Great Hill Dog Pond

The Great Hill Conservation area has a small, shallow Skating/Dog Pond along one side of the large Playing Field off of School St. This pond was man-made, and is formed by a causeway along the southern side. There are three entry streams and one outlet through a drain pipe under the causeway. A small water gate at the entry of the drain pipe establishes the water level in the pond.

There is a fisherman's path along both sides of the pond, which sees regular use (especially the one on the east side).

The border of the pond is roughly divided into five areas:

The Causeway

This is the dike that creates the pond. The side toward the pond is relatively clear of invasives, after years of cutting. The side away from the pond is still a work in progress, with plenty of Multiflora Rose, Glossy Buckthorn, and Asian Bittersweet.

The Entry

This area has little to no overgrowth, and has had a serious infestation of Bush Honeysuckle, Multiflora Rose, and Asian Bittersweet for decades. It is slowly being killed by regular cutting.

The Glade

This area has some relatively dry portions, which occasionally hosts legendary parties, from the trash left behind. An aggressive effort at removing the Glossy Buckthorn from this area started in 2017. There are still roots which need regular clearing. Asian Bittersweet is also a problem here, along the edge of the pond.

The Swamp

This area is very wet. It is the delta of the stream coming from between the Great Hills. The invasives here are mostly Glossy Buckthorn. It was last worked in 2022.

The Far Side

This area is best worked in winter, when the ground is frozen. Lots of Glossy Buckthorn. The part closest to the pond was cleared in Jan 2023.