Stone Farm Conservation Area - Brockton, MA
Join reptiles, amphibians, birds, and more in this natural oasis within a dense urban landscape.
Your exploration of Brockton’s open space doesn’t have to end at our Brockton Audubon Preserve. For those looking for additional adventure, a quick walk from the end of the West Elm Connector Trail down West Elm Street Extension provides a link to more trails at Stone Farm Conservation Area, a 105-acre parcel owned by the City of Brockton and managed by Wildlands Trust through the Community Stewardship Program. In 2017, Wildlands received a grant from the state’s Recreational Trails Program to restore and improve public access to this former farmland. The trails were officially re-opened to the public in October 2019. Now, the area features 2.5 miles of trails through mixed forests. Two certified vernal pools also lie within the conservation area, providing crucial breeding habitat to sensitive reptiles, amphibians, and aquatic invertebrates.
Altogether, Brockton Audubon Preserve, Stone Farm Conservation Area, and Easton’s Dorchester Brook Wildlife Management Area create a 300-acre contiguous wildlife corridor. Large areas of conserved land near densely populated areas provide important habitat to terrestrial and avian species alike.
Access:
Watch your step up to, down from, and along bog boards and boardwalks on the trail, as some are narrow and can be slippery. Expect a moderately hilly terrain, with exposed roots and rocks along the trail.
Stewardship:
Owned by the City of Brockton, by bequest of Dewey Stone in 1977. Since 2018, Wildlands Trust has worked with the city through our Community Stewardship Program to maintain the Stone Farm trails.
History:
Located in one of the most densely populated cities in Massachusetts, the land that comprises Stone Farm Conservation Area was originally owned by Dewey Stone, a businessman and philanthropist. Prior to his death in 1977, Stone willed the land to the Brockton Conservation Commission. The parcel makes up 11 percent of Brockton’s total open space.
In 2018, the City of Brockton asked Wildlands Trust to restore the trails at Stone Farm and improve public access to the property. Restoration work included cutting back trails, building bog boards, and installing appropriate signage. The trails were officially re-opened to the public in October 2019.
Location:
On north side of Torrey Street, west of Pearl Street, Brockton, MA
Directions:
From 495 North: Take exit 19A to 24 North to Boston. In 8.9 miles, take exit 31B to 123 West to Easton. In 0.5 miles, turn right onto Pearl Street. In 0.7 miles, turn left onto Torrey Street. In 0.3 miles, Stone Farm Conservation Area is on your right.
Parking:
A parking lot behind the baseball field on the north side of Torrey Street can fit 2-3 cars. Additional parking can be found down the dirt road just west of the main lot.