Facility Overview

The Hurd Field Parking Lot is a well-maintained, open-air municipal surface parking lot situated at 25 Drake Road in the Arlington Heights neighborhood of Arlington, Massachusetts. Tucked just behind the bustling Massachusetts Avenue commercial corridor and adjacent to the Drake Village community, this facility serves as the primary parking area for Hurd Field, Reservoir Field, and the scenic Arlington Reservoir recreation area. Built with an environmentally friendly porous pavement system to aid watershed drainage, the lot offers clearly marked parking bays, wide drive aisles, and convenient direct access to nearby recreational grounds. Because this is an open-air surface lot with no overhead barriers or height restrictors, it offers completely unrestricted vertical clearance, making it exceptionally accommodating for high-profile vehicles such as full-size pickup trucks, large SUVs, conversion vans, and passenger vehicles equipped with rooftop cargo boxes or bicycle racks.

Prime Location & Nearby Attractions

Strategically positioned at the confluence of Arlington’s premier sports complexes and major outdoor assets, the Hurd Field lot provides unmatched proximity to recreation, fitness, and dining:

• Hurd Field & Reservoir Fields: Steps from the parking stalls, featuring lighted softball and baseball diamonds, expansive open turf areas hosting the Arlington Soccer Club, team dugouts, bleachers, and picnic areas.
• Arlington Reservoir & Reservoir Beach: Located immediately adjacent, offering an approximately one-mile perimeter walking loop, wildlife habitats, picnic facilities, and a popular community swimming beach open during the summer months.
• Minuteman Bikeway: One of the most celebrated rail trails in New England passes directly along the field perimeter, making this lot a top trailhead choice for cyclists, runners, and inline skaters traveling between Cambridge, Arlington, Lexington, and Bedford.
• Arlington Heights Commercial District: A quick 3- to 5-minute stroll (under 0.3 miles) onto Massachusetts Avenue brings visitors to a wide selection of retail and dining establishments, including Trader Joe's, Walgreens, local bakeries, cafes, and popular eateries such as the Heights Pub.
• Ed Burns Arena & Ice Skating Rink: Located just over 1 mile east along Summer Street, hosting indoor ice skating and regional hockey tournaments.

Access, Navigation & Transit Connectivity

Vehicle entry and exit is straightforward via Drake Road, which branches directly off Massachusetts Avenue (Route 2A). Motorists traveling from Route 2 (Concord Turnpike) can easily reach the lot via the Park Avenue or Pleasant Street exits, while regional commuters from Interstate 95/Route 128 can connect smoothly via Massachusetts Avenue through East Lexington. Post-game traffic exits smoothly back onto Mass Ave, which is managed by modern signalized intersections. For visitors taking public transit, MBTA bus routes—notably Route 77 providing high-frequency direct service between Arlington Heights and the Harvard Square Red Line subway station—stop along Massachusetts Avenue, less than a five-minute walk from the lot.

Facility Amenities & Key Features

• Eco-Friendly Porous Surface: Modern porous asphalt designed for effective stormwater absorption and winter freeze-thaw durability.
• Direct Bikeway & Trail Access: Seamless, curb-free transitions connecting drivers straight to the Minuteman Commuter Bikeway and the Reservoir Loop trail.
• ADA Accessible Parking: Dedicated, clearly designated handicap parking bays with curb cuts and smooth, accessible walkways leading to field viewing areas and paved pathways.
• Unrestricted Overhead Headroom: Fully uncovered parking area with no clearance restrictions, ideal for oversized trucks, tall SUVs, and roof-mounted sporting gear.
• Park Conveniences: On-site park benches, shade areas, picnic facilities, and seasonal portable restrooms maintained by the recreation department.
• Evening Illumination: Field floodlights and ambient municipal lighting support evening sports leagues and safe walking back to vehicles.

Ideal For

• Youth & Adult Sports Teams: Arlington Soccer Club families, Men's Softball leagues, Little League baseball players, and visiting competitors seeking convenient field-side parking.
• Cyclists & Trail Enthusiasts: Bikers, runners, and dog walkers seeking an accessible trailhead parking spot right on the Minuteman Bikeway.
• Families Visiting Reservoir Beach: Summer swimmers and families spending the afternoon at the beach, playground, and scenic loop trail.
• Local Shoppers & Commuters: Visitors patronizing the Arlington Heights business district or parking permit holders utilizing authorized municipal overnight parking.

Visitor & Driver Tips

Daytime parking at Hurd Field is generally free for park visitors, trail users, and sports league participants. However, the lot can experience heavy vehicle turnover and fill up swiftly on Saturday and Sunday mornings during spring and fall youth soccer schedules, as well as on warm summer afternoons when Reservoir Beach is at peak attendance. Drivers are encouraged to arrive 15 to 20 minutes prior to scheduled game times to secure a stall smoothly. Be mindful of town parking regulations: the Town of Arlington enforces a strict overnight street parking ban, and while this lot participates in the municipal overnight permit parking program (8:00 PM to 7:00 AM) for registered permit holders, unauthorized overnight parking without an active town permit is strictly prohibited and subject to ticketing or towing, especially during winter snow emergency operations.