Buttery Brook Park

Park Rentals

Rentals are available in season (approximately mid-May through Labor Day weekend) for birthday parties, club outings, family reunions, organization functions, picnics, wedding receptions, and other gatherings. Facilities available include two covered Pavilions and the Log Cabin. The Pavilions accommodate up to 120 guests and are located in the Pine Grove area and the South Entrance Road area. The Log Cabin offers inside space for up to 30 guests, and is located by the playground, a great location for children's parties.  

All inquiries should be directed by email to the South Hadley Recreation Department, which handles all reservations and rentals. For availability, general information, and renter responsibilities, see Buttery Brook Park Rentals (link in the menu at left).

About the Park

Buttery Brook Park was created in 1980 by South Hadley Parks Superintendent Joseph Taylor. The land for the park was acquired from Fire District No. 1 in 1958 and a parcel near the North Entrance was deeded by the Kielbasa Family in 1959. Joe Taylor involved a number of people in the development of the park and bartered for most of the materials. He and his staff crafted many of the picnic tables and benches, and pavilions were built by the Lion’s Club. Part of the property had served as a reservoir from the late 1800s to 1952. The park is nestled in the old Buttery Brook watershed, a remnant of which still exists on the hill overlooking the path of the brook as it winds its way through the Park's large, open field below the pine grove.

Park amenities include free parking, covered pavilions, picnic tables and grills, and shaded picnic areas. The centrally located rest rooms are adjacent to the playground areas and the spray park*. The area near the North Entrance has a basketball court, and new Pickleball courts are anticipated to be completed by the end of June 2022. While visitors may come and enjoy the park at any time of year, park facilities (including rest rooms) are typically only open for general use May-November from 8:30am to dusk. Please note that per Town park policy, no dogs are allowed, except for service animals. 

For latest information (including weather-related schedule changes): www.facebook.com/southhadleyrecreation

• SPRAY PARK OPERATION: When open, the Spray Park is programmed to run from 10:30am to 6:30pm. (There is a green post with a disk at the top within the spray area, which comes on when someone touches the top/center of the disk.) The spray park usually opens on Memorial Day weekend, including the Monday holiday. The spray park is then open on weekends-only through mid June, and after that is open daily through the Labor Day holiday. Restroom facilities are open during these hours. The spray park closes for inclement and/or cold weather days.

Location

Buttery Brook Park, 123 Willimansett Street (Route 33), South Hadley, MA 01075
Contact: recreation@southhadleyma.gov

• From Mass Pike: Take Exit 49 (formerly Exit 5) and travel 3.8 miles north on Route 33. The park is on the left, shortly after entering South Hadley. 
• From Route 91: Take Exit 14 (formerly Exit 16) to Route 202 north to South Hadley; go right on Route 33 south. The Park is on the right approximately 1/2 mile from Routes 202/33 intersection.
• From Route 116: Take Route 33 south for approximately 1.5 miles. The nearest landmark is Olde Hadleigh Hearth & Home.

Friends of Buttery Brook Park

The Friends provide support for park improvements such as through activities such as in-season Friday Cruise Nights and offer help as volunteers for annual events such as Big Rig Day and Santa's Land. A fundraising campaign for new Pickleball courts is currently underway and the Friends are a partner in this exciting effort. New members and volunteers are always welcomed. For general information and meeting date, or to volunteer, email the Friends of Buttery Brook Park at: ButteryBrookPark@gmail.com. 

• For more event information, visit the Friends on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/butterybrookpark.

Friday Cruise Nights at Buttery Brook Park

Fridays from 5pm to Dusk, May 19 to September 8, 2023   | 2023 Cruise Nights (pdf)
Buttery Brook Park Friends' Cruise Nights are held from 5:00pm to dusk each week during the season, which generally runs from the Friday before Memorial Day to the Friday after Labor Day. The public is invited to come and see each week's vintage vehicles (admission is free) and enjoy pleasant warm-weather nights at the Park. Beverages including beer, soda, and water are available from the Friends and South Hadley-based Foley's Franks food wagon is on site. We look forward to seeing everyone at the Park in 2023! Funds raised through Cruise Nights help to support Park improvements. For more information about Cruise Nights and inclement weather cancellations, see: www.facebook.com/butterybrookpark

Wednesday Farmers' Market South Hadley at Buttery Brook Park

Wednesdays from 2-6pm, May 24 to October 11, 2023  (rain or shine)
Buttery Brook Park will welcome a great new attraction in 2023! Enjoy the park while you shop, along with fare from a local food truck. A SNAP match program will be available. A map showing the location of Farmers' Market vendors and visitor parking at the Park can be viewed in the image slider at the bottom of the page. Visit the Market's website at farmersmarketsouthhadley.com or Farmers' Market South Hadley on Facebook for more information.

