Physical Health
Trails, Parks + Beaches
Acton is home to over 1700 acres of Conservation lands and Hiking Trails. See the interactive trail map. The Acton Conservation Lands website, sponsored by the Land Stewardship Committee of the Acton Conservation Commission, includes directions and information. Find out more under Environmental Awareness.
The Bruce Freeman Rail Trail is open to non-motorized uses such as cycling, jogging, walking, rollerblading, and skiing. This multi-use recreational trail runs through Lowell, Chelmsford, Westford, Carlisle, Acton, Concord, Sudbury, and Framingham following the 25-mile route of the old New Haven Railroad Framingham & Lowell line. Find parking information and trail maps here.
The Assabet River Rail Trail is a 6-mile multi-use recreational trail that passes through Marlborough, Hudson, Stow, Maynard and Acton. The Acton trail parking lots are on Maple and Sylvia Streets. See the bike map.
Nara Park, the Nathaniel Allen Recreation Area, at 25 Ledge Rock Way, Acton, is operated by the Town of Acton Recreation Department. The park is open year-round from sunrise to sunset and staffed seasonally from Memorial Day weekend through late August. Find out about programs and concerts.
Nara Beach is open to both Acton residents and non-residents from Memorial Day weekend through late August. Beach-goers can drop in for a daily-use fee or purchase a beach membership pass. A lifeguard is on duty during hours of operation.
Bruce Freeman Rail Trail Opening
Fitness Centers
Acton-Boxborough Community Education offers a wide variety of health, education, and fitness classes year round to children and adults including passes to the Acton-Boxborough Fitness Center at the A-B Regional High School. The center provides free weights, treadmills, elliptical machines, rowing machines, stair steppers, stationary bikes, and resistance equipment. To find out more, call AB Community Education at (978) 266-2525 M-Th 8am-4:30pm and Fri 8am-4pm. To use the Fitness Center, first you must complete an orientation training session with the fitness center supervisor. To find out more, visit https://abce.abschools.org/
The Acton Council on Aging (COA) offers Exercises classes and a variety of activities and programs to engage both mind and body. These offerings are usually free for Acton seniors and most take place at the Senior Center. Some programs are open to out-of-towners. Contact COA for more information at (978) 929-6652. The Acton Council on Aging is located at the Acton Senior Center, 30 Sudbury Road, Rear in Acton.
Community Health Classes
The Recreation Department oversees many programs, concerts and special events, bus trips, and all field permits. Concert tickets are available at the Acton Recreation Center, 50 Audubon Drive, 9am-3pm. Beginning June 1, You can also purchase tickets at NARA Sports Plaza, 71 Quarry Road. For more information, send email to recreation@actonma.gov or call (978) 929-6640, ext. 0.
Commission on Disabilities
Commission on Disabilities advocates for the rights and interests of Acton citizens with disabilities and their families, and acts as an educational resource. Information at cod@acton-ma.gov, Acton Town Hall, 472 Main Street, Acton MA.
Cooking and Nutrition
Community Supported Agriculture (CSAs) are a way for the food buying public to create a relationship with a farm and to receive a weekly basket of produce. Massachusetts’ farmers offer CSA shares of vegetables, fruits, and various other agricultural products. Find a CSA farm that works for you!
The Acton-Boxborough Farmer's Market is a producer-only, farmers market, located at 19 Elm Street, Acton. Open on Sundays from 10am to 1pm, June through October, their focus is making fresh, whole, organically or sustainably grown foods available.
AB Farmer's Market
Cooking Simple Indian Dishes
Healthy Cooking with Scouts
Ticks + Lyme Disease
Deer ticks in Massachusetts can carry the germs that cause lyme disease, babesiosis and human granulocytic anaplasmosis (also known as human granulocytic ehrlichiosis). Deer ticks are capable of spreading more than one type of germ in a single bite.
Lyme disease is caused by bacteria (germs) that are spread by tiny, infected deer ticks. Both people and animals can have Lyme disease. Lyme disease is spread by the bite of an infected deer tick. The tick usually must be attached to a person for at least 24 hours before it can spread the germ.
HGA (human granulocytic anaplasmosis) is caused by bacteria (germs) that attack certain types of white blood cells called granulocytes. HGA is one of the diseases that can be spread by the bite of an infected deer tick. The longer a tick remains attached and feeding, the higher the likelihood that it may spread the bacteria. Deer ticks in Massachusetts can also carry the germs that cause Lyme disease and babesiosis. Deer ticks are capable of spreading more than one type of germ in a single bite.
Babesiosis is a disease caused by a microscopic parasite (a type of germ similar to those that cause malaria) that infects red blood cells.Babesiosis is spread by the bite of an infected deer tick. The longer a tick remains attached and feeding,the higher the likelihood that it may spread the parasite. The tick must generally be attached to a person for at least 24-36 hours before it can spread the germ.
Tick Repellant is a substance put on skin, clothing, or other surfaces which discourages ticks from crawling on that surface. Using a tick repellent can reduce your chances of being bitten by a tick and therefore reduce the risk that you will get one of these diseases.
Mosquitos
Mosquito-related Diseases & Repellants
Eastern equine encephalitis (EEE) is a rare but serious disease caused by a virus.The virus that causes EEE is spread through the bite of an infected mosquito. In Massachusetts, the virus is most often identified in mosquitoes found in and around freshwater, hardwood swamps. More information about different types of mosquitoes that can spread the virus are on the MDPH website at https://www.mass.gov/mosquito-borne-diseases.
West Nile virus (WNV) is a mosquito-carried virus that can cause illness ranging from a mild fever to more serious disease like encephalitis or meningitis. WNV is most commonly spread to people through the bite of an infected mosquito. More information about different types of mosquitoes that can spread WNV are at https://www.mass.gov/service-details/west-nile-virus-wnv.
Zika is a virus (germ), spread by mosquitoes, which can cause fever, rash, joint pain, and conjunctivitis (red or pink eyes). Most people infected with Zika virus do not even get sick. The kinds of mosquitoes that are known to carry Zika virus are generally not found in Massachusetts.
Spraying temporarily reduces adult mosquito populations and has been used in the U.S. and other countries for many years for nuisance control and more importantly, as a means of reducing and preventing mosquito-borne disease. Your local health department or board of health will know best if spraying for mosquitoes is likely to occur in your community.
Information for Travelers describes the most common serious diseases people get from mosquitoes while visiting tropical countries including malaria, yellow fever and dengue fever. Examples of tropical regions are Central America and most of South America, much of Africa, most of India, Southeast Asia and Indonesia.
Rabies
Rabies is a very serious disease that affects the brain and spinal cord of mammals (if an animal has hair or fur, it is a mammal). Rabies spreads when an animal with rabies bites another animal or person. The rabies virus is in the saliva (spit) of infected animals. Infected animals can also spread rabies if their saliva gets into a scratch or other wound, or the eyes, nose or mouth of another person or animal. If your pet is bitten or scratched by another animal, call your veterinarian to help you determine if the animal needs medical attention.