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.
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!
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!
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.)
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.
On Wednesday June 13th, Walter Kittredge and I met at Gate #8 and started down the trail in search of some mosses and lichens.
The Friends of Harold Parker are very excited to partner with The Friends of the Fells as sponsors of a Fundly campaign launched by Walter Kittredge, a member of both of our Boards. Walter seeks funding for a summer intern / research assistant with particular expertise in lichens and mosses.
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.
We're excited to report that the state has filed a MEPA Environmental Notification Form for the rehabilitation of the Field Pond Dam & Dike.
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.
There were hundreds of great photos from the first annual Berry Pond Scramble! Here are a few of our favorites:
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 | NAME | BIB# | TIME | GROUP |
| 1 | Austin Thiele | 122 | 23.20 | Adult |
| 2 | Brian O'Neil | 125 | 24:06 | Adult |
| 3 | Sam Capobianco | 152 | 24:10 | Child |
| 4 | Joe McManus | 56 | 26:44 | Adult |
| 5 | Craig Burns | 143 | 27:17 | Adult |
| 6 | Jack O'Neil | 21 | 27:38 | Adult |
| 7 | Carl Reppucci | 81 | 27:38 | Adult |
| 8 | Christopher Chu | 4 | 28:02 | Adult |
| 9 | Dan Sieck | 141 | 28:22 | Adult |
| 10 | Kim Javron Kaminsky | 150 | 28:48 | Adult |
| 11 | Corey Mason | 82 | 29:04 | Adult |
| 12 | Jeff Bagdanoff | 80 | 29:10 | Adult |
| 13 | Jose Sillero | 121 | 29.23 | Adult |
| 14 | Olivia Marshall | 78 | 29.25 | Adult |
| 15 | Stephanie Hirst | 20 | 30:37 | Adult |
| 16 | Joe Henningsen | 8 | 30:41 | Adult |
| 17 | Robert Mauthe | 76 | 30:51 | Adult |
| 18 | Travis Allen | 48 | 30:52 | Adult |
| 19 | Peter Cloherty | 23 | 30:54 | Child |
| 20 | Zoltan Poleretzky | 50 | 30.14 | Adult |
| 21 | Paul Selkirk | 22 | 30.28 | Adult |
| 22 | Michael Ralph | 12 | 31:00 | Adult |
| 23 | Alex Nickersone | 9 | 31:04 | Adult |
| 24 | Scott Onello | 138 | 31:34 | Child |
| 25 | Anthony Onello | 52 | 31:40 | Adult |
| 26 | Paul Quinn | 126 | 31:46 | Adult |
| 27 | Nicole Love | 3 | 31:47 | Adult |
| 28 | Tom Cloherty | 24 | 32:12 | Adult |
| 29 | Randy Heins | 15 | 32:16 | Adult |
| 30 | Sean Patten | 70 | 32:29 | Adult |
| 31 | Glenn Zaborski | 145 | 32:55 | Adult |
| 32 | Andrew Dunbar | 133 | 34:05 | Child |
| 33 | Roven Dunbar | 132 | 34:13 | Child |
| 34 | Michael Rutherford | 13 | 34:40 | Adult |
| 35 | Erin Chubb | 67 | 35:08 | Adult |
| 36 | Kelly LeCours | 124 | 35:18 | Adult |
| 37 | Kathy Casey | 1 | 36:20 | Adult |
| 38 | Barry Saunders | 128 | 36:37 | Adult |
| 39 | Laura Rubin | 101 | 36:45 | Adult |
| 40 | Renee Clark | 46 | 36:47 | Adult |
| 41 | Peter Clark | 47 | 36:48 | Adult |
| 42 | Andy Rubin | 100 | 36:49 | Adult |
| 43 | Pierce Burnham | 17 | 36:50 | Child |
| 44 | Drew Burnham | 16 | 36:55 | Adult |
| 45 | Andrew Agosti | 36 | 37:04 | Child |
| 46 | Casey Lyons | 142 | 38:07 | Adult |
| 47 | PJ Menis | 92 | 38:27 | Adult |
| 48 | Connor Semeraro | 33 | 39:19 | Child |
| 49 | George Elis | 14 | 39:22 | Adult |
| 50 | Kevin Dunbar | 130 | 39:40 | Adult |
| 51 | Francis LaRovere | 85 | 39:49 | Adult |
| 52 | Cooper Fagan | 75 | 41:02 | Child |
| 53 | Carrie Crawford | 26 | 41:05 | Adult |
| 54 | Tracy Applin | 104 | 41:16 | Adult |
