Dug Pond

Dug Pond
Photo of Dug Pond, taken from the icehouse foundation on the northern shore.
Location	Natick, Massachusetts
Coordinates	42°16′35″N 71°21′55″W / 42.27639°N 71.36528°W / 42.27639; -71.36528
Primary outflows	Streams to Charles River
Basin countries	United States
Surface area	48 acres (19.42 ha)
Average depth	15 ft (5 m)
Max. depth	45 ft (14 m)
Surface elevation	148 ft (45 m)
Islands	One

Dug Pond is a small body of water in Natick, Massachusetts. Most notably it is home to Memorial Beach, one of few swimming beaches in Natick, and its eastern shore is the site of Natick High School.

Memorial Beach is used in the summer for swimmers on day and season passes boasting a picnic area, snack bar, small playground, floating dock, and a separate platform with a diving board. A small building contains showers, bathrooms, and a changing area. The beach is also the start and finish of the swimming leg of the Natick Mini Triathlon. Swimming in the rest of the pond is not as common but is done by swimmers who are in need of larger areas. The Town of Natick employs lifeguards, mostly college and high school students.

The pond also has a recently renovated boat ramp located on the south side, suitable for canoes and car-top boats, which is used mainly for small fishing boats and also the fleet belonging to the Natick High School Sailing Team.

Fishing for pleasure (including ice fishing) is also relatively common, mainly on the northern shore where there are several fishing areas with dirt paths leading to Pond Street, and on the southern shore near the boat ramp. Rainbow trout, brown trout, brook trout, largemouth bass, chain pickerels, bluegills, pumpkinseeds, brown bullheads, carp, eels, perch, and golden shiners are all relatively common. A type of freshwater hydrozoan, Craspedacusta sowerbyi, can also be found in the pond.

The pond is also used by diving teams of the Natick Police and Fire Departments for practice rescue drills in both summer and winter, generally along the north shore.