Butternut Hollow Park. — Attraction in Middletown

Butternut Hollow park is a family friendly neighborhood park and playground with a pond. In this visit I enjoyed a walk to the park on my lunch break to view the season's waterfowl hatchlings. I was happy to see two families of geese with their goslings. There are several park benches and picnic tables. I especially like the water fountain in the pond as a scenic background.

This would be a great park for children. They can enjoy the playground which has sections geared to children of different ages. It is set back from the pond and has areas for adults to sit. One should be aware the pond could be a danger for unsupervised children. There is a partial fence which improves safety.

There is a parking lot for about a dozen cars. On busy days such as in the good weather in summer, the capacity of the lot can get exceeded. Many choose to simply park along the road instead. It is a dead end abutting the town property for winter maintenance vehicles and one business ( auto repair) so there is ample space. It is close to the playground for easy access. While the area has grass, it would not be difficult too use a baby stroller or a wheelchair because it is well mowed and the distance is short. There is also a port o potty available. Note: I did not see it at a later visit date.

I have seen people fishing in the pond. This is another popular activity. Be aware there may be fish hooks so shoes should be worn. This is s muddy duck pond and is not suitable for swimming or bathing. The bacterial count is likely high so opt for another location for summer swimming. It's also not recommended for skating.

My visits to the park are most often for a quick picnic lunch or as part of my jogging route. The size is about 6 acres, or a few house lots. It takes about 5 minutes to jog the perimeter. I love watching the ducks, geese, and occasions seagulls. It is a relaxing place to enjoy the seasons. It happens to be conveniently located for me, but if I were further away I might visit less often in favor of a local park in my area. It is a great neighborhood asset but probably not an out of town draw if you have something similar close by. The exception is if you are drawn to the playground equipment for kids, which is pretty nice.

A downside to many ducks and geese is the lawn sometimes becomes littered with feces. This trip the area was very clean. I most notice this problem in the fall months when the young ones are nearly full size. I do not recommend sitting in the grass even with a blanket, but rather to use the picnic tables and benches. There is a picnic Pavillion near the play area too. Update: I made a late summer visit and choosing ones steps in the grass was already necessary.

Overall it's a great local treasure for a neighborhood park in Middletown. I recommend it for picnics, enjoying the scenery, the playground, pond fishing, and outdoor exercise. If you're looking for something larger you might consider the riverfront, or if these features are not a particular draw for you, something in your neighborhood might be more suitable. Miller's pond is a few miles from here where you can swim, fish, and grill. For its intended purpose I love Butternut Hollow and consider it an oasis to recharge...

Lakeside Fun for Little Ones! I recently took my kids to a fantastic play scape right next to a beautiful lake, and it was genuinely impressive. Given how many children were there, it's clearly a popular spot, and for good reason! The setup was ideal for a wide range of ages. There were plenty of swings, slides of varying heights, and climbing structures that kept my adventurous little ones happily occupied. What really stood out was how well-maintained everything was, especially considering the high traffic. The equipment felt sturdy and safe, which as a parent, is always my top priority. The proximity to the lake was a huge bonus. It provided a lovely, serene backdrop and a nice breeze, making it more comfortable than many other playgrounds we've visited. There were also benches conveniently placed for parents to relax while still having a clear line of sight to the play area. Overall, this play scape offers a really enjoyable experience for both kids and adults. It's a great place to burn off some energy and enjoy the outdoors by the water. We'll...

This park is really nice, very clean, bright and new, appropriate for kids of multiple ages, with various areas for fun and relaxation. The park area is split roughly in three: toddlers, children and mixed. There is an open green and a few benches around the lake. Two gazebo areas and two port-a-potty that have been immaculate all the times I've been here. I like that they finished the chain-link fence to Butternut St, it helps to keep the kids contained (alas, they did remove the parking area on Butternut St.). Things that could improve: there are no water fountains or faucets, there are no power outlets, parking fits around 10-12 cars only (street parking available but no sidewalks). The blue track rubbery floor that paves the play area is thick and very good for dampening falls. No shady people or grafitti; good for kids fun and for parents' mental...