Hall’s Pond Sanctuary and Amory Woods make up a 5-acre gem of protected space in busy Brookline. What many people might not know is that the pond used to be called Swallow Pond and was owned in 1850 by the family of Minna Hall. Hall and her cousin Harriet Hemenway were founders of the Mass Audubon Society.

Today, the town-owned property is just one of two natural ponds remaining in Brookline and the sanctuary is a bird and animal paradise. Great blue herons, black-crowned night herons, kingfishers, and red-winged blackbirds are just a few of the species that visit. Children who love to see glimpses of wildlife will no doubt be rewarded with sightings of any number of birds and maybe some painted turtles too.

A boardwalk takes visitors about halfway around the pond and over the wetlands. There’s also a formal garden area, and a short trail with overlooks and a gazebo. The garden, which you enter underneath an arched trellis, has been the project of the Friends of Hall’s Pond for 25 years. The Friends help with upkeep of the sanctuary and hold events periodically.

Remember: Stay on the paths! A lot of poison ivy grows around the pond.

A playground is adjacent to the sanctuary on Amory Street.
 

Coolidge Corner, which offers many places to eat, is just a few blocks away on Beacon and Harvard streets.