Upcoming Events and Programs

Download the 2012 Special Events Calendar here, or pick one up at the West Hill Park Entrance Booth, Dam office or in the brochure boxes.

Hours of Operation

West Hill Park and Dam Hours: West Hill Park open daily from 8:00am to 8:00pm, including holidays. West Hill Dam is open daily, including holidays from sunrise to sunset. Your park remains open year-round, please park at the gates to walk in after September 12, 2011 and continue to enjoy your park and dam.

Upcoming Events

Please pick up an Annual Events Calendar at the Project Dam office or in the brochure boxes so you won’t miss any of the fun and exciting events.

Volunteers Needed

Wood Duck Nesting Program and Bluebird Management Trail

Volunteers needed to clean bluebird houses in the spring and collect native seeds and help with future plantings, call Ranger Viola Bramel at (508) 278-2511, press #3 at menu or for more biodiversity Information- call Jill at MassWildlife at (508) 792-7270, ext. 106.

Volunteers who would like to help with the upkeep of these nesting habitats and help record nesting activity etc. please call Ranger Viola at (508) 278-2511, #3 menu. Adults welcome, some days, nights and weekend hours permitted.

Junior Ranger Update

Welcome new Junior Rangers and a very special welcome back to our Junior Ranger Level 2 and other graduates! Thank you for being such great stewards, caretakers and for teaching others about protecting all the West Hill Dam resources! Thank you parents, volunteers, grandparents, step-parents, brothers, sisters, aunts, uncles and all who helped !!! Please join us for Junior Ranger level 2 events all season long.

Junior Ranger Level 1- Congratulations 2011 graduates, thank you parents, grandparents and all those who helped these stewards and caretakers. Join us for Level-2 Junior Ranger Programs, offered year-round.

Junior Ranger Level-2 Update - See Upcoming Events section at the top of this webpage, many qualify for Level-2 credit.

Reminder: Junior Ranger Level 2 is open to Junior Ranger graduates only (those who have graduated from a previous Junior Ranger Level 1 session).

Please call Ranger Viola at (508) 278-2511, #3 menu, or pick up the Annual Events Calendar at the West Hill Park booth or West Hill Dam Project Office.

Parents or guardians each session is worth two points and has a category assigned. Four points within a category e.g. Cultural Resources, Fisheries and Wildlife, Parks and Recreation, Forestry or Natural Resources, earns your Junior Ranger that patch.

Registration is required for all Level 2 sessions during the week, and during weekend events please inform the Ranger directing the program you are attending for Level 2 credit.

Scout News West Hill Dam . . . .

Eagle Scouts

Traditon of Pride and Service at West Hill since 1993 read more by clicking on the Eagle Scout Link on the West Hill Dam home page {1993 Rusty Stewart- Uxbridge, MA; 2002-Jason Reindeau Uxbridge, MA; 2004 Alan Hoyt, Mendon, MA- Uxbridge, MA; 2004- Tim Grahm, Uxbridge, MA; 2005- Matthew Beaudette- Uxbridge, MA; 2006- Tim Fowler, Harrisville, RI 2007- Andrew Frongilo Milford, MA; 2008- Matthew Hass Whitinsville, MA;2009- Sam Giard Whitinsville, MA; 2009 Ethan Hamm Northbridge, MA 2009- Zachary Modica Uxbridge, MA 2010- Colin Smith Uxbridge, MA and 2010 Devin Lyons Uxbridge, MA.

Current candidates: For Eagle Scout . . Craig Robbins- Uxbridge, Chris Giard- Whitinsville, MA, Brian Pierro- Mendon, MA, Richie Lonoue, Franklin, MA; Joshua DoNocour, Millville, MA, and David Frangillo, Milford, MA.

Girl Scouts

Girl Scout Bronze Award –  Janet Haas and Whitney Roche, Troop 385, Whitinsville, MA. Design, construction and installation of a "Horse Step Mount" for safety of horseback riders for mount and dismount along the Woodland Trail system, May 2008.

Arrow Award – Meaghan Casey, Northbridge, MA.  Design, construction and installation of a "Horse Step Mount" for safety of horseback riders for mount and dismount along the Woodland Trail system, May 2008.

Are you an Eagle Scout Candidate?

Do you have a project or would you like to make a contribution to the conservation and recreation facilities at West Hill Dam? Contact Ranger Viola Bramel at (508) 278-2511, #3 at menu, to pursue your Eagle Award.

Requests for Group Tours for Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts and Community Organizations are on-going year-round. Please call the Park Ranger Staff at (508) 278-2511, #3 at menu for information or with your questions.

Four Season Hike Kit available to All Scout Troops - Call (508) 278-2511, ranger team press #1 at menu, to obtain a copy of this self-guided Scout activity booklet. This program was designed with Girl Scout Troop #723 Uxbridge, MA and Ranger Viola.

During all the seasons of the year, bring your Boy or Girl Scout Troops to West Hill Dam. Please call to register your visit in advance. The Four Season Hike booklet, leads you along the West River Nature Trail (a marked, self-guided trail) where you can stop and complete various art and science oriented hands-on activities. Written request accepted at: West Hill Dam, 518 E. Hartford Avenue, Uxbridge, MA 01569. Re: 4 Season Hike Booklet or on-line at: viola.m.bramel@usace.army.mil.

