Castle Park
Castle Park
Andover Conservation Commission
Size: 1 acre
Access: Stevens St. via Marland Place sidewalk; Joyce Terrace.
Parking: Marland Place and Suburban Health parking lots; limited space at Joyce Terrace entrance.
Handicapped access: Ramp from Marland Place to picnic area.
Permitted: Walking, fishing, picnicking.
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Named Castle Park in honor of the castle-like home of the Joyce family that stood at the top of this hill until the 1940s, Castle Park was improved in 1996 by the Andover Trails Committee and area residents.
It is a link in the proposed Shawsheen River Greenway.
Newly planted shrubs and flowers, a picnic table and park bench beneath a row of huge old maples offer a cool shady spot to enjoy the Shawsheen River and have a picnic lunch, or stroll through between errands at Shawsheen Plaza and the post office.
A trail easement on the hillside behind Marland Place links Castle Park to Stevens Street and to residences on Smithshire Ext. and Cassimere St.
The Andover Spade & Trowel Garden Club has taken special interest in the flora of Castle Park.
In spring of '98 they began planning and planting a wildflower garden to enhance this spot by the river.
Much planting had already been done by ATC and AVIS members before the dedication, but was lost in the floods of October'96 and June'97.
The garden club took over in '98 and '99 with a labeled wildflower garden and general sprucing up, all above '96's flood line.
Also, look for a beautiful butterfly garden they have planted in the rocks in the parking lot near the entrance.
Spring 2000 should produce a well established garden of blooms!
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