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Public Parks & Beaches
One of Bridgton’s greatest draws is its wealth of public access to the natural outdoors — from peaceful wooded trails, to challenging hikes, to beaches, playgrounds, swimming holes, fishing spots, and various boat launches. Whether you’re a boater, an athlete, or a wildlife biologists (or aspire to any of the above), the landscape here has access to it all.
Read on for a listing of public parks and beaches, along with rules and regulations of town-owned properties.
Public Parks
Pondicherry Park
About the Park
In 2012, the Town of Bridgton acquired Pondicherry Park from Loon Echo Land Trust with a perpetual conservation easement. Lakes Environmental Association was a partner in this project. Through this collaborative effort, Pondicherry Park was created, consisting of 66 acres of quiet woodlands and 3,200 feet of stream shore in the heart of downtown Bridgton. The park is a protected landscape of woods, wildlife habitat, wetlands, and streams attracting people to low-impact recreation, education, and study – a unique public treasure in the center of town.
Park Entrances
- Bob Dunning Memorial Bridge off Depot Street
The Bob Dunning Memorial Bridge, designed by Andy Buck and constructed by a team of local craftspeople, serves as the main entrance to the park from the public parking lot on Depot Street (behind the Magic Lantern). This remarkable 60-foot structure is an adaptation of the traditional covered bridge that highlights the exemplary talents of the late Bob Dunning, a Bridgton preservation craftsman. - Ham Foundation Bridge near the Stevens Brook School
The Kendal and Anna Ham Charitable Foundation Bridge is located behind the Stevens Brook Elementary School and former Bridgton Memorial School. This bridge, constructed by Great Northern Docks, allows students quick access to the park to learn about the natural world. The Carol and David Hancock Charitable Trust outdoor amphitheater is located just beyond the bridge. - Willett Road at Willett Brook
- South High Street near the Congregational Church
- South High Street across from Bridgton Hospital
- Bob Dunning Memorial Bridge off Depot Street
Park Rules
- Park hours are 6 a.m. to 10 p.m.
- Bicycles are not allowed in the park and can be left at the entryways.
- Dogs are allowed only on the designated trail and they must be leashed. Dog owners are responsible for all waste removal.
- Camping and camp fires are not allowed.
- Hunting is prohibited by local ordinance.
- There is a carry-in, carry-out policy. Visitors are asked to help remove any litter they may find.
- Please stay on marked trails.
- Please do not disturb plants or wildlife, and please do not feed the wildlife.
- Please respect the quiet and serene nature of the park.
Park Map
Other Lands Open to the Public
Pleasant Mountain Preserve, Bald Pate Mountain Preserve, The Stone Preserve, Sebago Headwaters Preserve, Perley Mills Community Forest
In addition to town-owned Pondicherry Park, Bridgton is also home to several public areas owned and preserved by Loon Echo Land Trust (LELT). For details on these properties, check out their website.
Public Beaches
Highland Lake Beach
About Highland Lake Beach
Marking the gateway to Downtown Bridgton from the north, scenic Highland Lake Beach is a popular spot for visitors to stop for a picnic, a photo, or some playground time for the kids; and for locals and those who can spend the whole day, it’s a great place to swim from the beach, dock, or raft, relax on the sand, wash and launch your boat, and/or fire up one of the public charcoal grills and settle into a shaded picnic table for a bbq with friends. Public restrooms are another plus. Bridgton Recreation holds swim lessons here during the summer, and lifeguard are on duty during busy times. Parking is public and free.
Highland Lake Beach Rules
- Swim at your own risk
- No glass containers on the beach
- All bicycles in the bike rack
- No animals on beach or beach area or within roped off area
- No alcoholic beverages at beach area
- No smoking on beach or beach area (parking lots exempted)
- No littering – carry in…carry out
- No boats of any kind within roped off area or on beach or beach area
- No fishing, poles or hooks at beaches or beach areas within roped area
- No swimming under docks or floats
- No pushing or shoving or roughhousing on docks or floats
- No touching or hanging on buoys or buoy lines
- No throwing rocks
- No nudity at beach or beach area. Babies and toddlers must wear a diaper on land and wear a swim diaper or swim suit in water
- No standing or climbing on metal poles (stanchions) or ladders on docks and floats
- Adult supervision required for children age 12 & under
- Do not feed ducks or geese
- No flotation devices, masks, or snorkels in roped area
- No running on docks
- No swimming or diving near dam
Woods Pond Beach
About Woods Pond Beach
Located on the south end of Woods Pond off Rte. 117, Woods Pond Beach offers a large, sandy beach, playground, public parking, and a roped-off public swimming area with a dock and two rafts/diving platforms.
Woods Pond Beach Rules
- Swim at your own risk
- No glass containers on the beach
- All bicycles in the bike rack
- No animals on beach or beach area or within roped off area
- No alcoholic beverages at beach area
- No smoking on beach or beach area (parking lots exempted)
- No littering – carry in…carry out
- No boats of any kind within roped off area or on beach or beach area
- No fishing, poles or hooks at beaches or beach areas within roped area
- No swimming under docks or floats
- No pushing or shoving or roughhousing on docks or floats
- No touching or hanging on buoys or buoy lines
- No throwing rocks
- No nudity at beach or beach area. Babies and toddlers must wear a diaper on land and wear a swim diaper or swim suit in water
- No standing or climbing on metal poles (stanchions) or ladders on docks and floats
- Adult supervision required for children age 12 & under
- Do not feed ducks or geese
- No flotation devices, masks, or snorkels in roped area
- No running on docks
- No diving from stationary dock
Salmon Point Beach
About Salmon Point Beach
Situated within Bridgton’s town-owned Salmon Point Campground on Long Lake, Salmon Point Beach offers public parking, restrooms, swimming access, and a sandy beach.
Salmon Point Beach Rules
- Swim at your own risk
- No glass containers on the beach
- All bicycles in the bike rack
- No animals on beach or beach area or within roped off area
- No alcoholic beverages at beach area
- No smoking on beach or beach area (parking lots exempted)
- No littering – carry in…carry out
- No boats of any kind within roped off area or on beach or beach area
- No fishing, poles or hooks at beaches or beach areas within roped area
- No swimming under docks or floats
- No pushing or shoving or roughhousing on docks or floats
- No touching or hanging on buoys or buoy lines
- No throwing rocks
- No nudity at beach or beach area. Babies and toddlers must wear a diaper on land and wear a swim diaper or swim suit in water
- No standing or climbing on metal poles (stanchions) or ladders on docks and floats
- Adult supervision required for children age 12 & under
- Do not feed ducks or geese
Note on Beach Rules: Failure to follow beach rules or the direction of the lifeguard and/or authorized Recreation Department personnel will be considered a first violation and can result in a “time out” where you will be told to stay out of the water for a specified period of time. Failure to follow beach rules or direction of the lifeguard and/or Recreation Department personnel resulting in the summoning of police personnel will be considered a second violation and can result in the issuing of a written trespass notice to the offender prohibiting use of all town beaches and adjacent park areas for one week from the time of the offense. Violation of a written trespass order or multiple violations of beach rules or the direction of the lifeguard and/or Recreation Department personnel will be considered a third violation and can result in an arrest by police and a one-year prohibition from use of all town beaches and adjacent park areas.