Fresh Pond Reservation, Cambridge

Fresh Pond is a great park, but yes, parking and off-leash dogs are limited to residents only. The park is so wonderful that I'm sure crowds of outsiders would flock there if they could. As a Cambridge resident, I'm glad we limit it to residents because it keeps Fresh Pond reasonably quiet and uncrowded.

This once, serene, idealic location is no more. It has been transformed from a shimmering jewel, into a caged, hideously disfigured mound of earth surrounding a tank of water. This reserve has more rules and regulations than a Catholic school. When I think of a pond, I think of swimming, skating, fishing and canoeing, all of which, thanks to the City of Cambridge, have been banned at Fresh Pond. The city has successfully squeezed the life out of this natural beauty, and have been holding it hostage, preventing anyone from enjoying it. I have been a life-long resident of its watershed, yet, being a Belmont resident, I have been discouraged and discriminated against from using it. To the City of Cambridge, I suggest they get with the times, join the Quabbin system (to which they are already connected), and give us back Fresh Pond! To all interested in visiting the reservation, please look elsewhere and let us all boycott this poor, tortured creature.

Fresh Pond is awesome and I always find plenty of parking on certain surrounding streets (HURON AVE ). There is no permit needed on Sundays on the street. I understand why they leave the on-site reserved spaces for residents...residents should get priority and the convenience.

I will NEVER return to Fresh Pond Reservation. I am a Boston resident (who previously lived in Cambridge for 6 years). And here we go again. Just like much of Cambridge, this park has so many rules that it ends up discriminating against dog owners and non Cambridge residents. I don't know of one park in the entire City of Boston that prohibits people who live in places other than Boston from visiting. Not only that but out of town dogs can come to visit Boston dog parks! And then there was the $30 ticket. So, if you want to visit a dog and user friendly park in Boston try the following: Malibu Beach Savin Hill Park Peter's Park on Washington Street in the South End Victory Park Castle Island Arnold Arboretum

From the Fresh Pond Reservation website... What are rules pertaining to dogs? Rules governing animal control at Fresh Pond can be found in chapter 6.04 of the City Ordinances and can be viewed on the City's website. They state: Dogs may go unleashed on the Fresh Pond Reservation and other areas within the City which have been designated as dog run areas and conspicuously signed as such, provided that they have been trained by their masters to follow oral commands; and provided further, that they are not allowed to romp on grassy areas; and provided further that their owners are City residents who have received resident sticker parking permits approved by the Water Board and issued by the Traffic Department.

No sign at the entrance mentioned parking restrictions except to say: park in designated spaces. When we returned we found that we (and 50 other drivers) had been ticketed, acc. to the ticketing officer. You have to be a Camb. resident with a permit. And the unleashed dogs (also forbidden) are all over the place!!