Park and Walk or Park and Ride - New trailer site for horses

Please note the new horse trailer site (with sign) and parking areas along the access road at the dam: You are welcome to utilize them while visiting the park office, dam and trail areas.

Thank you Bronze Award Girl Scouts Janet Haas and Whitney Roche, Troop # 385, Whitinsville, MA ! Design, construction and installation of a "Horse Step Mount" for safety of horseback riders for mount and dismount.

Wildlife/Hunting

Where do bears spend their summer time? Take some time in your 1,350 acre backyard. Enjoy the symphony of birds, bull frogs, green frogs, owls, fishers and much more. Smell the fresh air, wildflowers, moist soil, river banks and scent trails left by traveling animals during their daily routine. watch a vibrant setting sun and why not have picnic or a barbecue? Grills and tables await you. Many families tell us of their fondest memories of cookouts year-round at West Hill Dam and Park. Why not create your own family memories?

The resident wildlife are busy caring for and training their young. They are mastering bacic survival skills in their daily routines while in their summer feeding and bedding grounds. Come at dusk or dawm to enjoy their antics, comical to us, but essential for their survival.

Why not nurture your photography hobby. Time in the outdoors, great exercise and build up bone density on a sunny day. Take you children and get those rods bending and do a little fishing ! Come spend the day, have a family outing or just spend an hour or two at your park and dam! Please enjoy West Hill Park and Dam; your wildlife management and recreation area, right in your backyard. Hours of Operation - West HIll Park is open daily 8:00am to 8:00 pm, including holidays. In the fall watch for "back to school" seasonal hours of operation.

West Hill Dam is a Wildlife Management Area. Early Canada Goose season opens September 7, wear your safety orange at dusk and dawn and protect your pets while walking.. Waterfowl seasons remain open. Safety Zone Woodland Trail - walkers can exercise 2.5 miles, request a map or view the map on the entrance station kiosk at the Hartford Avenue location. Please pick up a copy ar our office or Check the MA abstracts.

Note: No hunting on Sundays in Massachusetts- Please review MA-Wildlife Abstracts for species and zones For waterfowl (birds) and other mammals see the MA-Wildlife website . . Mass-wildlife Updates- Please view current updates on their website, link below. . Print for yourself Mass Abstracts and obtain current stocking updates at the Mass-Wildlife website: "www.state.ma.us/dfwele/dfw/dfw_toc.htm" Or you can get a copy of the Abstracts at your local town hall or Wal-Mart (sporting goods section).

Fee Program News at West Hill Dam

Shelter Reservations

Never too early to plan . . .

Shelter Reservations - reserve on-line and pay with a credit card . . . . .Reservations open annually January 2nd. (Shelters are available about May 15 to September 15th) each summer season . . .

Go to: www.recreation.gov and search for West Hill Dam or Uxbridge, MA. on the West Hill Dam link you will be able to view dates, make a payment by credit card and reserve your shelter for that special family event. For assistance call the Ranger Team at (508)278-2511 or (978)318-8419. Thank you for your loyalty and support over the years at West Hill Park and Dam. Please plan ahead . . .reservations open for the 2010 season ! It was so peaceful to see all the company picnics, family reunions, weddings, youth camps and so much more in your park !! West Hill Park offers two shelters, one with ten tables that will accommodate a group up to about 100 people, while the other has 4 tables and hosts about 30 people comfortably. The Large Shelter rents for $55.00 and the small one rents for $45.00. Both are wheelchair accessible as are the restrooms, water fountain and playground. Please call Ranger Viola Bramel at (978) 318-8417 at menu for additional information or reservations. Shelter fee does not include additional amenities such as the volleyball court. Each visitor to West Hill Park is subject to the Day-use Fee program at the gate; $1.00 per person over the age of 12, maximum $4.00 per carload. A third shelter is available at the dam area, accommodates 30 people, has a large charcoal grill, electricity, but is about a half mile from the swimming beaches and park area.

User-Fee Program

Golden Age and Golden Access Cards as of January 2007 will no longer be issued. Anyone with a disability or those ages 62 and older will be given half-price admission at U.S. Army Corps of Engineers facilities. Current card holders, this card is valid for your lifetime, cannot be transferred and benefits all in your non-commercial vehicle. As of January 1, 2007, discount applies to only those individuals with proper ID of age or disability. View and or print the local sources to purchase a Senior Discount Lifetime Card

Annual Passes are available

A great bargain only $30.00 per household; a whole year of swimming, boating, and recreation at your nationwide Corps facilities. Good for one year from date of purchase. There will be no duplicate passes starting in 2005, just the placard for one annual pass. You may use the placard in another vehicle, they are detachable. Golden Age and Access discounts apply. For more information call the Park Ranger Team at (508) 278-2511, press #3 at menu

West Hill Dam and Park remain open year round . . .

Outside posted hours of operation, please feel free to park at the gates and walk in to enjoy your park.

To get there....

Take MA Route 122 to MA Route 16 East and follow signs. Please drive carefully

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Project Manager:
Merlon Bassett