Burncoat Park was formerly known as North Park, its name changed officially from North Park to Burncoat Park in 1910. It is another of Worcester’s parks with more than 100 years in age, Burncoat Park’s original almost 40 acres was purchased in 1888 from John D. Curtis, Joseph E. Bond, Jane Harris, Alfred Smith and Francis Weatherbee. The city also received North Parkway, which runs next to the park, as gift.
In 1962, the State took just over 8 acres of park land to build interstate 290. Additionally, more parkland, about 4 acres, was given to the school department for the construction of Wawecus Elementary School, leaving the park now at a total of only 16.4 acres of the originally acquired 90. When the highway was built, the park lost a basketball court, a tennis court, and gardens.
Burncoat Park features two, natural ponds, a smaller one immediately off from the parking area behind the school and a larger one bordered by North Parkway. Before park land was taken for the highway, the larger pond was much larger and there was another small pond right off from Lincoln. Street. There also used to be a stone bridge – officially named Boulder Bridge – located in-between the ponds prior to 290. This bridge was built in 1901. The three ponds had different uses- a small goldfish pond, a large pond for skating, and a small pond for hockey.
Burncoat Park is presently quite overgrown, although still very scenic and nice for walking. The city has plans to improve upon the old road that runs through the park and make it more pedestrian friendly (it’s currently old, choppy pavement). They are also planning on developing a raised boardwalk path around the end of the large pond. The park also features some short wooded trails. Additionally two multi-use, lighted fields will replace the existing ball fields, a new softball field will be crated, a skate park will be built, and exercise stations will be built along the walkways. A new playground has already been built, located right next to the school.
Other feature of the park is the wire fence flag, decorating Burncoat Park’s border with the 290 access road. This is one of many painted by William S. Coleman III.