Robinson State Park
Encyclopedia
Robinson State Park is a narrow, urban 852 acres (3.4 km²) park located mostly in Agawam, MA and partly in Westfield, MA and West Springfield, MA. The southern bank of the meandering Westfield River
creates the northern border of the park. The park's three levels of terrain are conducive to growing over 51 different species of trees, possibly being the most diverse forest in Massachusetts
and the rarest.The park is managed by the Department of Conservation and Recreation
.
Quite a variety of wildflowers, some rare, threatened, or endangered exist in the park. Just a few of the creatures found in the park are fisher cat
, otter
, beaver
, deer
, coyote
, red fox
, bear
, egrets, pairs of bald eagles, and on occasion moose
. Many birds make Robinson a stopover on their way from South America
to Canada
and also on the return visit.
The park is used for recreational purposes as John C. Robinson wanted it when he donated it as a park in the 1930s. Roads built by the CCC Boys or trails marked by a "Friends" group, make it easy to enjoy seeing the park by car, foot, or bike. CItation:
Westfield River
The Westfield River in Metropolitan Springfield, Massachusetts, is a major tributary of the Connecticut River in Hampden County, Massachusetts. The Westfield River has four major tributary branches that confluence in the City of Westfield, for which the river is named...
creates the northern border of the park. The park's three levels of terrain are conducive to growing over 51 different species of trees, possibly being the most diverse forest in Massachusetts
Massachusetts
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010...
and the rarest.The park is managed by the Department of Conservation and Recreation
Department of Conservation and Recreation (Massachusetts)
The Department of Conservation and Recreation is a state agency of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, situated in the Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs. It is best known for its parks and parkways. As of May 24, 2011 the Commissioner of the DCR is Edward M. Lambert, Jr...
.
Quite a variety of wildflowers, some rare, threatened, or endangered exist in the park. Just a few of the creatures found in the park are fisher cat
Fisher cat
Fisher cat may refer to:*An informal name for the fisher , a relative of the weasel*Another name for the Fishing Cat, a type of cat found in Asia ....
, otter
Otter
The Otters are twelve species of semi-aquatic mammals which feed on fish and shellfish, and also other invertebrates, amphibians, birds and small mammals....
, beaver
Beaver
The beaver is a primarily nocturnal, large, semi-aquatic rodent. Castor includes two extant species, North American Beaver and Eurasian Beaver . Beavers are known for building dams, canals, and lodges . They are the second-largest rodent in the world...
, deer
Deer
Deer are the ruminant mammals forming the family Cervidae. Species in the Cervidae family include white-tailed deer, elk, moose, red deer, reindeer, fallow deer, roe deer and chital. Male deer of all species and female reindeer grow and shed new antlers each year...
, coyote
Coyote
The coyote , also known as the American jackal or the prairie wolf, is a species of canine found throughout North and Central America, ranging from Panama in the south, north through Mexico, the United States and Canada...
, red fox
Red Fox
The red fox is the largest of the true foxes, as well as being the most geographically spread member of the Carnivora, being distributed across the entire northern hemisphere from the Arctic Circle to North Africa, Central America, and the steppes of Asia...
, bear
Bear
Bears are mammals of the family Ursidae. Bears are classified as caniforms, or doglike carnivorans, with the pinnipeds being their closest living relatives. Although there are only eight living species of bear, they are widespread, appearing in a wide variety of habitats throughout the Northern...
, egrets, pairs of bald eagles, and on occasion moose
Moose
The moose or Eurasian elk is the largest extant species in the deer family. Moose are distinguished by the palmate antlers of the males; other members of the family have antlers with a dendritic configuration...
. Many birds make Robinson a stopover on their way from South America
South America
South America is a continent situated in the Western Hemisphere, mostly in the Southern Hemisphere, with a relatively small portion in the Northern Hemisphere. The continent is also considered a subcontinent of the Americas. It is bordered on the west by the Pacific Ocean and on the north and east...
to Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
and also on the return visit.
The park is used for recreational purposes as John C. Robinson wanted it when he donated it as a park in the 1930s. Roads built by the CCC Boys or trails marked by a "Friends" group, make it easy to enjoy seeing the park by car, foot, or bike. CItation:
Recreational opportunities
- Accessible restrooms
- Accessible hiking trails
- Bicycle paths
- Canoeing
- Fishing
- Group day use
- Mountain biking
- Picnicking
- Scenic viewing area
- Skiing (cross-country)
- Swimming
- Walking trails
- Trail Running
