DelCarte Conservation Area

Called a “hidden gem” by the Milford Daily News, this 130 acre parcel (formerly known as the Franklin Reservoir) is located on Pleasant Street in Franklin, MA. A paved parking lot can be accessed on Pleasant St. (For GPS, use the street address of 464 Pleasant St; the parking lot is directly across the street from that address).

The late Ernest DelCarte bequeathed the land that would become the conservation area to the Town of Franklin. The DelCarte family assisted in the transfer to Franklin in return for the town’s commitment to preserve the land as open space. Worth an estimated $3 million at the time of the transfer of title to Franklin, the DelCarte Conservation Area received a multi-million-dollar upgrade in 2014.

Pleasant walks

The DelCarte Area has easy trails that pass by a series of man-made ponds created by dams that restrain the Mill River. Families with young children enjoy exploring along the paths.

Beautiful water views

There are many pretty views of water, marsh and wildlife as the trails wind past the ponds.

Trail map

You can access a trail map of the DelCarte Area here or in the image below.

There is good fishing in the ponds. There is a ramp for boating and two areas for the launching of canoes..

Videos of DelCarte

The video gallery below shows just how beautiful the DeCarte area is!

Guide to DelCarte

You can download an informative guide to the DeCarte Conservation area here or in the image above. The Guide includes information about the wildlife you can see there.

History

The area comprising DelCarte reportedly once supported cranberry bogs. When Mr DelCarte bought the land in the 1940s, he ran a variety of business ventures from the property, ranging from a fish farm to a recreational fishing area with rental boats and fishing gear.