Memorial beach

Natick, Massachusetts · on Dug Pond · Natick High School Recreational Fields And Grounds

Verified · 4 independent sources

WATER: pond
ACCESS: Designated swim area
FEE: $65
SEASON: Best in summer

About Memorial beach

Memorial Beach is the Town of Natick's official public swimming beach, located on the shore of 48-acre Dug Pond next to Natick High School. It is a fee-based, lifeguarded town beach with a marked swimming area, floating dock and slide, open daily through the summer season.

Memorial Beach sits on the shore of Dug Pond, a 48-acre pond with a maximum depth of 45 feet and one wooded island, in Natick, Massachusetts. Natick High School occupies the pond's eastern shore, and the pond's roughly 160-acre watershed (including paved areas of Natick Center) drains into it, which the town has flagged as a source of nutrient and stormwater loading that can trigger algal blooms.

Swimming at Memorial beach

Swimming is confined to a lifeguard-supervised, marked swim area with a floating dock reachable only by swimmers who pass a swim test using front-crawl strokes; the dock has a slide that operates only when a lifeguard is stationed at its base. Rules restrict use to Coast Guard Type I/II/III life jackets, ban inflatables and snorkels, and require adult supervision for children under 12, the setup, along with tiered child/senior pricing, indicates a family-oriented, structured town beach rather than an open swimming hole.

The walk in

No real hike here. The water is a short walk from where you park. Memorial Beach is a drive-up town beach on the shore of Dug Pond next to Natick High School; no hike is required. No source specifies a walk time from a parking area to the water, but the site is a standard managed beach with direct shoreline access from the facility gate.

Plan your visit

Bringing kids

Good for kids

Lifeguarded, fee-based town beach with a roped/marked swimming area; children under 12 must be accompanied by a responsible guardian. Access to the floating dock and slide (the deeper-water features) is restricted to swimmers who pass a front-crawl swim test, which keeps unsupervised weak swimmers out of that zone. Inflatables, pool noodles, life rings, and rafts are banned inside the swim area, so young kids without floatation skills should stay in the shallower roped section near shore.

Water clarity

Mostly clear

Published accounts describe Dug Pond as having 'relatively good' water transparency with sparse aquatic vegetation. No first-hand visitor reports could be retrieved to corroborate this with candid accounts, so the rating rests on a single secondary source.

Hours

Open daily 10:30 AM-6:30 PM for the 2026 season, subject to weather-related closures (per natickma.gov).

Swim smart

Periodic beach closures due to algal blooms fed by stormwater runoff from a ~160-acre watershed, which can contain cyanobacteria toxic to humans and animals. Pond reaches a maximum depth of 45 feet in its main body (well beyond the marked swim area).

Rules: Swimmers must stay within the marked swimming area; no running; no inflatables or snorkels; only Coast Guard Type I, II, or III life jackets permitted; floating dock access requires passing a swim test and using front crawl; slide operates only with a lifeguard present at its base; children under 12 must be supervised by an adult; no alcohol or glass containers, no smoking, no fishing, no pets (service animals excepted); bicycles must use the bike rack. Town Board of Health tests bathing water for E. coli/Enterococci before opening and at least weekly during the season, per Massachusetts Department of Public Health bathing beach standards.

This is an informational listing, not an invitation. Conditions and access change; verify locally before you go. Visiting any swimming hole is at your own risk. See our Terms of Use.

On the water

Canoes

Restrictions: Within Memorial Beach's roped/marked swimming area, inflatables, pool noodles, life rings, and rafts are explicitly banned, and only Coast Guard Type I/II/III life jackets are permitted, this area is for supervised swimming, not paddling. Elsewhere on Dug Pond, Wikipedia describes a 'recently renovated boat ramp on the south side, suitable for canoes and car-top boats,' used by anglers and the Natick High School Sailing Team's small-boat fleet. No source confirms whether personal watercraft/motorboats are allowed on the pond, or whether paddleboards specifically are used there, so those are left unlisted rather than assumed.

Fishing is explicitly banned within the Memorial Beach swim area itself ('No fishing' beach rule), even though the wider pond has designated northern/southern shore fishing access points per Wikipedia.

Backstory

Local legend holds that Dug Pond was originally excavated on level ground for use as an animal pasture but filled with rainwater, giving it its name. A concrete foundation from an old icehouse on the shore, known locally as 'The Wall,' is used by Natick High School seniors for graffiti, and 'running the pond' (a 1.86-mile circuit) is a traditional school athletic fitness test since the high school sits on the pond's eastern shore.

Memorial beach: FAQ

Does Memorial beach charge a fee?

Season passes: residents $65 adult / $50 child (2-17) / $21 senior (60+); non-residents $95 adult / $70 child / $31 senior. Daily rates (cash/card at gate only): residents $10 adult / $7 child / $5 senior; non-residents $15 adult / $12 child / $10 senior (2026 rates).

Is Memorial beach kid friendly?

Do I need to hike to reach Memorial beach?

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

Where do I park for Memorial beach?

No source found describing a parking lot, roadside parking, or cost specifically for Memorial Beach; the town's official beach page and Recreation & Parks page do not mention parking. Daily admission is collected 'at the gate' (cash/card only), implying a staffed entrance, but this does not confirm parking arrangements.

Can I bring a kayak or paddleboard to Memorial beach?

When is the best time to visit Memorial beach?

Summer season, open daily 10:30 AM-6:30 PM (2026 season), subject to weather-related closures.

What are the rules at Memorial beach?

Swimmers must stay within the marked swimming area; no running; no inflatables or snorkels; only Coast Guard Type I, II, or III life jackets permitted; floating dock access requires passing a swim test and using front crawl; slide operates only with a lifeguard present at its base; children under 12 must be supervised by an adult; no alcohol or glass containers, no smoking, no fishing, no pets (service animals excepted); bicycles must use the bike rack. Town Board of Health tests bathing water for E. coli/Enterococci before opening and at least weekly during the season, per Massachusetts Department of Public Health bathing beach standards.

What water body is Memorial beach on?

Memorial beach is on Dug Pond, a natural pond verified in USGS hydrography data.