D. W. Field Park spans a large north-south area around Brockton's northern border.
I haven't walked in D.W. FieldPark in a long time--shocking, considering how close I live to the Jewel of the city. Today is incredibly warm and sunny, and my youngest son and I took the dogs there as an excuse to visit.
The park is paved in loops with lanes for both driving and pedestrians.
A low hill makes a perfect vantage.
The park is arranged around a series of ponds.
Stephen has both dogs so I can take a photo.
Golda and Linkin had a ball, except that every other dog owner in the city seemed to be there.
(Seeing another dog, Linkin especially becomes a dogicidal maniac.)
Park benches make nice places for contemplating the landscape.
A "lantern tree" (American beech).
I've been putting down D.W. FieldPark as I've lately emphasized Wild Places, forgetting how beautiful it
is. Although a designed landscape
(inspired by Frederick Law Olmsted) which may be heading for a makeover, I would now call it fairly "naturalized,"
though of course it is still managed--witness the obvious black top, and
slightly subtler marks of the chainsaw.
On the other hand, I am
considering managing my own little Wild Place come spring, tearing out as much
of the invasive English ivy, vinca, and European buckthorn as I can, along with
a few of the smaller Norway maples (also invasive); and planting a few native trees
like white pine. I will be trading a bit
of land compromised in one way, with land compromised in another, more
tolerable, way. Less wild, more "wilderness."
