Arlington Land Trust

Protecting Open Spaces in Arlington

Spy Pond

Snow blows over Spy Pond ice – courtesy of Friends of Spy Pond Park

Spy Pond, Spy Pond Park and Fields, Elizabeth Island, and Kelwyn Manor Park

Reprinted from Arlington’s 2022-2029 Open Space and Recreation Plan

Spy Pond

At 100 acres, Spy Pond is the largest body of water located entirely within Arlington. Spy Pond is near the Town Center, adjacent to Route 2, and close to the Alewife Brook Reservation. Spy Pond is a “Great Pond,” meaning it is a naturally occurring body of water 10 acres or greater in size. The pond was formed by a gigantic block of ice that broke away from the glacier leaving a “kettle hole” filled with glacial waters. Today, the source of the water in Spy Pond is precipitation and runoff, primarily stormwater drainage from the surrounding densely populated residential areas: no river or brook feeds it. The Town’s Envision Arlington Spy Pond Committee is actively involved in stewardship and planning for pond improvements, including water quality monitoring and weed control treatments.

Historic Spy Pond is a beautiful and precious community resource, although access is limited because much of the shoreline is private residential property. Walking, boating, bird watching, fishing, and ice skating are popular pastimes, but swimming is not permitted because the water quality does not meet state bathing beach standards and no lifeguard services are provided. In recent years, a high school crew team has used the pond as its practice location.

In 2016, a feasibility study and detailed survey was awarded CPA funds to identify shoreline preservation alternatives and options to mitigate erosion on select portions of Town-owned shoreline along the edge of Spy Pond (Spy Pond Park, Scannell Field, Arlington Boys and Girls Club, and Spring Valley Street). The Conservation Commission received CPA funds in 2021 to repave the North Beach boat ramp with porous pavement material.

Spy Pond Park and Fields

The public park includes a playground, public boat ramp, rain garden, walking path, benches, and picnic tables. Friends of Spy Pond Park is an active volunteer organization that oversees stewardship of the park and sponsors regular clean-up projects and special events, including the annual fall Spy Pond Fun Day.

The Town’s 2019 playground audit identified Spy Pond Park as a level “Hazard 1” playground, which indicates the playground needs immediate attention for safety reasons. CPA funds were awarded in 2021 to rebuild the playground to be ADA-compliant and meet safety standards. (This project was completed in 2023.)

The recreational facilities at Spy Pond Field (a.k.a. Hornblower Field), located on Pond Lane opposite the Arlington Boys and Girls Club, include tennis courts (renovated in 2015), a baseball diamond used by the Arlington High School varsity baseball team, and an open multi-purpose field used for high school and youth soccer. The Play Fair Arch, bleachers and field house were originally constructed in 1910 and are in significant disrepair. In 2019 a study was conducted to review the current use and needs of the recreational facility and structure, including the need to make them ADA compliant. Scannell Field at the eastern end of Spy Pond Park has a softball/little league diamond with bleachers.

  • Size: 100 acres (pond) and 15 acres (park and fields)
  • Managing Agency/Owner: Department of Public Works/Park and Recreation Commission/Town of Arlington
  • Current Use: Recreation/Conservation

Elizabeth Island

Elizabeth Island, an undeveloped, heavily vegetated island in the middle of Spy Pond, was purchased by the Arlington Land Trust (ALT) in 2010 from a private owner who had announced that it would be put up for sale. The island is now permanently protected and open to the public under a conservation restriction held jointly by the Arlington Conservation Commission and Mass Audubon. ALT is managing the island for passive recreation, with simple wooded trails and landing areas for small boats. The island provides a nesting habitat for various species of duck, Canada Goose, Mute Swan, and other birds and wildlife. Several properly trained and licensed volunteers search for nests each spring and treat the goose eggs to keep the population under control.

  • Size: 2 acres
  • Managing Agency/Owner: Arlington Land Trust
  • Current Use: Conservation

Kelwyn Manor Park

Kelwyn Manor Park along the eastern shore of Spy Pond was set aside by the private Kelwyn Manor Association when the former farmland was developed for housing in the late 1930s and early 1940s. The park contains a small beach area, a playground, and other facilities. The Association continues to maintain the park with annual cleanups and mowing and uses it for occasional neighborhood events.

  • Size: 1.8 acres
  • Managing Agency/Owner: Kelwyn Manor Association
  • Current Use: Recreation