Ever wonder what that body of water is behind the parking lot at The Chestnut Hill Shopping Center?

It's one of Newton's hidden gems: Hammond Pond.

With the towering retail businesses and busy Route 9 nearby, most people may not pay attention to modest pond and trails behind the shopping center. The recreation area offers scenic views of the pond and wooded trails around the water.

Some locals enjoy the area for walking their dogs, cooling off under the shade of a tree or trying to catch a bite on a quick fishing trip. 

Thanks in part to a generous donation from a local family, the State Department of Conservation and Recreation is currently assessing the health of the pond and the possibility of adding a floating boardwalk as well as revamped boat/canoe launches. A public hearing was held earlier this month and the project will be up for discussion again in the fall.