Warner's Pond
& Gerow Recretion Area
RECREATION
Community members come together at Warner's Pond all year round to enjoy recreation and appreciate nature in an expansive outdoor setting.
Time Outdoors
"We have lived near Warner's Pond for 28 yrs and have lots of good memories
of ice skating, cross-country skiing, sledding, kayaking, fishing, canoeing,
dog walking, bird watching, wildlife tracking, and sunrise/sunset watching!"
– Concord Resident
Several public access points, including the newly-constructed, 7-acre Gerow Park, make Warner's Pond a community resource that is open and welcoming to everyone. Time spent in solitude or with others in a beautiful and expansive outdoor space like Warner's Pond can provide a sense of balance in today's hurried, digital, and over-scheduled world.
It's a place where people of all ages can spend time doing activities during all four seasons. Residents and visitors come to Warner's Pond to meditate and have a quiet moment looking out across its reflective waters, to observe birds and other wildlife, to boat, and to fish. In colder months, possible activities include skating, ice hockey, ice fishing, cross country skiing, and walking the whole Pond's perimeter and out to its islands – as Henry David Thoreau once did in 1850 and wrote about in his journal.
“December 16: Last Sunday, on the 14th, I walked on Loring’s Pond to three or four islands there which I had never visited, not having a boat in the summer. On one containing an acre or two, I found a low, branching shrub frozen into the edge of the ice, with a fine spicy scent somewhat like sweet fern and a handsome imbricate bud. When I rubbed the dry-looking fruit in my hands, it felt greasy and stained them a permanent yellow, which I could not wash out; it lasted several days, and we named the island Myrica Island.”
– Henry David Thoreau (1850)
Waterfront
Concord is teeming with wetlands—vernal pools, springs, rivers, streams, brooks, and ponds—that seamlessly blend into the landscape, creating a vibrant haven for aquatic wildlife and outdoor recreation. Each of these water features possesses its own distinct character, offering a unique experience that resonates with those who visit.
This is especially true of Warner’s Pond, a cherished spot in West Concord with roots dating back to the 1600s. Over the centuries, the dam at Warner's Pond has served many purposes: providing vital resources for survival in a new land, supporting industries and livelihoods, and offering a peaceful retreat for recreation by the water’s edge and within its waters. Generations have gathered here to swim, boat, camp, skate, fish, and simply relax. Its expansive waters and diverse aquatic wildlife have drawn countless visitors, all captivated by the life it sustains and the beauty it offers.
Warner’s Pond is home to three islands, including Scout Island, which spans approximately six wooded acres. The Pond offers four public access points, each providing unique views and opportunities for recreation. Expansive wetlands stretch along its western edge, while ADA-accessible trails and a newly-constructed park line its northern shore. To the east, a newly-completed rail trail enhances the area, and several public access points, including a boat launch, a primitive landing, and a pocket park, offer varied ways to engage with the water. The one-mile loop around the Pond is easily navigable by boat, often making it feel like a serene wildlife sanctuary. What makes this all the more remarkable is that it's just a short walk from the vibrant heart of West Concord Village, seamlessly blending the tranquility of nature with the energy of village life.
Gerow Park
In 2018, Concord acquired a seven-acre parcel of land from the Gerow family. Six years later, in the winter of 2023, a beautifully constructed post-and-beam pavilion was completed at Gerow Park. The structure is primarily made of wood, with all notched joinery and wooden pegs, except for the metal roof and cement footing. The craftsmanship is exceptional, highlighting both the integrity of natural materials and expert technique. In addition to the pavilion, the park now features a system of meandering ADA trails, several overlooks nestled in stonewall enclosures, public bathrooms, and a hydration station. Positioned between Warner's Pond and the Bruce Freeman Rail Trail, Gerow Park has become a welcoming recreation center for both residents and visitors.
Native shrubs, including winterberry and red osier dogwood, have been planted near the pavilion. These plantings not only provide year-round visual appeal but also help connect the park to its surrounding landscape. The landscape architect is collaborating with the Town to ensure the park integrates beautifully into the area, with final plantings scheduled for spring 2024.
With the promise of increased "access to active recreation and waterfront opportunities" described in Article 25, which was eagerly anticipated by Concord voters, it’s hoped that these goals will come to fruition.
2018 - Article 25
"The Planning Board believes that the acquisition of the property at 369 Commonwealth Avenue is consistent with the West Concord Master Plan, recreational and open space recommendations in both the 2005 Comprehensive Long Range Plan and the 2017 Open Space and Recreation Plan, as well as public comments received as part of the 2018 Draft Comprehensive Long Range Plan for increasing access to active recreation and waterfront opportunities in the West Concord area. The Planning Board recommends affirmative action on Article 25 as written in the Warrant."
Bruce Freeman Rail Trail
"The Bruce Freeman Rail Trail runs through the Massachusetts communities of Lowell, Chelmsford, Westford, Carlisle, Acton, Concord, Sudbury, and Framingham—following the 25-mile route of the old New Haven Railroad Framingham and Lowell line. It is open to non-motorized uses such as cycling, jogging, walking, rollerblading, and cross-country skiing and is stewarded by the Friends of the Bruce Freeman Rail Trail."
When the Bruce Freeman Rail Trail is completed, Warner's Pond and Gerow Park will be approximately the midpoint of the 25-mile route that runs between Lowell and Framingham. Accessible by non-motorized vehicles, residents and visitors can travel to this beautiful outdoor destination without burning fossil fuels that harm the environment and contribute to climate change.
Recreational Resource Assessment
"Warner’s Pond has provided recreational opportunities to West Concord residents and visitors for over 160 years. In this time, recreational access and activities have taken many forms. Descriptions of activities documented in the Warner’s Pond brochure are outlined below.
The current trajectory of the pond’s condition appears to be threatening some of these recreational activities as the area of open water habitat shrinks and access to the pond has become more limited. However, restoration plans could enhance these recreational activities at Warner’s Pond if implemented in the near future."
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2012 Warner’s Pond
Watershed Management Plan
"The primary concern of residents in the area has been the gradual loss of open water habitat to aggressive aquatic plant growth, particularly of invasive exotic species such as fanwort, variable watermilfoil, and water chestnut."
"In the 1890s, a bridge connected the mainland with Scout Island (then the Isle of Pines), the largest island in the pond. At this time, the Isle of Pines was subdivided into 34 lots for summer cottages. In 1944, ownership of the island was transferred to the Boy Scouts Troop 33 of West Concord and, owing to the use of the island by Boy and Girl Scouts for camping, nature study, cooking and sports, it eventually became known as Scout Island."
"The Warner’s Pond shoreline was historically used for swimming access by town residents and even inmates from the state reformatory on Commonwealth Avenue. At least four separate swimming areas have been established at one time or another at the pond. A picnic area, playground, and rental boats were also available for summer recreation in previous years."
"Historic winter recreational activities included ice skating and hockey. Community ice skating parties were sometimes held in the evenings after Christmas. Residents would bring their old Christmas trees down to the pond and burn them in a bonfire. The light of bonfire would provide enough illumination by which to ice skate."
"Ice cutting was also popular in the past at Warner’s Pond. Each year, cut ice was stored in ice houses near the state reformatory until these houses burnt down. Mink and muskrat trapping and fishing were also historically practiced."
"You can support the Natural Resources Commission with implementing short– and long-term recommendations from the Warner’s Pond Watershed Management Plan. Together we can:"
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Establish a more balanced native plant community;
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Enhance fish and wildlife habitat;
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Ensure the continued recreational use of Warner’s Pond; and,
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Preserve a community asset.
