Allison Pond natural area

This 9.2-acre park consists of 8.7 acres of natural areas, primarily forests and freshwater wetlands with a stream flowing through it that connects to nearby Goodhue Park. Jones Woods, Allison Pond, and Goodhue Parks represent almost 35 acres of continuous natural areas. The Park is named in honor of engineer George William Allison. Allison Pond Park was once part of Sailors’ Snug Harbor, formerly a retirement home for sailors that was gifted to the City in 1942. The park was renovated in 1990 with new additions to the site that included tree guards, new fencing, and railings. Boulders were placed around the pond and several species of trees and flowers were planted, including red maples (Acer rubrum), American beeches (Fagus grandifolia), tulip trees (Liriodendron tulipifera), swamp white oaks (Quercus bicolor), downy shadbush (Amelanchier arborea), sweetbay magnolias (Magnolia virginiana), witch hazel (Hamamelis virginiana), blackhaw viburnum (Viburnum prunifolium), sweet pepperbush (Clethra alnifolia), northern bayberry (Morella caroliniensis), red-osier dogwood (Cornus sericea), swamp azalea (Rhododendron viscosum), mountain laurel (Kalmia latifolia), various ferns (Osmundaceae), and wildflowers including columbines (Aquilegia canadensis), Solomon’s seal (Polygonatum biflorum), and marsh marigolds (Caltha palustris).