New Bedford Guide Your Guide to New Bedford and South Coast, MA
3. Buttonwood Park
Buttonwood Park is probably the most used part of New Bedford for recreational walkers. There is plenty of parking by the zoo, in the park or on Brownell Ave. near the pond. You can walk the outer limits of the zoo or walk around the inside of the park (or a combination of both). Either way there are a dozen monuments, a bird pond, a garden and some small trails. You’ll also likely catch a lot of activity in the baseball diamonds or in the vast open areas.
The only issue with this walk is that it is a rectangle that runs parallel to four of the busiest streets in the city, Route 6, Brownell Ave., Rockdale Ave., and Hawthorne Street. Know that there will be heavy vehicle traffic.
Im not being sarcastic but am I missing something? When did Buttonwood Park Get ” a dozen” of monuments?
I can remember 4?
Can anyone tell me where they are? I would like to check them out.
Thanks
Darline, off the top of my head:
1. Jewish/holocaust monument
2. Fishing monument at the round about
3. Portuguese monument
4. Italian American monument
5. Military Memorial at the Brownell Ave entrance/exit
6. New one at the library
7. African American monument
8. One by the pond.
I’d have to walk around again to get exact numbers.
Also:
– The Jewish War Veterans monument at the corner of Rockdale and Hawthorn
– In addition to the Barnard monument (#2 above), there is small one northeast of the Barnard monument just off the rotary, and another large monument at the corner of Buttonwood and Lake streets. I believe one of these is #4 above (Lake St.?) and the second is to municipal workers, though I stand to be corrected on this.
– There is another veterans/war memorial just to the west of the Waldron Barracks building along the walking path just inside the wall along Route six at the northern border of the park. This used to be more elaborate, but part of it was moved down to Fort Taber.
– Just outside the park, there is the Doughboy World War I statue/Monument at the junction of Route 6 and North Street.
– There may be one or two more monuments in the park
The artists of the mural at the CoveWalk are Ryan McFee and Todd Woodward.
The only place I like to walk in New Bedford is Fort Taber. It’s quiet, away from city traffic, & beautiful.