Berry Pond Scramble 2023 Photos and Finish Times

Berry Pond Scramble 2023 Photos and Finish Times

We had a beautiful morning for the 2023 Berry Pond Scramble. Runners and walkers from all over the region came together to compete in the challenging but rewarding race. The event went off without a hitch, thanks to the hard work of our dedicated volunteers. The weather was perfect for running, and the beautiful scenery of the forest added a breathtaking element to the race.

Collins Pond Dam Work Begins

Collins Pond Dam Work Begins

Anyone who has traveled down Harold Parker Road since May 15th will have witnessed the great number of trees cut down around Collins Pond. This work is all part of the DCR’s major project to repair the Collins Pond dam, originally built by the CCC in the 1930s. Additionally, the project includes expanded parking for the area, creating fishing platforms, providing pedestrian access from the parking lots to the trails, and building a boat ramp for Field Pond.

This will be a huge improvement to an already popular destination for Forest visitors. The work will take nearly nine months to complete, and obviously will cause much disruption to the area. Consider it an opportunity to explore other parts of the Forest this year!

Thanks Jacob!

Our thanks to 15 year old Jacob Duval for collecting this trash along Middleton Road on a recent walk with mum Stacy and their dogs. If you've picked up trash in HPSF let us know!

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LIMITED CAMPGROUND AND BERRY POND OPENING

LIMITED CAMPGROUND AND BERRY POND OPENING

Harold Parker's Lorraine Campground will re-open July 1st with a reduced number of campsites and facilities. All existing reservations have been cancelled. Beginning at 9:00AM on Monday, June 22, new reservations will be accepted, on a limited basis via ReserveAmerica. Campground re-opening details are here on the DCR website.

The Berry Pond gates will open on Saturday, June 20th. The bathroom will be open, but grilling will not be permitted, and swimming will be at you your own risk. (No lifeguards.)

Plant Research in Harold Parker

Plant Research in Harold Parker

This year was a very exciting time for plant research in Parker Forest. I was joined this summer by Wheaton College graduate Giovanna Bishop to collect mosses and lichens, of which very little is known.

Long Hill Lichen

Long Hill Lichen

On Wednesday June 13th, Walter Kittredge and I met at Gate #8 and started down the trail in search of some mosses and lichens.

Art in Parker State Forest

Art in Parker State Forest

Last summer while out collecting plants in the Forest, I encountered a group of artists at the Collins and Field Pond parking area who were painting the lovely green and blue pond landscapes. Among all the great paintings one in particular caught my eye, and I knew I wanted it even at this unfinished stage.

Field Pond Dam Repairs In Sight

Field Pond Dam Repairs In Sight

We're excited to report that the state has filed a MEPA Environmental Notification Form for the rehabilitation of the Field Pond Dam & Dike.

October Cleanup: Bottle, Bottles Everywhere!

October Cleanup: Bottle, Bottles Everywhere!

On October 21, the Friends of Harold Parker held a roadside cleanup in anticipation of NEMBA’s upcoming Wicked Ride on October 29. The Wicked Ride attracts hundreds of mountain bike enthusiasts from all over the state and beyond—we want to be sure the Forest looks great for all our visitors.

Berry Pond Scramble Highlight Photos

Berry Pond Scramble Highlight Photos

There were hundreds of great photos from the first annual Berry Pond Scramble! Here are a few of our favorites:

Berry Pond Scramble Finishing Times

Berry Pond Scramble Finishing Times

What a fantastic morning we had at Berry Pond. Thank you everyone who made this such a great event.

145 runner and walkers joined us for our inaugural 5.6K trail race and lunch at the pond. Here are the June 11, 2017 race results!

