The Town of Amherst has opened the Puffer’s Pond area and South Beach for swimming and visiting. Our team will staff the pond 7 days a week from 10 am to 6 pm to keep visitors safe and to control the number of people using the South Beach area of the Pond. We are trying to keep people physically distanced while allowing our community to be safely socially active.
Our team is there to help visitors have a safe, fun and enjoyable experience. Team members will have Town of Amherst staff shirts on in order to be better identified. The number of spaces available on the beach will be more limited than in the past, so please check in with a staff member upon your arrival.
Please review some of the guidelines below prior to your visit. Click here for Water Analysis Reports Most Recent Report | All Reports
Prohibited Activities at the pond include:
- Alcoholic beverages of any kind
- Dogs (on or off leash)
- Fires including barbeques
- Smoking / Vaping
- Portable speakers/radios
- Frisbee & ball games
Other Important Notes:
- Puffers Pond is a swim at your own risk facility
- Stay home if you are sick
- Wash hands frequently with soap and water or use hand sanitizer regularly.
- Hiking is permitted on all the trails around the pond and N. Amherst.
- Fishing is permitted but not on South Beach
- Visitors are welcome to swim in the Cushman Brook upstream of the pond and can allow their dog(s) to swim there too.
- If the beach is full please ask our team to recommend alternative options for swimming/water play nearby including:
- Mill River Pool (95 Montague Road, Amherst) or War Memorial Pools (21 Matoon Street, Amherst)
- Lake Wyola (Shutesbury)
- Look Park (Northampton)
- Musante Beach (Northampton)
Click here for Water Analysis Reports Most Recent Report | All Reports