Buttonwood Park Historic District

Buttonwood Park Historic District is a 97-acre area in New Bedford that combines gardens, a pond, an arboretum, and walking paths with recreational spaces. The southeastern section holds ball fields and basketball courts, while the zoo and additional landscaped areas occupy other parts of the grounds.

The area was designed in 1895 by the architectural firm Olmsted, Olmsted & Eliot under Charles Eliot, known for creating parks that blended natural features with recreation. This early design set the foundation for the residential neighborhood that developed around it in the following decades.

The neighborhood displays Colonial Revival and Craftsman-style homes built in the early 1900s that blend seamlessly with the green surroundings. This architectural character shapes the look of the streets and gives the whole area a cohesive residential feel.

The area is bounded by Brownell Avenue, Kempton Street, Rockdale Avenue, and Hawthorne Street, making it easy to find your way around. Keep in mind that different activities spread across various sections, with sports facilities in the southeast and natural areas plus the zoo scattered through other parts.

The northern section holds a 7-acre pond with a dam, a water feature often overlooked by visitors passing through. This reservoir serves both drainage and recreation, creating a distinctive gathering spot within the park.