Volunteer Park
| Vital Statistics | |
|---|---|
| Town | Chatham |
| Administered By | Town of Chatham |
| Where | Off Sam Ryder Road |
| Distance | 2.5 mile |
| Surface | Early growth pine forest with pine needles, roots, some swampy, mossy areas |
| Last Visited | December 2008 |
| Ratings | |
| Overall | Moderate |
| Walking | Good |
| Running | Good |
| Biking | Good |
| Hiking | Good |
About The Trail
Bounded by Sam Ryder Road to the west, Indian Hill Road to the east, and the Chatham Spur of the Cape Cod Rail Trail to the south, this meandering array of trails is easily accessible from the bike path or from Volunteer Park on Sam Ryder Road. Consisting of a pair of baseball fields, a pair of horseshoe pits and a playground, Volunteer Park is a great place to hangout on a summer weekend or stop for a break while exploring the bike path. The unmaintained neighborhood trail system contiguous to the park wanders through scrub pine and explores young growth upland forest. An overgrown trail leads down into a pair of swampy glacial depressions which used to be ponds. A few planks, some chairs, and scattered trash indicate that this area is periodically frequented by kids looking to escape the parents for a few hours. Several connectors to the bike path are convenient for dog walkers and afternoon exercisers from the adjoining neighborhoods and are a good way to avoid the roads on your way to Volunteer Park for a pickup ballgame. Most trails are good for mountain biking and running but are too short for the serious mountain biker. The novice rider will enjoy the mix of easy and more advanced trails with an easy escape to the paved bike path close at hand. Prior to the construction of Volunteer Park and the bike path, trails extended in both directions, towards Sam Ryder Road and the town landfill to the west and into the back of a gravel pit to the south. The gravel pit has since been filled and developed into Bailey's Path. To the north, Schoolhouse Pond, Ryder's Pond and some recent housing developments block connections to the Barclay's Pond trails but an enterprising bushwhacker can make their way to the pond without impinging on private property.
Getting There
Take Route 6 to exit 11 and head south on Route 137. Turn left on to Old Queen Anne Road and then take your next right on to Sam Ryder Road. Volunteer Park is located about a mile on the left side of the road and has plentiful parking available. Alternately, park at the airport on George Ryder Road and follow the bike path to the west to a multitude of trail heads on your right.
Maps
