Groff Park

Facilities:

  • The Emily Dickinson Trail, built by the UMass Chapter of the American Society of Civil Engineers, is maintained by the Conservation Department. 
  • Tall beautiful trees, picnic areas with seating, including a pavilion which can be rented. Call Amherst Rec. at 413-259-3065 to reserve.
  • Playground and swing set has been upgraded in 2020. 
  • Restrooms 
  • A spray park installed in 2020. 
  • Sandbox and a small climbing area at the bottom of the hill 
  • A shallow river (Fort River) flows by the park 
  • No fee to park 
  • 3 ball fields 
  • Swings and play equipment 
  • BBQ grills 
  • Athletic fields used by Amherst Rec., schools, and adult softball league 
Groff Park Spray Pad will open May 28th!
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Located at 72 Mill Lane, Amherst, MA 01002

History:

Donated to the Town in 1934, by Swiss émigré and successful South Amherst dairyman Ulysses Groff, this fourteen acre farm parcel on Fort River near Mill Lane was principally intended to be a public swimming hole. The stretch of Fort River above the Grist Mill at Mill Valley had long been called ‘’ Freshman River’’ from a tradition among Amherst College upper class to haze freshmen by giving them an unwilling dunking. Amherst’s public health officials declared Fort River to be insufficiently sanitary for swimming so a project to build a dam on Fort River at the park was abandoned. Instead, Groff Park was developed for ball fields, picnicking and fishing. Located just off Rt. 116 in Amherst, the park is a great destination for picnics, swimming, hiking, walking etc.