Norwood Pond

Prior to English settlement, Indigenous Peoples known as the Pawtucket lived in the area, where they fished, hunted, and trapped game. Stone walls crisscross the property and date back to the 17th century. 

Norwood Pond is owned by the City of Beverly and is permanently protected with  a Greenbelt conservation restriction. In 2015, the City partnered with Greenbelt to ensure this land will be protected into the future.

Together with adjacent city-owned water supply lands, the property represents a rare and exceptional natural resource within an otherwise densely developed urban setting. A rich blend of forest, open water, and varied topography creates a distinctive landscape well suited for passive, pond-oriented recreation. 

Norwood Pond is a 50-acre water body formed when Alewife Brook was dammed at the turn of the 20th century. The pond is naturally connected to the Wenham Lake Reservoir and serves as the headwaters of the Miles River. As an integral part of the Norwood Pond watershed, the area includes woodlands, wetlands, vernal pools, red maple swamps, wet meadows, freshwater marshes, and scenic vistas.

Norwood Pond is home to a rich diversity of wildlife. The pond and its surrounding wetlands provide habitat for mammals, fish, amphibians, reptiles, and birds, including bald eagles, great blue herons, ducks and other waterfowl, painted and snapping turtles, and largemouth bass.

Located along the Atlantic migratory flyway, Norwood Pond is also an excellent birdwatching destination. During spring and fall migrations, a variety of songbirds and waterbirds pass through the area, adding to its seasonal appeal.