Next summer, visitors who want to swim at Walden Pond’s main beach will have to find other arrangements.
The main beach at Walden Pond State Reservation in Concord will be closed for the whole 2025 summer season while a new bathing facility is being built, according to a statement released by the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR).
The $6.1 million project aims to replace the outdated, two-story bathhouse that has been there for decades with a brand-new, contemporary, and completely accessible one-story building.
The DCR claims that the decision to close the main swimming area during the busiest time of year was made because the building project poses serious safety risks to the general public.
It is anticipated that the new bathhouse will have three family restrooms, a lifeguard break room, a fully stocked first aid station, and renovated men’s and women’s restrooms with changing areas. By fall 2025, construction is expected to be finished.
“DCR has determined it cannot safely open the Main Beach to visitors for the 2025 summer season, while construction for the new bathhouse is ongoing,” the agency stated.
Red Cross Beach in Walden Pond will be open, but the main beach will be closed. However, swimmers are advised to exercise caution as there won’t be any lifeguards on duty.
During the closure, the DCR is also urging people to visit other swimming areas, such as Charles E. Shannon Jr. Memorial Beach in Winchester, Hopkinton State Park, Ashland State Park, Cochituate State Park in Natick, and a number of municipal pools nearby.
About 600,000 people visit Walden Pond State Reservation annually.
The location is significant historically because it served as the backdrop for Henry David Thoreau’s 1854 novel Walden, which detailed his attempt at simple living in the nearby forests.
Read Also: Newport News Shipyard Announces Furloughs Affecting 400+ Employees
Concerns about growing tourist numbers, climate change, and the strain on the infrastructure led to the pond’s inclusion on the U.S. list of the “11 Most Endangered Historic Places” last year.
Due to high bacterial levels and extreme weather, including intense rains that flooded portions of the beach, Walden Pond has had sporadic closures in recent summers.
Officials anticipate that the new bathhouse will improve the experience of guests while resolving long-standing accessibility and infrastructure problems.