| 55 | Bryan Chambers | 27 | 41:26 | Adult |
| 56 | Diane Geragosian | 35 | 41:31 | Adult |
| 57 | Rachel Baime Giaimo | 139 | 41:40 | Adult |
| 58 | Natalie Gellerman | 79 | 41:46 | Adult |
| 59 | Scott Taylor | 58 | 41:49 | Adult |
| 60 | Sam Poleretzky | 51 | 41:51 | Adult |
| 61 | Victoria Arthur | 25 | 42:36 | Adult |
| 62 | Kyle Fielder | 54 | 42:47 | Adult |
| 63 | Lauren Satterwhite | 55 | 42:47 | Adult |
| 64 | Trevor Bagdanoff | 148 | 42:49 | Child |
| 65 | Elena Agosti | 37 | 43:12 | Child |
| 66 | Jenifer Agosti | 38 | 43:12 | Adult |
| 67 | Colleen Craig | 66 | 43:14 | Adult |
| 68 | John Brunette | 88 | 43:14 | Adult |
| 69 | Christine Cohne | 30 | 43:25 | Adult |
| 70 | Leigh Cohne | 31 | 43:25 | Child |
| 71 | Marsha Fielder | 53 | 43:31 | Adult |
| 72 | Alla Palma | 127 | 43:38 | Adult |
| 73 | Nicole Jerbue | 151 | 43:38 | Adult |
| 74 | Debbie Shirley | 18 | 44:10 | Adult |
| 75 | Andrea Thomas | 28 | 44:25 | Adult |
| 76 | Neve Thomas | 29 | 44:25 | Child |
| 77 | Angie Semeraro | 32 | 44:32 | Adult |
| 78 | Olivia Semeraro | 34 | 44:32 | Child |
| 79 | Emily Ramey | 64 | 45:22 | Adult |
| 80 | Olivia Dunbar | 131 | 45:58 | Child |
| 81 | Alicia Cook | 72 | 46:24 | Adult |
| 82 | Celia Brunette | 87 | 46:33 | Adult |
| 83 | Kathleen Cummings | 10 | 46:39 | Adult |
| 84 | Margaret Guggenberger | 146 | 46:51 | Child |
| 85 | AnneMarie Guggenberger | 147 | 46:51 | Adult |
| 86 | Bryce Caraher | 71 | 48:18 | Adult |
| 87 | Dan Pulver | 149 | 48:20 | Adult |
| 88 | Alicia Umbrino | 93 | 49:57 | Adult |
| 89 | Danielle Rigo-Reilly | 6 | 50:19 | Adult |
| 90 | Ami Fatula | 83 | 50:20 | Adult |
| 91 | Lauren Smart | 84 | 50:20 | Adult |
| 92 | Joanna Kroon | 135 | 50:28 | Adult |
| 93 | Nicole Kroon | 136 | 50:28 | Child |
| 94 | Charlie Coronella | 63 | 50:56 | Child |
| 95 | Paula Crock | 65 | 51:05 | Adult |
| 96 | Paul Kroon | 134 | 51:34 | Adult |
| 97 | Julia Kroon | 137 | 51:34 | Child |
| 98 | Bennett Webster | 60 | 52:19 | Child |
| 99 | Danelle Marable | 7 | 52:22 | Adult |
| 100 | Emilie Webster | 61 | 52:31 | Adult |
| 101 | Kate Rinard | 62 | 52:31 | Adult |
| 102 | Robin Lesser | 39 | 52:55 | Adult |
| 103 | Teddy Capobianco | 153 | 54:24 | Child |
| 104 | Veni Dole | 96 | 56:47 | Adult |
| 105 | Shruti Gajjar | 97 | 56:47 | Adult |
| 106 | Saoirse Loth | 68 | 58:55 | Child |
| 107 | Christina Minicucci | 69 | 58:55 | Adult |
| 108 | Melanie Marinello | 57 | 61:12 | Adult |
| 109 | Amanda Roderick | 98 | 61:20 | Adult |
| 110 | Holly Roderick | 99 | 61:20 | Adult |
| 111 | Kathleen Haddock | 77 | 61:34 | Adult |
| 112 | Donna Phaneuf | 123 | 61:34 | Adult |
| 113 | Denise Tournas | 5 | 61:55 | Adult |
| 114 | Radford Fagan | 73 | 62:30 | Adult |
| 115 | Jocelyn Fagan | 74 | 62:30 | Child |
| 116 | William Cummings | 11 | 63:07 | Adult |
| 117 | Daphne Griffin | 41 | 63:58 | Child |
| 118 | Celina Griffin | 42 | 63:59 | Adult |
| 119 | Fred Menis | 89 | 67:12 | Adult |
| 120 | Charlotte Griffin | 40 | 67:19 | Child |
| 121 | Gary Griffin | 43 | 67:21 | Adult |
| 122 | Colleen Menis | 90 | 70:10 | Adult |
| 123 | Maya Menis | 91 | 70:21 | Child |
| 124 | Tom Walsh | 144 | 76:47 | Adult |
| 125 | Julie Cappella | 44 | 77:52 | Adult |
| 126 | Emily Cappella | 45 | 77:52 | Child |
| 127 | Jessica Barabani | 94 | 83:20 | Adult |
| 128 | Sophia Barabani | 95 | 83:20 | Child |
| 129 | Melissa Gleaton | 19 | 83:33 | Adult |
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...
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...
