University Park is one of Worcester's older park acquisitions. It was purchased in the years 1887 and 1889 from Sarah Anderson, Sylvia Gates, William D. Gates and Alonzo Whitcomb.
University Park is located in both a residential neighborhood and directly adjacent to a college campus. In the middle of the park is Crystal Pond, formerly used for activities such as swimming and ice skating. Today, activities on the Pond are limited to occasional paddle boating or toy boat races. If the pond freezes thick enough, some people enjoy skating on Crystal Pond in the winter months!
The park today has is 14.3 acres. University Park is popularly known as Crystal Park by Worcester natives. That name, however, was never made official.
As you enjoy the walking trails and fountain at Crystal Pond, let your kids play on the playground at University Park!
At University Park, in addition to admiring the pond, having a picnic, walking the trails or playing on the playground, you can also play a game on the two basketball courts or the tennis court! As a bonus, the tennis court has the markings on the pavement so that you can switch it up and play a game of pickelball.
View some of the other parks in this district. Get out and explore!
Cookson Field is located within the College Hill residential neighborhood in south-central Worcester, near Holy Cross College and the Auburn border. The park site was purchased by the City of Worcester on June 3, 1936 from Herbert E. Howe, and named for Mayor Walter Cookson.
South Worcester Playground, also known as Harry Sherry Field and as Maloney Field, became a City park in 1986. This park is the home of the South Worcester Baseball league, featuring two baseball fields, a soccer area, two handball courts, a basketball court and a playground.
Oread Castle Park is a 3-acre park located in the Main South neighborhood. Before this was a City park, it was Oread Collegiate Institute, also known as "The Castle". It recently had a massive renovation and features basketball courts, futsal court overlay, playground, picnic tables and nature trails.
