Don't worry about the paved entrance that looks like a driveway into a commercial property…read more Don't worry about the old wrought iron turnstile that looks like something you'd see in a NYC subway station. Because once you pass through the turnstile you are face to face with a beautiful little park with great scenery and a very easy hiking path that circles a lovely pond. One of the very cool features I liked were big signs tipping you off on what kind of animals, fish, or plant life you will see - all sorts of turtles, snakes, frogs, water fowl, deer, etc. Another cool feature were the wooden bridges that carry you over the marshy wetlands that ring the lake. There is a wide paved path around the lake, and it is flat, low impact, and super easy to navigate The scenery is gorgeous and we had a wonderful time walking around the lake and over the bridges.

Worth checking out to see recent environmental history but trail is not wonderfully maintained a…read morebit overgrown. Not wheelchair accessible

Norton Park is a large park in Plainville, CT with many amenities. I was in the area and had to…read morecheck it out since I'm sort of a playground connoisseur lol. Aside from the large playground, there is a sports field, picnic spot, pool, and ball courts. There is a skate park and a paved 1 mile loop walking trail. It is stroller friendly which is a plus. They also host the hot air balloon event in August. The residents and visitors are lucky to have this recreational area. There were plenty of parking; it was a busy day when we went. We enjoyed the playground; there was shade and picnic tables throughout. It even has a zipline/swing type playscape, which I've never seen before elsewhere. Overall, it's definitely a nice park!

Great place to walk! I go there frequently. Marked trail partly crushed stone and can choose woods…read moreor open space. Playground too and bathrooms!

Great spot to walk. An escape from the noise of Bristol's commotion. Close to home. A nice place…read moreto stretch your legs.

Cool area. lots of places to lay low and relax. Biking is not a problem. The water is nice feeling…read moredue to a cold spring as well.

If you need breathtaking views especially this time of the year where the trees change color, this…read moreis the spot for you. There is more than one trail and if you have a map you can decide which trail to follow. If you are interested in just a walk around the lake the red trail would be perfect but if you are more interested in the view of the lake from higher up, then the blue to the orange trail, blue and blue to the red trail will get you there. The entire hike got us was about 3 miles. A simple hike that is good enough for a beginner. It had a steep hill and I was so out of breath going up but when you get to the top at the lookout point it was all worth it. The lake wasn't the cleanest as the water was green but there were still people fishing. A lot of picnic tables to sit, eat or hang out and a big parking lot with adequate space.

I found this park while Geocaching (there is one there!), and it's a nice quiet space off a busy…read moreroad. There are multiple benches along a little path waving through this spot of greenery. Two large trees provide shade in the summer (I imagine, I was there in solid winter), and there are monuments to those Plainville lost in conflict. The newest seems to be dedicated to Gold Star Families who lost their loved ones. There are also monuments to the Civil War, WWI and WWII, the Persian Gulf, and Vietnam and Korea. There is one hour parking behind the park off Maple Street, and municipal parking across the street as well.

The "park" is mainly baseball/softball fields & batting cages with a very small playground & not…read moremuch else. The main sign indicated the playscape was closed due to COVID but it was no where near the playscape & had children on it. (Improper sign placement no doubt) It is also right next to a military base of some sort & you can see tanks etc. from the playscape which was actually neat because you don't see them often. Very odd "park" that I would mainly classify as baseball/softball sports fields as opposed to an actual park.

Beautiful hiking trail! Muddy in the beginning, so wear hiking boots or shoes with good grip. The…read moreoverlooks are amazing and worth every minute. About 1 hour and 20 minutes to and from The caves. Rugged terrain towards the caves Not for the beginner, so plan accordingly. Snacks, water and maybe a walking stick

Trail has some lovely views, some steep up and down sections but no actual rock scrambling…read morerequired, and if you plan ahead you can find the elaborate rock etchings done over 200 years ago by patients of an 18th century small pox inoculation center! Also, when I went most recently, somebody built a pretty sick rope swing in the woods. Not sure how safe it is, but if it doesn't crap out on you it's a nice little adrenaline rush if you start your swing at the tree branch. Now for some tips to get the most out of your hike: Pro tip #1: if you're doing this as an after work hike, park yourself at Alliance Occupational Health and catch the trailhead across the street. Can't speak as to whether this would be ok during their normal business hours tho. Pro tip#2: go to the local library where they can provide you with a map on how to find hospital rock, just off the trail, with stone carvings made 200 years ago. -side tip- bring flour with you to dust the rocks with so you can make out thyme carvings better for pictures Pro tip #3: Bugspray.

Jump into a time machine and travel back to a time before auto travel. A time before railroads. How…read moredid citizens travel from New Haven northward into inland CT or Western Massachusetts? They probably traveled along the Farmington Canal. Construction started near New Haven in 1825, and ten years later the final leg of its 83 mile journey to Northampton, MA was completed. This marker tells the story of the Plainville section of the canal -a 36 foot by 4 trench dug by hand and by horse. This marker is located in Norton Park in Plainville, and the only word I can use to describe its condition is deplorable. The white paint is faded to the point of being invisible. Sections of the plaque are nearly impossible to read. Which is a real shame, don't you think?