Community Spotlight – Groveland, Massachusetts

The North Shore Alliance, or the “Alliance,” prides itself on supporting economic development initiatives across the 30 communities and four Gateway Cities of the North Shore of Massachusetts. Each month we will be conducting a community highlight. We will be taking a look at some of these communities, and where they stand economically, along with highlighting commercial development sites that may interest our readers. 

This month we will be taking a closer look at Groveland, Massachusetts, a residential community approximately 34 miles from Boston. 

A Little History of Groveland

Groveland is historically similar to many other towns in Massachusetts in regards to its incorporation and becoming a separate town from neighboring municipalities. Groveland was once attached to the neighboring cities of Rowley and then Bradford until it was formally incorporated in 1850. 

What was once farmland along the Merrimack River in the early 20th Century evolved into a shoe industry and textile manufacturing community by the later part of the century. It is currently almost entirely residential. 

The Town of Groveland is bordered by West Newbury on the north, Newbury and Georgetown on the east, Boxford on the south, and Haverhill on the west. It is easily accessible to major highways such as Route 95 and Route 495 as well as smaller roadways such as Route 113. Its population, according to the 2020 Census is 6,752, making it a small, close-knit community on the north shore. 

Points of Interest 

Downtown Elm Park 

As an almost wholly residential community, Groveland can boast a beautiful downtown area for its residents, framed by Elm Park and a centrally located town gazebo. This area is surrounded by historical homes, town offices, and places for families to walk and ride bikes. The downtown area Elm trees were sadly ravaged by Dutch Elm Disease in the 1950s, causing the town to remove the diseased trees and begin the process of rebuilding the downtown park. 

Today, nearly 70 years later, the downtown area has been rebuilt with help from a grant from the state, and assistance from the Department of Environmental Management, the Historic Commission, and others. The park is a beautiful place for families to walk, ride bikes and enjoy the walkways that line the park as well as lampposts similar to the original park, monuments, and a fountain. 

Pines Recreation Area

The Pines Recreation area offers two basketball courts, two baseball diamonds, facilities for cookouts, bonfires, fireworks observation, a skate park plus access to the Merrimack River. The Pines also provides a nature trail that runs through a wooded area along the river. Motor vehicles have been excluded from this trail so it is a quiet place to walk or jog. In addition to the sports facilities, the Pines Recreation area also provides swings and similar playground equipment for the youngest family members who might not yet be old enough to enjoy the sports facilities.

Stickney’s Boulder 

If you love history and want to put your hands on something that has potentially been around for 2 million years, travel to see Stickney’s Boulder, located on Center Street, near the intersection of Center Street, Rollins Street, and Bare Hill Road. There you will find an 18-foot-high boulder that dates from the Ice Age and is of hornblende diorite composition.