I might be wrong but this park looks like Burncoat Park today the Old State Mutual Builing stands accross from there. There were two ponds and I think that the stone bridge in the picture about Cross over one of them

There were three ponds at North (Burncoat) park. There was a small gold fish pond, and a large pond for skating that went under the stone bridge. The hockey pond was on the other side of the bridge.

Yes it is Burncoat park. I lived there for yrs. I was either there or i was at my Grandmothers on Plesent street, while growing up. Went to the little red school house before burncoat school. Never got to go to the new jr. high. i moved that year.

The stone bridge was in North (Burncoaet) Park between the large and small ponds. It was in the part of the park taken by the construction of I-290 where it crosses Lincoln Street. Also lost to the city at that time was the section of Green Hill Park known as Holland Rink, with a pond for swim meets, an archery range, and a community house. A basketball court now stands on what used to be a bowling green prior to the land taking for the highway. Worcester's annual fourth of July fireworks display was launched from the Holland Rink area, and viewed by thousands sitting on the slope of the hill leading up to the golf course.

there is a granite marker at burncoat park, behind thorndyke road school, that says "North Park". the park was dramatically transformed by the construction of interstate 290.

I can still remember the day I drove my first english racer bicycle over this bridge. Not knowing how to use hand brakes I crashed into an older gentelman who was not very happy. At each end of the bridge were rock towers which we used to play and hide in. I can also remember when they drained the small pond and coming home with all kinds of frogs and crawfish along with myself covered in pond mud...those were the days..

This bridge is still visible today. The view is from Davidson Road looking toward Greenhill Park. The water has been filled in, but the top of the bridge remains.

This picture was most taken from the Melrose Street side of the pond, if you look closely at the picture there were four round castlelike turrets that were built in each corner of the bridge that we would play in. This entire section of North (Burncoat) Park was taken by I-290. This is a good example why it is important for people to stand up and stop the taking and development of parklands to prevent further losses of treasures like this.

I-290 took a good chunk of the park, but also a great swath of the city around Vernon and College Hills and beyond. Nothing was touched on the West Side.

CORRECTION: The construction of 290 did NOT take much of the parkland as previously mentioned. * In 1888, 89.421 acres were purchased from John D. Curtis, Joseph E. Bond, Jane Harris, Alfred Smith and Francis Weatherbee. * In 1894, the city acquired North Parkway as a gift from Edwin P. Curtis, Harriet B. Curtis and Joseph E. Bond. * In 1908, an additional 2.18 acres were purchased from Charles E. Bond and Olive E. Davidson. * During 1962, 8.2 acres were taken by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts for the construction of I-290 expressway. An additional amount was offered to the Worcester Public schools for the construction of Wawecus Elementary School. Presently, there remains just 18 acres of the originally acquired park land.

Have you ever wondered why it's called "Burncoat"? Old store tell of a fights with Indians on the plane (now called Burncoat). After the fight the coats were burned, on that plane.

I remember swimming at Holland Rink. I also the 4th of July firework celebrations at the Rink. When I was about four years old (1965) I got separated from my mother in the crowd during the 4th of July fireworks at Holland Rink. I was crying and some teenage boys said to me "why don't you find your mother and tell her you are lost?" They all had a good laugh. I still remember what they look like. They better hope I don't run into them. (Just joking about that last part....I think) There IS a bridge still visible at Burncoat Park but it is not over water ...it's on top of land. It is near Davidson Road. I am going to Worcester soon and will do a little investigation. I will post my findings :)

The first settler of Worcester (Quinsigamond Plantation) in 1673 Lieutenant Ephraim Curtis built his house and trading post at 440 Lincoln St (Country Rd) and across the street was Curtis Farm for many generations. The original house was burned during King Philip's War in 1675. It would be nice for Worcester to remember her first settler with a plaque or monument. Name the park Curtis Farm Park instead of Holland Rink.