Ipswich River Park (North Reading)
The town park — a different place from the sanctuary
Ipswich River Park is a 49-acre town park at 15 Central Street in North Reading, Massachusetts, run by North Reading Parks & Recreation. It has a paved walking path, playgrounds, picnic areas, ball fields, tennis and basketball courts, a street hockey rink and a canoe launch on the Ipswich River. It is not the same place as Mass Audubon's Ipswich River Wildlife Sanctuary in Topsfield, which this website covers. The two share a river and a name, and that's about it.
The park sits at the junction of Haverhill, Central and Chestnut Streets. Its own website, maintained by the town's Parks & Recreation Department, describes it as built for both active and passive recreation and dedicated to all North Reading citizens, with "something for everyone".
Ipswich River Park at a Glance
What's at Ipswich River Park
According to the park's website, the finished features are:
- A paved two-mile walking path, plus parking areas.
- A conservation area and restored wetlands, and wildflower meadows.
- A canoe launch on the Ipswich River.
- Softball, baseball, soccer and all-purpose fields.
- Tennis and basketball courts and a street hockey rink.
- Playgrounds, picnic areas, a gazebo with a flagpole, and horseshoe pits.
The town's rental list also includes a 30-by-60-foot pavilion. The park's website lists hoped-for additions such as volleyball courts, bike trails and walking trails leading to the center of North Reading; treat those as goals, not features.
Directions and Parking
The park's website gives the address as 15 Central Street, North Reading, MA 01864, with these directions from Route 128: take the Route 28 exit toward Reading and follow Route 28 into North Reading; turn right onto Route 62; then turn right onto Central Street. The park is on the left. There are parking areas on site.
Renting Fields, the Gazebo or the Pavilion
North Reading Parks & Recreation takes facility requests through its website. The park's rental table lists:
- Soccer, baseball or softball field, up to 2 hours: $90.
- Open field, up to 2 hours: $25.
- Gazebo with electricity, up to 3 hours: $75.
- Pavilion (30 × 60 feet), up to 3 hours: $100.
- Street hockey rink: $40 for 1 hour, $60 for 2 hours.
- Basketball court: $20 per court per hour.
- Impact fees for big groups: none up to 50 people, $75 for 51–100, $125 for 101–150, $175 for 151–200; over 200 or corporate rentals, call the Parks Department.
Summer Concerts
The Friends of North Reading Parks & Recreation and the Parks & Recreation Committee hold an annual concert series at the park. In 2026 it ran five Wednesdays, June 24 to July 22, starting at 5 pm, with dates subject to weather. Check the town's Parks & Recreation page for the current year.
How the Park Was Built
The park's history page says the site was homestead farmland and an old loam farm in the 1960s, and faced the prospect of a housing development in the 1990s. The town took it by eminent domain in 1992, settling for $1,450,000. In 1994 and 1995 the town won $1,000,000 in development grants from the Land and Water Conservation Fund and the Urban Self-Help Program, plus $25,000 from the Public Access Board for the canoe launch, and matched $724,000 through its Hillview Enterprise Fund and town-wide fundraising led by the Land Utilization Committee. The neighboring five-acre Wheeler property was added in 1998. The park's site calls the result a $3.2 million facility.
Ipswich River Park vs. Ipswich River Wildlife Sanctuary
- Where: the park is in North Reading on the river's upper reaches; the sanctuary is at 87 Perkins Row in Topsfield, farther downstream.
- Who runs it: the park belongs to the Town of North Reading; the sanctuary belongs to Mass Audubon, a nonprofit.
- Size: 49 acres for the park; 1,978 acres for the sanctuary.
- What it's for: the park is a sports and recreation complex with a paved path; the sanctuary is a wildlife preserve with 12 miles of foot trails and strict rules (no dogs, bikes or fishing).
- Cost: Mass Audubon charges nonmembers admission at the sanctuary (adults $7); the park's website lists fees only for renting its facilities.
- Boats: the park has a public canoe launch; the sanctuary allows only its own rental boats.
Paddling From the Park
The Ipswich River Watershed Association lists Ipswich River Park as a landing on its Ipswich River Water Trail, between the Reading landings upstream and the North Reading Shopping Center landing downstream. IRWA describes the stretch below North Reading as a long, shady corridor of mature trees that opens into a sunny marsh in Middleton. More in paddling the Ipswich River.
Contact
North Reading Parks & Recreation Department, 235 North Street, North Reading, MA 01864, (978) 357-5216. This website is independent and isn't connected with the town or its park.
Ipswich River Park FAQ
Where is Ipswich River Park?
At 15 Central Street in North Reading, Massachusetts, at the junction of Haverhill, Central and Chestnut Streets.
Is Ipswich River Park the same as Ipswich River Wildlife Sanctuary?
No. Ipswich River Park is a 49-acre North Reading town park with sports fields and a paved path. Ipswich River Wildlife Sanctuary is Mass Audubon's 1,978-acre nature preserve in Topsfield.
How long is the walking path at Ipswich River Park?
The park's website describes a paved two-mile walking path.
Can you launch a canoe at Ipswich River Park?
Yes. The park has a canoe launch, and the Ipswich River Watershed Association lists it as a landing on the Ipswich River Water Trail.
How do I rent a field or the pavilion at Ipswich River Park?
Through North Reading Parks & Recreation's website or office, (978) 357-5216. The pavilion is $100 for up to 3 hours; soccer, baseball and softball fields are $90 for up to 2 hours.