The Best Outdoor Places to Take Kids in Jamaica Plain, Massachusetts

Looking for a nice afternoon outside with the family after a long winter? Want to get the kids away from the Xbox? Below are some great outdoor activities in Jamaica Plain that the family can enjoy together.

Jamaica Pond

Located officially at 507 Jamaicaway, Jamaica Pond is just one block west of Centre Street, spanning from Perkins Street to Francis Parkman Drive. Turning down Pond Street from Centre and traveling one city block will bring you to the boat house, gazeebo, and Information Center.

Jamaica Pond is a one of the "gems" in Boston's famed Emerald Necklace of parks. It is a great place for walking, jogging, or fishing. The entire pond is lined with benches facing the water which provide excellent spots for little ones to take a breather and rest small legs. One needn't look far to find a grassy area to spread out a picnic or stop to feed the ducks.

During warm months, Jamaica Pond has open restrooms, water fountains, a snack bar, and a spot to rent rowboats or sail boats. Lessons are available.

Arnold Arboretum

About a ten minute walk south from Jamaica Pond is another jewel in the Emerald Necklace. Owned and operated by Harvard University, the Arnold Arboretum is the oldest arboretum in the country. With a road over two miles long, and numerous winding paths throughout, the Arnold is a wonderful place to wander, picnic, rollerblade, or play on one of the many lawns. There is a ravine and a small log bridge, mini waterfalls, and a hill to climb to get a spectacular view of the entire property. The kids will be thouroughly tuckered out by the end of the visit!

Each season is a new experience in the Arnold Arboretum. It's foliage is so plentiful and diverse there is hardly a week that something is not in bloom. Be sure not to miss May, when the lilacs come into their own. Countless trees of various varieties bloom throughout the month, culminating in a spectacular display in the later half of the month, which is celebrated by the annual "Lilac Festival."

The front entrance to the Arnold Arboretum is located at 125 Arborway.

Parks and Playgrounds

For a neighboorhood as small as Jamaica Plain, there are numerous parks and playgrounds to engage in some family exercise, or cool off from the summer heat. Three of the smaller parks and playgrounds include the Brewer Street (just off Burroughs Street) Playground, which offers swings and climbing equipment, the Murphy Playground (located off Verona Street between Child and Carolina), which has a large field and a baseball diamond, and the South Street Mall (on the corner of South and Child), a paved playground with basketball hoops and a tennis court.

The most family friendly park in JP, however, must be the Southwest Corridor Parkway. A stretch of park land running several miles between Amory Street and Lamartine, this strip of grassy areas boasts several parks, scads of benches, walking paths, and a water-sprinkler park that is ideal for cooling off during the sweltering summer months.