LAKEVILLE — Middleboro and Freetown residents will be able to enjoy Clear Pond this summer.

The decision to make Clear Pond accessible to the two bordering towns was made by the Lakeville Select Board after Park Commission Chair Michael Smith stated at the Select Board’s May 6 meeting that restricting park access to Lakeville residents was unsustainable. 

Over the last two years, the town has provided a $17,500 subsidy to run the park under the condition that it open only to Lakeville residents, stated Select Board Chair Lorraine Carboni.

Clear Pond park was previously open to visitors from all over the region, but due to security issues it was reopened after the pandemic to Lakeville residents only, according to Smith. 

Smith said even with that $17,500 contribution, and the revenue obtained from Lakeville residents, the park just barely breaks even. 

“When we open the gates to Clear Pond, we’re $17,500 in the hole. That’s how I see it,” he said. “If we didn’t have [the town’s] subsidy, the park couldn’t open up. We just couldn’t do it.” 

Offering season passes at a higher rate to members of the Middleboro and Freetown communities “would significantly help with the delta we’re missing,” said Smith. 

Clear Pond Park will open for the 2024 season on June 22. Season passes may be purchased by Lakeville, Middleboro and Freetown community members. The last day of the season is Aug. 25. The park is open seven days a week from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. 

The Lakeville resident season pass costs $110 and includes up to six family members. Middleboro and Freetown season passes cost $200 and include up to six family members. 

Day passes for Lakeville residents are $8 for adults and $5 for children 15 years and under. Children two years and under and seniors 60 and over get in for free.

Non-resident guest day passes are $10 for adults, $5 for children 15 and under and $5 for veterans and seniors. Children two years and under get in for free. 

Season passes are available online and at the park. Daily passes and non-resident guest passes can be purchased at the park gates with cash or check. Non-residents may come as guests of Lakeville residents or Middleboro or Freetown season pass holders.

During the discussion, Select Board member Maureen Candito said “partnering with our neighbors” would be a good way to “get the highest investment use out of our parks.” In addition, it could give Lakeville residents the opportunity to utilize Middleboro and Freetown resources, she said.

“I would love to get an intermunicipal agreement with Middleboro and Freetown and see if we can avail some of their amenities as well,” she noted.

Select Board member Brynna Donahue suggested the idea of putting a comment box at the park’s gate so that visitors from all towns can write down what they’d like to see at Clear Pond. 

“If we do enter into an intermunicipal agreement,” she said, this “would give us a little more room to create a network.”