A Day at Brooks Park in Harwich Center

Buying a home in Harwich Center puts you in a historic part of town with plenty of activities. This section of Harwich isn't near the beach and doesn't have a marina like Harwich Port, but it's a family-orientated area with parks, museums, and the town's library.

One of the most popular venues in Harwich Center is Brooks Park, which many locals view as the town's main recreational facility. This park has a little bit of everything and is a destination that you'll surely visit once you live in the area.

Here's a look at some of the main activities you can participate in at Brooks Park throughout the year.

Play Some Sports

Brooks Park is full of sports facilities, including the baseball field. This field is mainly for children's baseball games, so your youngsters might play Little League there. You can rent the diamond for games and practices, too.

There's a second recreational area at the park to the east of the baseball diamond. This section has four tennis courts, eight pickleball courts, a full basketball court, and a half-court. These facilities are relatively new and among the nicest on Cape Cod, so make sure you take advantage of them after relocating to the area.

Take In a Concert

There's a gazebo south of the baseball diamond at Brooks Park that hosts concerts in the summer. This venue is the home of the Harwich Town Band, a local ensemble that holds concerts every Tuesday in July and August.

The band got its start in 1975 and has been entertaining visitors and locals alike ever since.

The pavilion hosts other concerts in the summer, too, including the Summer Concert Series. This series includes shows every Monday throughout the summer and special events organized by the Arts Foundation of Cape Cod.

If you're into live music, Brooks Park is the place to be in Harwich.

Let the Kids Play

Parents are always looking for fun things to do with the kids, and Brooks Park has you covered with its playground. This structure isn't the largest on Cape Cod, but it has enough to keep smaller children busy for hours. The play area even has benches, so parents can relax while the little ones get some exercise on a beautiful Cape Cod afternoon.

The area surrounding the playground has picnic tables and a small field, too, giving your family even more space to spread out and play.

Hike or Ride the Trails

Since Brooks Park is in a central section of Harwich, you might assume that it has businesses or, at the very least, residences surrounding it.

While there are buildings to the west of the park, the areas to the south and east are heavily wooded and the perfect place to do some hiking. There's only about a half-mile of hiking trails at the park, but that's more than enough if you just want to get out for a quick walk.

As for cycling, Brooks Park has access to the Old Colony Rail Trail. You can connect with the Cape Cod Rail Trail if you take the Old Colony west or head all the way to Chatham if you go east.

The route you take is highly dependent on where you want to travel. Either way, Brooks Park makes an excellent starting point for traveling on the Old Colony Rail Trail.

Visit a Flea Market

Summertime is full of farmer's markets and flea market on the Cape, and Brooks Park is one place you can head for a sale.

The park has craft fairs and flea markets throughout the summer, giving you the chance to pick up some décor for your new home or enjoy some food from local vendors.

These sales don't happen every week, but if you head there on a summer weekend, there's a good chance you'll find something to do at Brooks Park. 

Getting to the Park

Brooks Park is easy to reach because it's just off Main Street in downtown Harwich Center. The park is seconds from Harwich Town Hall and the Brooks Free Library in a section of town you're sure to frequent once you live there.

There are three parking lots at the facility, and although they are small, you shouldn't have much trouble finding a space unless there's a special event going on. 

Overall, Brooks Park is a fantastic facility that residents of Harwich Center are lucky to have. Once you purchase your new home in Harwich, Massachusetts, you'll find yourself lucky to have it, too.