Parks, Recreation, Sports Facilities

Buzzell Park is a lighted park located off of Summer Street close to Arlington Center. The Park offers two Baseball/Softball diamonds, a basketball hoop, a playground, and access to the bike path.

Comprising 183 acres, Great Meadows is the largest piece of undeveloped land in the Arlington/Lexington area. As part of the Mystic River watershed and once a glacial lake, it is now a wet meadow surrounded by uplands created by glacial outwash. Great Meadows was purchased by Arlington in 1871 to serve as a supplementary water storage area, but was only briefly used for that purpose. Since then, Arlington’s Great Meadows has served as public open space and is a popular recreational spot, particularly since the opening of the Minuteman Bikeway on its southern border. It also provides a home for local wildlife.

Magnolia Park, on Herbert Street at the crossroad of Magnolia Street, is a newly renovated park featuring a playground, picnic tables, a community garden, and a half-court basketball and soccer/lacrosse field. Off street parking is permitted and the park provides easy access to the bike path. The picnic area is available for birthday parties and small gatherings under 50 people (Park Permit Reservation required).

McClennen Park is located off of Summer Street. It features a baseball diamond, multi-purpose fields, a picnic area, a playground, walking trails, and a skateboard park. A dedicated parking lot and on-street parking is available for visitors.

Menotomy Rocks Park is a public park with 35.5 acres of woodland, walking paths, informal playing fields, a picnic area, a playground, walking trails, and a 3-acre pond. The main entrance is located on Jason Street.

Poet’s Corner Park is a small neighborhood park with a playground, basketball courts, a baseball/softball diamond, a seasonal outdoor rink, and green space.

Reservoir Beach on Lowell Street in Arlington Heights includes a filtered/chlorinated swimming area, bathhouse, concession stand, and playground. Beach tags/passes can be purchased in person at the Arlington Recreation office or at the beach when it is open. The beach is supervised by certified lifeguards and other beach staff during open hours.

Robbins Farm Park is a former farm-turned-public park, offering a baseball diamond, soccer field, picnic area, playground, and views of the Boston skyline. The park is located at 66 Eastern Ave. In the summer, the park features outdoor movies and a 4th of July celebration.

Spy Pond Park is a charming waterfront green space featuring a playground, baseball field, public boat ramp, and bike paths. It is located on the north shore of Spy Pond, off of Spy Pond Lane. Canoes and kayaks may be rented at the Arlington Reservoir and brought to Spy Pond. Tennis Courts are available for use nearby, across from the Arlington Boys & Girls Club.

Summer Street Park is located next to the Ed Burns Sports Arena and Skating Rink. It features two baseball diamonds (Robillard and Buck Field), a multi-purpose field, basketball hoops, a playground, picnic area, and soccer field (Hill’s Hill). Parking is available in the rink parking lot and there is easy access to the Minuteman Bikeway.

Thorndike Park, located at the end of Margaret Street close to Magnolia Field Park, has 3 multi-purpose fields and an enclosed dog park. Parking is available in the parking lot and there is easy access to the bike path and Alewife Brook Station.

The Ed Burns Arena and Rink is a renovated indoor ice facility, open to the public during the months of August through April. The rink hosts ice time for public skate, stick & puck time, and high school games. Lessons, skate rental and sharpening are available.

The Arts

The Arlington Center for the Arts (ACA) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit arts organization that offers more than 250 programs annually in the visual, literary, and performing arts, many of which are free to the community. Programs include classes and workshops for adults and children, vacation arts programs for children, art exhibits, theater and music performances, lectures, arts festivals, and many more programs designed to make art accessible to all.

Arlington Children’s Theatre (ACT) is dedicated to creating quality theatrical events, workshops, and experiences that educate, inspire, and enrich the lives of children ages 7-18, their families, and the community. ACT produces a variety of plays and musicals each season and offers exciting workshops and vacation day programs that center on the educational process, as well as the theatrical and interpersonal development of each individual participant.

Arlington Friends of the Drama (AFD) Theatre has presented award-winning productions to the community for over 90 years. It is one of the 10 oldest continually operating community theatre groups in the United States.

Built in 1923, the Capitol Theater welcomes movie goers with its historic lobby and 6 auditoriums, which feature a mix of movies with an emphasis on family-friendly films, as well as independent productions. Each fall, the theater hosts the Arlington International Film Festival.

The Cyrus Dallin Art Museum provides an intimate setting where you can experience the art of a great American sculptor. It’s also a place where you can embrace history through the vision of an artist whose work celebrates America’s diverse cultures. Cyrus Dallin found inspiration for his art in classical forms, the heroes of European-American history, his family, and the Native American people he knew and admired. Today, his art brings beauty and meaning to public spaces in many of our nation’s greatest cities.

The Philharmonic Society of Arlington, Inc. (link to: http://psarlington.org/) is a 501(c)3 non-profit community organization incorporating The Arlington Philharmonic Orchestra, The Arlington-Belmont Chorale, and The Arlington-Belmont Chamber Chorus. Orchestra membership is open to all instrumentalists without audition. Placement, however, is subject to the requirements of the music and the determination of the conductor.  Chorale membership is open to all singers without formal audition, while the Chamber Chorus holds auditions open to members of the Chorale. The Orchestra, Chorale, and Chamber Chorus each perform concerts throughout the year.

Built in 1916, the historic Regent Theatre remains true to its roots as a vibrant vaudeville house. An intimate 500-seat performing arts center with superior acoustics and comfortable seating, the Regent Theatre features live music concerts, theatre, dance events, family entertainment, comedy, film specials, and more. The Regent is dedicated to bringing the highest quality events to the area and has a number of exclusive events throughout the year with nationally and internationally known performers—many of whom are bona fide legends.

Historic Sites

The Old Schwamb Mill is the oldest continuously operating mill site in the U.S., dating back to the 1600s. The site previously housed a grist mill and later a sawmill before it was purchased by new owners in 1864. At that time, it was used for the production of circular and elliptical picture frames. In 1971, the Old Schwamb Mill was listed on the United States National Register of Historic Places. The mill is open to the public for tours.

The Jason Russell House is a historic house and the site of the bloodiest fighting on the first day of the American Revolutionary War, April 19, 1775. Today, the house is open to the public as a museum and is the site of the Arlington Historical Society’s ongoing lecture series.