Coes Pond Beach
Worcester, Massachusetts · on Coes Reservoir · Coes Pond Beach
Verified · 5 independent sources · top-verified
- WATER
- pond
- ACCESS
- Designated swim area
- FEE
- No fee found
- SEASON
- Best in summer
About Coes Pond Beach
Coes Pond Beach (also called John J. Binienda Memorial Beach) is a City of Worcester-operated public swimming beach on the western shore of Coes Reservoir, a pond within the city's Coes Pond Park. It is one of Worcester's official staffed places to swim, an in-town swimming hole with a bathhouse and sandy shoreline, alongside kayak, paddle boat, and paddle board rentals.
The beach sits on the western side of Coes Reservoir within Coes Pond Park in the Worcester neighborhood near New Worcester/Webster Square, an urban pond ringed by parkland with an accessible walkway down to the water.
Swimming at Coes Pond Beach
This is a designated, developed municipal swim beach on a city pond/reservoir rather than a backcountry hole: a sandy beach area with an accessible walkway into the water, intended for general public swimming during the city's posted beach season (per worcesterma.gov). No official source describes depth profile or water clarity.
The walk in
No real hike here. The water is a short walk from where you park. This is a developed, drive-up municipal beach; an ADA-accessible walkway leads directly from the park/parking area to the sandy beach and water, so no hike is required (exact walk time not stated by official sources, but it is short). Separate from the swim access, Coes Pond Park has about 5 miles of recreational walking trails, including the 'East-West Trail,' looping through the park and connecting to nearby green space, but these are not required to reach the swimming area (per worcesterma.gov city-parks page).
Plan your visit
Bringing kids
OK with supervision
Developed sandy municipal beach with an ADA-accessible walkway into the water, which favors easy/shallow entry for kids, but official city sources do not confirm lifeguard staffing, and the reservoir has recurring cyanobacteria (blue-green algae) blooms that force closures (most recently starting July 22, 2026, per worcesterma.gov, and still listed closed as of this research); check the city's current beach-status announcement before a visit with children.
Parking
Available
Official city pages give a street address (180 Mill Street / 72 Coes Street, Worcester) for the beach/park but do not specify lot size, capacity, or any parking fee; not confirmed whether it's a dedicated lot or roadside. Contact Worcester Parks & Recreation (508-799-1190) for specifics.
Restrooms
Yes
Bathhouse on-site at John J. Binienda Memorial Beach / Coes Pond Park, per worcesterma.gov city-parks page.
Hours
Normally open daily 12-7 p.m. during the beach season (2026 season opened June 30), per worcesterma.gov. As of this research, Coes Reservoir remains closed to swimming/boating/fishing due to a cyanobacteria bloom first reported July 22, 2026, with no reopening date announced yet.
On the water
Restrictions: Non-motorized watercraft only; city page states 'non-motorized watercraft is allowed' with informal launch points at the Binienda Memorial Beach and Circuit Avenue North. All boating (like swimming) is currently suspended during the active cyanobacteria closure.
Rentals of kayaks, paddle boats, and paddle boards are offered seasonally by the city directly at the beach; no separate outfitter/business found serving this water.
Rentals nearby
Seasonal kayak, paddle boat, and paddle board rentals
At John J. Binienda Memorial Beach, 180 Mill Street / 72 Coes Street, Worcester, MA
Backstory
The beach is dedicated in honor of the late Massachusetts State Representative John J. Binienda, and is formally named John J. Binienda Memorial Beach.
Coes Pond Beach: FAQ
Is Coes Pond Beach kid friendly?
Developed sandy municipal beach with an ADA-accessible walkway into the water, which favors easy/shallow entry for kids, but official city sources do not confirm lifeguard staffing, and the reservoir has recurring cyanobacteria (blue-green algae) blooms that force closures (most recently starting July 22, 2026, per worcesterma.gov, and still listed closed as of this research); check the city's current beach-status announcement before a visit with children.
Do I need to hike to reach Coes Pond Beach?
No significant hike is required. The swimming area is close to parking and access.
Where do I park for Coes Pond Beach?
Official city pages give a street address (180 Mill Street / 72 Coes Street, Worcester) for the beach/park but do not specify lot size, capacity, or any parking fee; not confirmed whether it's a dedicated lot or roadside. Contact Worcester Parks & Recreation (508-799-1190) for specifics.
Can I bring a kayak or paddleboard to Coes Pond Beach?
Rentals of kayaks, paddle boats, and paddle boards are offered seasonally by the city directly at the beach; no separate outfitter/business found serving this water.
When is the best time to visit Coes Pond Beach?
Beach season runs from late June through summer; Worcester's 2026 beaches, pools, and spray parks opened June 30, 2026 with daily hours of 12-7 p.m.
What are the rules at Coes Pond Beach?
City-operated beach; during a cyanobacteria bloom (as of July 22, 2026) the city ordered all persons to stay out of the water and barred boating, fishing, and pets in the water until follow-up testing confirms safe conditions (worcesterma.gov announcement).
What water body is Coes Pond Beach on?
Coes Pond Beach is on Coes Reservoir, a natural pond verified in USGS hydrography data.
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