelchair accessible trail

  • Restrooms on site

  • Entrance fee

Content from Fresh Pond Important Bird Area and Mark Rosenstein

Last updated December 26, 2023