Fort Taber Park
A 50-acre waterfront park on New Bedford's southern peninsula, wrapping more than a mile of Buzzards Bay shoreline around a Civil War-era fort.
50 acres
1+ mile oceanfront
Fort built 1857
Free to visit
50 acres
1+ mile oceanfront
Fort built 1857
Free to visit
About the Park
Fort Taber is the crown jewel of New Bedford's park system — 50 acres of waterfront on the southern tip of the city, reaching out into Buzzards Bay with panoramic views in nearly every direction. Sparkling blue water stretches from New Bedford Harbor on the east around to Clarks Cove on the west, and on a clear day you can pick out the Elizabeth Islands on the horizon.
It's the kind of place locals visit weekly rather than once a season — a morning jog along the water, an afternoon on the sand, a picnic while the boats go by.
What's here
Walking & bike paths
Nearly a mile, paved
Swimming beach
Guarded in season
Fishing pier
Open to the public
Playground & picnic
Panoramic water views
Walking & bike paths
Nearly a mile, paved
Swimming beach
Guarded in season
Fishing pier
Open to the public
Playground & picnic
Panoramic water views
Military museum
Inside the historic fort
Fully accessible
Including a Braille trail
Military museum
Inside the historic fort
Fully accessible
Including a Braille trail
A bit of history
At the heart of the park stands its historic fortification, built between 1857 and 1871 as part of the nation's coastal defense system. Known as Fort Rodman — which is why you'll sometimes see the park listed as Fort Taber–Fort Rodman — the granite fort housed troops from the Civil War through World War II. Today it's preserved with interpretive signage and home to the Fort Taber–Fort Rodman Military Museum.
The park also hosts the Fort Taber Community Center and the Low Tide Yacht Club, and its wide multi-purpose lawn regularly fills for public concerts and military reenactments.
Location & contact
1000 South Rodney French Blvd
New Bedford, MA 02744
Park info: (508) 961-3015
Community Center: (508) 979-1519
On the Saulnier Memorial Bike Trail
1000 South Rodney French Blvd
New Bedford, MA 02744
Park info: (508) 961-3015
Community Center: (508) 979-1519
On the Saulnier Memorial Bike Trail
Good to know: Parking passes are required during the summer season, roughly mid-June through Labor Day, seven days a week. Daily passes can be bought on site, and season passes are available to New Bedford residents.
Good to know: Parking passes are required during the summer season, roughly mid-June through Labor Day, seven days a week. Daily passes can be bought on site, and season passes are available to New Bedford residents.
Homes near Fort Taber
South End listings, filtered near Clark's Point.
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