Beaches, Parks and Playgrounds - City of Gloucester, MA

Gloucester's famous beaches are perfect spots to walk, swim or just relax. Bring a book and enjoy the day. Alcohol is not allowed on any beaches. Dogs are not allowed on beaches from May 1st to September 15th. Please respect our litter laws and help keep our beaches and parks clean. Gloucester has adopted a "Carry In, Carry Out" policy at Good Harbor Beach, Wingaersheek Beach, Niles Beach and Plum Cove Beach. Visitors should be prepared to carry any trash out with them when they leave. Good Harbor and Wingaersheek both have a wheelchair designed to navigate over the sand. If you have this need, contact the head lifeguard or ask one of the beach personnel.

For any questions relating to resident beach stickers, use of beaches, etc. contact the Department of Public Works, Beach and Parks Department, at (978) 281-9785. This is the number that should be used for school groups and private parties looking to use the parks and beaches for outings.

Good Harbor Beach

Located on Thatcher Road, Rte. 127A - This is a beautiful beach with lovely, white sand facing the Atlantic. There is a concession stand, rest rooms, and showers. Parking fee is $20 during the week per car; $25, weekends and holidays. Parking is limited so plan to arrive early.

Driving Directions: Take Rte. 128 into Gloucester. Follow the signs for East Gloucester/Rockport. Go through two rotaries. Go through the first set of lights. At the second set of lights take a left onto Bass Avenue. Follow that for about a mile. At the intersection of Bass Avenue and Thatcher Rd. Take a left. You will see the beach off to the right.

Reminder: This is a carry-in/carry-out beach. You must take your trash with you. Nothing should be left behind but your footprints.

Wingaersheek Beach

Situated in the western part of Gloucester on Atlantic Street off Rte. 133 and Concord Street, this beautiful beach is along the Annisquam River and Ipswich Bay. There is a concession, rest rooms and showers. Parking fee is $20 during the week per car; $25, weekends and holidays. Parking is limited so plan to arrive early. Both Concord and Atlantic Streets are narrow roads with many curves. Please drive carefully and observe the speed limits for your own safety.

Directions: Take Rte. 128 to Exit 14. At the bottom of the ramp, take a right onto Rte. 133. About a mile on the left you will see a small traffic island with a sign saying Wingaersheek Beach. Take this left. This is Concord St. Follow until you reach another traffic island on the corner of Concord and Atlantic St. Take a right. Follow this along to the beach.

Reminder: This is a carry-in/carry out beach. You must take your trash with you. Nothing should be left behind but your footprints.

Stage Fort Park

This Park is the historic site of Gloucester's first settlers in 1623. Dorchestermen set up fishing stages on this land. The Park consists of Half Moon and Cressy's beaches. Half Moon is a lovely small beach ideal for families with children. Cressy's Beach is a rocky, more natural beach. Stage Fort Park has an information center open during the season, rest rooms and on the grounds, a privately owned restaurant open to the public. There is a playground. Visitors can bring grills for cookouts. During the season, there are outdoor concerts and story telling. Check the Calendar of Events for details. Stage Fort Park is pet friendly! Dogs are allowed in the Park but not on the beaches from May 1st to September 15th. Owners must pick up after their dogs. Parking is $10 per car.

Anyone interested in obtaining permits for outings and functions in Stage Fort Park should contact Beach, Recreation and Public Properties at 978-281-9785.

Directions: Take Exit 14 off Rte. 128. At the bottom of the ramp, take a right onto Rte. 133. Follow to the end with the harbor in front of you. Go right. The Park is located on the left.

Niles Beach

This beach is located on Eastern Point Road. It has a wonderful view of Gloucester Harbor.

This beach is sticker parking only.

Reminder: This is a carry-in/carry out beach. You must take your trash with you. Nothing should be left behind but your footprints.

Pavilion Beach

The beach is located on the eastern end of Stacy Boulevard. It can be accessed from the Boulevard or through Beach Court. There is no dedicated parking lot for this beach.

Plum Cove Beach

Located on Washington Street in the northern section of the City, this beach looks out to Ipswich Bay.

This beach is sticker parking only.

Reminder: This is a carry-in/carry out beach. You must take your trash with you. Nothing should be left behind but your footprints.

Ravenswood Park

This Park is located on Rte. 127 between Gloucester and Magnolia. Owned by the Trustees of the Reservation, it is made up of 600 acres. It is open from sunrise to sunset 7 days a week year round. A small parking lot for 12 cars provides free parking. The land was given to the city of Gloucester by Samuel E. Sawyer, a local philanthropist and founder of the city's library. Five miles of trail run through the Park. Some trails are easy to navigate while others are more difficult. Witch hazel trees, hemlock, moss, sweet bay and many other varieties of flora abound in the park. Old Salem Path runs through the Park. At one time this road connected Stage Fort Park to Salem. There are many stories about Ravenswood Park, one starting with its name. Samuel Sawyer left instructions that it be named "Ravenswood" for the castle so named in Sir Walter Scott's "The Bride of Lammermoor". There are other stories about the Hermit of Ravenswood, Mason A. Walton, a naturalist and writer who lived in the Park for 33 years. Also, at the time of the Revolutionary War there was a "pest house" in the area of the Park. Today, many use the Park for long walks year round and cross country skiers truly enjoy it in the winter.

Dogtown

In the early 1700's, a small community of farmers set up homes in the middle of Cape Ann. They learned, however, that the land was full of granite rock and not a place to farm. They began to move on to more likely areas. Fishermen moved into these homes and then they, too, moved to settlements closer to the sea. A few people lingered on, however, many of them women. They obtained dogs to protect them. Thus, the name "Dogtown". Dogtown has now gone back to nature. Beach roses, blueberries, holly, bayberry and many other types of plants and trees have taken over. Still to be found, however, are cellar holes along the paths. Much of Dogtown was donated to the City of Gloucester by Roger Babson. Mr. Babson was a local philanthropist, having achieved a large fortune on Wall Street. In Dogtown there are many boulders, on which he had stonecutters inscribe such words as "Courage" and "Industry". Many people use Dogtown for walks, blueberrying, biking and cross country skiing. It is easy to get lost so please do not go into this area without a map. They can be obtained from local visitor centers. Dogtown is located off of Cherry Street.

As with any other park or beautiful place, please respect these areas and leave nothing behind except your footprints.

Playgrounds

Benjamin Smith Playground

Located on East Main Street, the Playground over looks Cripple Cove. There is a parking lot adjacent to the playground.

Gordon Thomas Park

This small Park on East Main Street has a few benches on which to sit and enjoy the view of the Head of the Harbor.

Solomon Jacobs Park

Located at Harbor Loop, adjacent to the Coast Guard Station, benches offer a place to sit and watch inner harbor activity .

Fort Playground

Newly refurbished, this is a beautiful spot to watch all the outer harbor activity.

West Parish Playground

This playground is located at West Parish School on Concord Street and is the newest city playground and includes a "science park".

Stage Fort Park

The playground is adjacent to the Visitor Welcoming Center. There are picnic tables near the playground on which to sit and enjoy a lunch. The Gloucester Rotary is undertaking a major project of improvement at the playground. During the season during the day, parking lot fees are charged.

Created on 2003-10-15 14:42:34 by ssilveira
Updated on 2007-10-18 10:55:08 by ssilveira