Stevens Pond

North Andover, Massachusetts · on Mill Pond Stevens Pond · Weir Hill Reservation

Verified · 5 independent sources · top-verified

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

About Stevens Pond

Stevens Pond is an official town-owned freshwater swimming hole at 522 Pleasant Street in North Andover, Massachusetts, a supervised beach operated by the town's Recreation/Youth Services department. As places to swim go, it is resident-only: a summer beach with certified lifeguards, free admission, and a limited eight-week season.

Stevens Pond sits in a residential part of North Andover off Pleasant Street, run as a neighborhood town beach rather than a backcountry destination. It is a separate water body from the nearby Weir Hill Reservation (managed by The Trustees of Reservations around Lake Cochichewick), which the automated land-unit match in this dataset appears to have conflated with this spot.

Swimming at Stevens Pond

Designated, lifeguard-supervised swimming at a small town pond/beach; suited to families and local residents rather than wilderness swimmers. No details on water clarity, bottom composition, or depth were found in sourced material.

How to get to this swimming hole

Located at 522 Pleasant Street, North Andover, MA 01845.

The walk in

No real hike here. The water is a short walk from where you park. This is a street-address, drive-up town beach (522 Pleasant Street, North Andover) rather than a backcountry or trail-access swimming hole; no hiking trail is described in any official source. Exact walk distance from the parking area to the water's edge was not stated by any source found.

Plan your visit

Bringing kids

Good for kids

Town-run, lifeguard-supervised beach; official site states certified lifeguards are on duty at all times during operating hours (9:30am-7:00pm daily). No source specifies entry type (shallow vs. drop-off) or depth, so that detail is not confirmed.

Water clarity

Varies with season and flow

The town's own Stevens Pond page states: 'Our town departments continue to work hard to combat water quality issues and are committed to operating the Pond this summer, with hopes of getting the whole 8 weeks in.' This confirms recurring water-quality problems (consistent with algae/bacteria issues common at small Massachusetts ponds) without specifying current clarity, so rated variable rather than clear or murky.

Hours

9:30am-7:00pm, seven days a week, June 26 - August 21, 2026 season (per northandoverma.gov and civicplus.com town pages)

On the water

No official source (northandoverma.gov, civicplus.com) or first-hand source (massachusettspaddler.com) mentions any policy on kayaks, canoes, paddleboards, or boats at Stevens Pond. All available descriptions frame it strictly as a supervised swimming beach; no watercraft policy could be confirmed either way.

Backstory

Town news coverage (Andover Townsman) indicates the pond's admission fee has been a recurring local policy discussion, with the Select Board voting to keep it free for residents again in a recent season.

Stevens Pond: FAQ

Does Stevens Pond charge a fee?

Free as of the 2026 season; passes required for entry (resident-only), registered online per household (max 2 vehicles/passes). The town previously charged a fee in some years but the Select Board voted to keep it fee-free again for 2026 per local news coverage.

Is Stevens Pond kid friendly?

Do I need to hike to reach Stevens Pond?

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

When is the best time to visit Stevens Pond?

Summer season only, specifically Friday June 26 through Friday August 21, 2026 (an eight-week window); closed the rest of the year.

What are the rules at Stevens Pond?

Open to North Andover residents only; proof of residency required to obtain a pass, registered online through the town's recreation portal (registration opens May 1 each year). Certified lifeguards on duty during all operating hours (9:30am-7:00pm daily during the season).

What water body is Stevens Pond on?

Stevens Pond is on Mill Pond Stevens Pond, a natural pond verified in USGS hydrography data.