Sledding at Larz Anderson

Yes, you can go sledding at Larz Anderson Park. The Town of Brookline describes the park's grassy slopes as "a premier spot for sledding," and the park is open dawn to dusk. The park is a big hill: lawns at the top where the Andersons' house stood, then long slopes running down toward the playing fields. After a snowfall you can pair it with the outdoor ice rink on the same hill.

Where People Sled

The Town's description of the park is the best guide: large expanses of lawn at the top of the hill, playing fields below, and sweeping slopes in between. Those open slopes are the sledding runs. The Town doesn't name individual runs or post a map of them, so pick a slope with a long, flat runout and nothing at the bottom: no paths with walkers, no fences, no trees in the line, and no road. The lagoon sits in the park too; stay well away from it, and never go onto the ice, since the Town's rules ban swimming, wading and boating in any body of water.

Parking on a Snow Day

Brookline's park rules forbid parking in a public park during a snowstorm or anywhere it gets in the way of snow removal, and parking is only allowed in designated areas during park hours. On a snow day that means waiting for the plows to finish before you drive up the park road from Newton Street to the rink and summit lots, or walking in. Cars parked against the rules can be towed at the owner's expense. More on the parking page.

What to Bring and What to Leave Home

• A sled you can steer or stop, and a helmet for young kids. The skating school at the Town rink makes helmets mandatory for children 4 to 9, a fair guide for the hill too.
• Dry layers and a change of gloves; the hilltop is open and windy.
• No snowmobiles, motorized sleds or drones: the Town bans motorized devices, snowmobiles and aerial devices in parks.
• No fires; the Town allows fires only in designated grill areas, by permit.
• No alcohol, a Town-wide park rule.

Sledding Safety

There is no lifeguard-style supervision on a park hill, so the usual rules apply. Sit feet first, never head first. Walk back up along the side of the run, not down the middle. Look at the bottom of the slope before the first run of the day: a path, a bench or a fence that is obvious in October can be hidden under fresh snow. Keep small children on the gentler slopes, and stop when it gets dark; the park closes at dusk.

Dogs on the Hill in Winter

From December through February, Brookline's Green Dog program lets registered dogs off leash on the top of the hill, Avon Street side, from dawn to dusk. That overlaps with sledding season, so expect dogs on the hilltop, and keep your own dog on a leash unless it is registered. Details: dogs at Larz Anderson.

Make It a Winter Day Out

The Jack Kirrane rink, an open-air Town rink at 23 Newton Street, Brookline, MA 02445, runs public skate sessions on weekend afternoons in season; check the rink page for this winter's times. The Larz Anderson Auto Museum, open Tuesday through Sunday, is an indoor option when the kids are frozen (museum hours and prices). The Town's map puts the restrooms by the play area.

When There's No Snow

The same slopes work all year. The Town lists them for watching sunsets, observing stars and kite flying as well as sledding, and the top of the hill has a view of the Boston skyline.