Annual Big Rig Day at Buttery Brook Park 

Thursday, July 27, 2023 from 10am to 12pm
This longtime Park favorite features fire trucks, police cars, utility trucks, ambulances and more. Climb into the cabs and meet the people who operate these fascinating vehicles at this unique, free, kid-friendly event co-hosted by SHELD/Fibersonic, the Friends of Buttery Book Park, All Star Dairy, and the South Hadley Recreation Department. Don't miss this great, free family event! .

Earth Day Buttery Brook Park Bottle and Can Drive at S.H.H.S.

AT SOUTH HADLEY HIGH SCHOOL on Saturday, April 22, 2023 from 10am to 12pm
Do you have redeemable bottles and cans that have accumulated over the winter? Plan to celebrate Earth Day and bring them to South Hadley High School on Saturday, April 22 from 9:00am to 1:00pm (rain date April 23). Volunteers will be in the school parking lot at 153 Newton Street to accept donations for the Friends of Buttery Brook Park of deposit bottles and cans. Proceeds from redeemables collected will help to support ongoing park improvements. For more information: https://www.facebook.com/butterybrookpark

Annual Easter Egg Hunt and Hat Parade at Buttery Brook Park

Saturday, April 8, 2023 at 10:00am
The annual South Hadley Recreation Department Easter Egg Hunt is back for 2023 at Buttery Brook Park, 123 Willimansett Street (Rt. 33). There is no charge for the event, which includes a visit from the Easter Bunny. The event begins with the Hat Parade, with winning hats awarded a prize ribbon, and is immediately followed by the egg hunt, which features over 2000 eggs.

Pickleball Courts at Buttery Brook Park are Open for Play

Four new pickleball courts at Buttery Brook Park opened in July, 2022 and lighting was installed in August by SHELD (lights are on until 10pm every night during the summer). Set hours are reserved for Open Play at all four courts: Mon, Wed, Fri, and Sat from 8:30-11:00am and Tue, Thur from 4:30pm until Closing. Open Play = Pickleball for All, so you don't have to sign up, just come to the curts during any Open Play time and plan to play. To get connected with the South Hadley Pickleball community, download the TeamReach app and search for South Hadley Picklers (team code is 01075). For more information about South Hadley Pickleball, and upcoming learn-to-play clinics, visit South Hadley Pickleball on Facebook or email: southhadleypickleball@gmail.com.

Annual Santa's Land 

Santa, Mrs. Claus, and the elves enjoyed their online visits with kids in 2020 and 2021, but everyone was happy to be back at the Park for in-person visits in 2022. Park lights and decorations are up in December, and for two weeks ahead of Christmas, Santa's Land is open on Thursday through Sunday from 5:30 to 7:30pm. Modestly priced photos with Santa are available, and parents are also welcome to take their own pictures. Young visitors can enjoy cookies and cocoa during their visit with the Santa and the elves. There is no admission charge, but donations in support of the Park are always appreciated. There was no mask requirement in 2022, but efforts were made to reduce the number of people in the cabin at any one time, and those who prefer masks were free to do so. With three different viruses in circulation in December 2022 (Flu, RSV, and Covid), for the well-being of all visitors families were advised to consider putting off their visit should anyone have symptoms of a cold or respiratory illness. Santa's Land information and updates are posted at the Buttery Brook Park Friends Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/butterybrookpark

Mural by MHC Student Artists

A large 4-panel mural created by students at Mount Holyoke College (see the group photo in the image slider below) was installed at Buttery Brook in June 2022 by the playground. After researching local plants and animals, and hearing from residents about their memories of the Park, the group developed an engaging design incorporating what they learned that viewers of all ages will enjoy.