Margaret Lindley Park

Williamstown, Massachusetts · on Sweet Brook

Verified · 3 independent sources

WATER: pond
ACCESS: Designated swim area
FEE: Free
SEASON: Best in summer

About Margaret Lindley Park

Margaret Lindley Park is a Town of Williamstown-managed park on North Street built around a seasonal swimming hole, a pond fed by Hemlock Brook and run by the town's Conservation Commission. The artificial-beach swim area is open and Ranger-staffed from Memorial Day to Labor Day, with surrounding trails open year-round, making it one of the easiest places to swim in town.

The park sits along a brook-fed pond in a wooded setting in Williamstown, with hiking trails winding through surrounding woodland behind the swim area toward Harmon Pond, offering views of wetland habitat and the Berkshire hills.

Swimming at Margaret Lindley Park

Swimming takes place in a small pond with a constructed/artificial beach fed by Hemlock Brook rather than a wild river hole; the water is shallow and described as family-friendly, suiting young children and casual waders more than deep-water swimmers.

How to get to this swimming hole

The town's official page lists the address as 31 North Street, Williamstown, MA 01267; one outdoor-guide source instead references Cold Spring Road accessed via Route 7, so the exact frontage road is not fully consistent across sources.

Parking: A large compacted-gravel parking lot with designated handicap spots, per a local outdoor guide; not detailed on the official town pages.

The hike in

No hike is needed to reach the swim beach itself, which sits on the park's lawn/pond area. Separate, optional woodland trails run alongside Hemlock Brook behind the park and continue to Harmon Pond, but neither official town source nor Berkshires Outside specifies the trailhead location or one-way distance to Harmon Pond.

Swimming access is drive-up/short walk from the gravel parking lot; the Harmon Pond trails are a bonus post-swim hike, not a prerequisite, but their exact distance and trailhead couldn't be confirmed from available sources.

Plan your visit

Bringing kids

Good for kids

Berkshires Outside explicitly labels the spot 'Family Friendly,' noting young kids can play in the shallow water at the artificial beach fed by Hemlock Brook. No certified lifeguards are mentioned (only a Town Ranger on-site Tuesday-Saturday in summer), and the water is subject to periodic bacteria-related closures, so caregivers should check town closure notices before visiting.

Parking

Free

Large compacted-gravel lot with designated handicap spaces (per Berkshires Outside); the official town site lists the address as 31 North Street but does not describe the lot itself. No parking fee is mentioned anywhere.

Restrooms

Yes

An accessible port-a-toilet is located along the gravel path in the park, per Berkshires Outside; the official town pages do not detail restroom facilities.

Hours

Swimming permitted Memorial Day through Labor Day, dawn to dusk, with a Town Ranger on-site Tuesday-Saturday during summer; surrounding trails are open year-round.

On the water

No official source mentions kayaking, canoeing, paddleboarding, or motorized boating at this site. The swim area is a small, brook-fed artificial-beach pond built for wading/swimming rather than boating, and no boat launch is described anywhere in town or local-guide materials.

Backstory

According to a local outdoor-recreation guide (not corroborated by the official town page), the land was privately owned by the Taconic Restaurant in the 1940s-50s before transitioning to public park ownership in the 1960s.

Margaret Lindley Park: FAQ

Does Margaret Lindley Park charge a fee?

No admission fee mentioned in any source; described as free.

Is Margaret Lindley Park kid friendly?

Do I need to hike to reach Margaret Lindley Park?

No significant hike is required. The swimming area is close to parking and access.

Where do I park for Margaret Lindley Park?

When is the best time to visit Margaret Lindley Park?

Summer, specifically Memorial Day through Labor Day, which is the official designated swim season; trails are usable year-round.

What are the rules at Margaret Lindley Park?

Swimming officially permitted only Memorial Day through Labor Day, dawn to dusk; a Park Ranger is on-site (Tuesday through Saturday per the official page); water quality is tested weekly, with closures announced through the town's official channels; dogs are prohibited during the swim season (permitted the rest of the year).

What water body is Margaret Lindley Park on?

Margaret Lindley Park is on Sweet Brook, a natural pond verified in USGS hydrography data.