Elm Park, west of downtown Worcester, has a credible claim to being one of the first public parks in the United States — the land was bought by the city in 1854, predating most of Frederick Law Olmsted's better-known work. The park has the feel of a 19th-century English garden, with curved paths, two small ponds connected by a footbridge, and dozens of mature trees.
It is a fine spot for a quiet walk and a stop on the way to the Worcester Art Museum, which is a short walk south. In autumn the colour around the ponds is striking. The bandstand hosts free outdoor concerts in summer.