PLACE    NAMEBIB#    TIME        GROUP
1Austin Thiele12223.20Adult
2Brian O'Neil12524:06Adult
3Sam Capobianco15224:10Child
4Joe McManus5626:44Adult
5Craig Burns14327:17Adult
6Jack O'Neil2127:38Adult
7Carl Reppucci8127:38Adult
8Christopher Chu428:02Adult
9Dan Sieck14128:22Adult
10Kim Javron Kaminsky15028:48Adult
11Corey Mason8229:04Adult
12Jeff Bagdanoff8029:10Adult
13Jose Sillero12129.23Adult
14Olivia Marshall7829.25Adult
15Stephanie Hirst2030:37Adult
16Joe Henningsen830:41Adult
17Robert Mauthe7630:51Adult
18Travis Allen4830:52Adult
19Peter Cloherty2330:54Child
20Zoltan Poleretzky5030.14Adult
21Paul Selkirk2230.28Adult
22Michael Ralph1231:00Adult
23Alex Nickersone931:04Adult
24Scott Onello13831:34Child
25Anthony Onello5231:40Adult
26Paul Quinn12631:46Adult
27Nicole Love331:47Adult
28Tom Cloherty2432:12Adult
29Randy Heins1532:16Adult
30Sean Patten7032:29Adult
31Glenn Zaborski14532:55Adult
32Andrew Dunbar13334:05Child
33Roven Dunbar13234:13Child
34Michael Rutherford1334:40Adult
35Erin Chubb6735:08Adult
36Kelly LeCours12435:18Adult
37Kathy Casey136:20Adult
38Barry Saunders12836:37Adult
39Laura Rubin10136:45Adult
40Renee Clark4636:47Adult
41Peter Clark4736:48Adult
42Andy Rubin10036:49Adult
43Pierce Burnham1736:50Child
44Drew Burnham1636:55Adult
45Andrew Agosti3637:04Child
46Casey Lyons14238:07Adult
47PJ Menis9238:27Adult
48Connor Semeraro3339:19Child
49George Elis1439:22Adult
50Kevin Dunbar13039:40Adult
51Francis LaRovere8539:49Adult
52Cooper Fagan7541:02Child
53Carrie Crawford2641:05Adult
54Tracy Applin10441:16Adult
55Bryan Chambers2741:26Adult
56Diane Geragosian3541:31Adult
57Rachel Baime Giaimo13941:40Adult
58Natalie Gellerman7941:46Adult
59Scott Taylor5841:49Adult
60Sam Poleretzky5141:51Adult
61Victoria Arthur2542:36Adult
62Kyle Fielder5442:47Adult
63Lauren Satterwhite5542:47Adult
64Trevor Bagdanoff14842:49Child
65Elena Agosti3743:12Child
66Jenifer Agosti3843:12Adult
67Colleen Craig6643:14Adult
68John Brunette8843:14Adult
69Christine Cohne3043:25Adult
70Leigh Cohne3143:25Child
71Marsha Fielder5343:31Adult
72Alla Palma12743:38Adult
73Nicole Jerbue15143:38Adult
74Debbie Shirley 1844:10Adult
75Andrea Thomas2844:25Adult
76Neve Thomas2944:25Child
77Angie Semeraro3244:32Adult
78Olivia Semeraro3444:32Child
79Emily Ramey6445:22Adult
80Olivia Dunbar13145:58Child
81Alicia Cook7246:24Adult
82Celia Brunette8746:33Adult
83Kathleen Cummings1046:39Adult
84Margaret Guggenberger14646:51Child
85AnneMarie Guggenberger14746:51Adult
86Bryce Caraher7148:18Adult
87Dan Pulver14948:20Adult
88Alicia Umbrino9349:57Adult
89Danielle Rigo-Reilly650:19Adult
90Ami Fatula8350:20Adult
91Lauren Smart8450:20Adult
92Joanna Kroon13550:28Adult
93Nicole Kroon13650:28Child
94Charlie Coronella6350:56Child
95Paula Crock6551:05Adult
96Paul Kroon13451:34Adult
97Julia Kroon13751:34Child
98Bennett Webster6052:19Child
99Danelle Marable752:22Adult
100Emilie Webster6152:31Adult
101Kate Rinard6252:31Adult
102Robin Lesser3952:55Adult
103Teddy Capobianco15354:24Child
104Veni Dole9656:47Adult
105Shruti Gajjar9756:47Adult
106Saoirse Loth6858:55Child
107Christina Minicucci6958:55Adult
108Melanie Marinello5761:12Adult
109Amanda Roderick9861:20Adult
110Holly Roderick9961:20Adult
111Kathleen Haddock7761:34Adult
112Donna Phaneuf12361:34Adult
113Denise Tournas561:55Adult
114Radford Fagan7362:30Adult
115Jocelyn Fagan7462:30Child
116William Cummings1163:07Adult
117Daphne Griffin4163:58Child
118Celina Griffin4263:59Adult
119Fred Menis8967:12Adult
120Charlotte Griffin4067:19Child
121Gary Griffin4367:21Adult
122Colleen Menis9070:10Adult
123Maya Menis9170:21Child
124Tom Walsh14476:47Adult
125Julie Cappella4477:52Adult
126Emily Cappella4577:52Child
127Jessica Barabani9483:20Adult
128Sophia Barabani9583:20Child
129Melissa Gleaton1983:33Adult

Spring Can’t Wait at Gate A28

Spring Can’t Wait at Gate A28

No one ever comes to this small piece of Parker Forest wedged between houses, perhaps because the trail makes a rather short loop. As a botanist surveying the whole forest, I need to poke into every last corner, and sometimes the rewards for doing so far exceed my expectations. more...

Fern Hollows and Beaver Marshes

Fern Hollows and Beaver Marshes

I finally returned to the Lovell parcel that I explored in early spring, starting in the high tension wire meadow again. What was dried up and brown in April is now full of Queen Anne’s Lace and  goldenrod  scattered among the waving stalks of big bluestem grass.  more...