South of Boston

Allen C. Haskell Public Gardens

New Bedford

6 acres

Pete Marotta

Explore a storied former New Bedford nursery turned vibrant park and South Coast horticultural gem.

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Plan Your Visit
  • Overview
  • Ideas for Your Visit
  • Admission & Hours
  • Directions & Contact Info
  • What You'll Find
  • Facilities & Accessibility
  • Venue Rental
  • Property Map
  • Regulations & Advisories

Overview

The late Allen C. Haskell, a lifelong New Bedford resident and famed horticulturist, assembled these six acres—the site of a traditional New England-style common, beautiful historic gardens, and one of the oldest homes in the city—over more than 30 years. Today, it’s a public park and unlikely botanical respite, blooming in the heart of New Bedford.

Ideas for Your Visit

Stroll along meandering paths, explore spiral garden and historic brick buildings, and linger by the beds planted with local favorites as well as exotic rarities. A medley of trees—Japanese maples, six varieties of boxwood, and several specimen trees—loom over artfully landscaped grounds. The collection of ornaments throughout the gardens remain from Allen C. Haskell’s garden, providing distinctive furnishings to enjoy during your visit.

Admission & Hours

FREE to all.

Hours – open sunrise to sunset

Directions & Contact Info

787 Shawmut Avenue
New Bedford, MA 02746

Get directions on Google Maps.

There is no designated parking area, but on-street parking is available.

From Rt. 24 South, take Exit 12 for Rt. 140 South toward New Bedford. Follow for 17 mi. At Exit 3 for Hathaway Rd., take the ramp right. Turn left on Hathaway Rd., then, after 0.4 mi., turn right onto Shawmut Ave. The park is on your right.

What You'll Find

Allen C. Haskell was a master horticulturist who used his small garden spaces to showcase unusual or rare plants offered for sale in his nursery. Today the plant collection here includes a wide variety of Japanese maple cultivars, a hydrangea test garden, and specimen trees include a large dawn redwood, variegated maple, several varieties of Chamaecyparis, and a large hosta display garden.

Facilities & Accessibility

Please note that all buildings, greenhouses, and restrooms are closed to the public except during special events.

Venue Rental

Currently Haskell Public Gardens does not allow weddings, elopements, ceremonies, or parties.

Property Map

There is a trail map posted on a kiosk in the parking area.

We recommend that you take a photo of the map on your phone so you can refer to it during your visit, or download a trail map before you head out.

Regulations & Advisories

  • Hunting is not permitted at this reservation. Learn more about hunting on Trustees properties.
  • Allen C. Haskell Public Gardens is open Sunrise to Sunset 7 days a week.
  • No dogs or other pets are allowed on the property.
  • Parking is located on the street on Shawmut Avenue.
  • PHOTOGRAPHY: We ask that photographers or their clients become Contributing Level Members before conducting portrait sessions at this property. Click here for more information, and to request permission for any portrait sessions.
  • The Trustees of Reservations reserves the right, and may give permission to its designated photographers and videographers, or to outside media, to photograph or video visitors and program participants at all its facilities and properties.
Before Setting Out
More to Explore

Revitalized Gardens of The Trustees

Discover the revitalized public gardens and historic houses at two special places on the North Shore – Long Hill, in Beverly, and Stevens-Coolidge House & Gardens, in North Andover.

Gardens, revitalized
Upcoming Events

An Epic Figure in American Gardening

Allen Clifton Haskell symbolized the best of New Bedford – grit, determination, ingenuity and an outward vision that once brought New Bedford whalers to every corner of the globe and later won international acclaim for Haskell as everyone from European royalty to local do-it-yourself gardeners made pilgrimages to his fabled Shawmut Avenue nursery described as “heaven on earth.”

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The View From Here
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