Look Park
Encyclopedia
Look Memorial Park, commonly referred to as Look Park, is a park
in Florence, Massachusetts
in Hampshire Country
. The park is open year round.
. A 15 inches (38 cm)-gauge miniature railway operates on a 1 miles (1.6 km) track within the park, complete with a tunnel and boarding station. Attractions include a water park, tennis courts, several play structures, bumper boats
, peddle boats, a miniature golf
course, as well as covered picnic areas and pavilions. Historic covered bridges cross the small streams that run through the park. The center of the park contains a 15 acres (6 ha) playing field with several baseball and softball diamonds. The Northampton Recreation Department offers a camp for youth ages 5–12 during the summer, facilitated at Look Park. The Garden House, a banquet hall within the park allows for formal events and weddings.
, along with the entryway and sound towers. The theater holds the annual "Transperformance" concert, a music festival hosted by The Northampton Arts Council and the Parent Teacher Organizations of the Northampton Public Schools. Famous artists to perform at the venue include Bob Dylan
and Crosby, Stills and Nash. Concerts at the theater were in past years managed by the Iron Horse Entertainment Group, prior to their opening of their own Mountain Park concert venue in 2009.
Park
A park is a protected area, in its natural or semi-natural state, or planted, and set aside for human recreation and enjoyment, or for the protection of wildlife or natural habitats. It may consist of rocks, soil, water, flora and fauna and grass areas. Many parks are legally protected by...
in Florence, Massachusetts
Florence, Massachusetts
Florence is a village in the northwestern portion of the city of Northampton, near Westhampton and Williamsburg in the U.S. state of Massachusetts.-The naming of Florence, Massachusetts:The name "Florence" was suggested by neurologist Dr...
in Hampshire Country
Hampshire County, Massachusetts
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 152,251 people, 55,991 households, and 33,818 families residing in the county. The population density was 288 people per square mile . There were 58,644 housing units at an average density of 111 per square mile...
. The park is open year round.
History
Look Park, consisting of over one hundred & fifty acres, was gift to the City of Northampton from Mrs. Fannie Burr Look, wife of Frank Newhall Look. She provided the land, funds for its development and a trust fund for its upkeep. Additionally, operation and maintenance funds are dependent upon visitor fees, grants, and gifts. The park receives no funding from the city or state. The park was made open to the public in 1930. The Park is a city-owned park and is administered as a non-profit organization.Amenities
The park features walking paths around its perimeter. The Mill River runs through the park and small tributaries to it serve as a duck pondDuck pond
A duck pond is a pond for ducks and other water fowl. Duck ponds provide habitats for water fowl and other birds, who use the water to bathe in and drink....
. A 15 inches (38 cm)-gauge miniature railway operates on a 1 miles (1.6 km) track within the park, complete with a tunnel and boarding station. Attractions include a water park, tennis courts, several play structures, bumper boats
Bumper boats
Bumper boats are an amusement park ride that uses inner tube shaped watercraft that can be steered by the rider. Some are driven by electric motors, some by gasoline engines, and some require the rider to propel the craft by pedaling. Most are equipped with water guns for duels with other riders...
, peddle boats, a miniature golf
Miniature golf
Miniature golf, or minigolf, is a miniature version of the sport of golf. While the international sports organization World Minigolf Sport Federation prefers to use the name "minigolf", the general public in different countries has also many other names for the game: miniature golf, mini-golf,...
course, as well as covered picnic areas and pavilions. Historic covered bridges cross the small streams that run through the park. The center of the park contains a 15 acres (6 ha) playing field with several baseball and softball diamonds. The Northampton Recreation Department offers a camp for youth ages 5–12 during the summer, facilitated at Look Park. The Garden House, a banquet hall within the park allows for formal events and weddings.
Pines Theater
The Pines Theater is an outdoor amphitheater located within the park. The stage is built out of Goshen stoneGoshen stone
Goshen stone is an unusual variably colored variety of mica schist found mostly in New England. It is quarried and sold as a landscaping stone. The stone sells for approximately 100 US dollars a ton....
, along with the entryway and sound towers. The theater holds the annual "Transperformance" concert, a music festival hosted by The Northampton Arts Council and the Parent Teacher Organizations of the Northampton Public Schools. Famous artists to perform at the venue include Bob Dylan
Bob Dylan
Bob Dylan is an American singer-songwriter, musician, poet, film director and painter. He has been a major and profoundly influential figure in popular music and culture for five decades. Much of his most celebrated work dates from the 1960s when he was an informal chronicler and a seemingly...
and Crosby, Stills and Nash. Concerts at the theater were in past years managed by the Iron Horse Entertainment Group, prior to their opening of their own Mountain Park concert venue in 2009.