Morton Park

Morton Park is Plymouth's largest park, roughly 200 acres of forest and shoreline wrapped around Little Pond (43 acres) and the northern edge of Billington Sea (269 acres), with 4 miles of gravel roads and 2.5 miles of footpaths. Little Pond, a kettle hole, supports non-motorized boating like kayaking and paddleboarding, while the larger Billington Sea accommodates motorized craft too -- both offer swimming beaches and picnic areas, with seasonal restrooms and food concessions. The park dates to 1889, funded by Plymouth citizens and landowners including Dr. LeBaron Russell, under the guidance of Nathaniel Morton, considered the father of the town's park system -- a genuinely early example of public land preservation for its time. Billington Sea itself takes its name from 14-year-old Mayflower passenger Francis Billington, who reportedly spotted the pond from a treetop and, not knowing what he was looking at, believed it might be the Pacific Ocean.