Just a short walk from the heart of downtown, Lily Pond Park has long been one of those quiet Nantucket places that feels removed from the activity of Town. Boardwalks wind through the wetland, benches offer places to pause, and the surrounding landscape provides important habitat for plants, birds, and other wildlife.

Now, one of the Nantucket Land Bank’s earliest acquisitions is preparing for a significant restoration.

The Land Bank acquired Lily Pond Park in 1986. Today, the 6.5-acre property stretches between Lily, North Liberty, and West Chester Streets, with much of the park consisting of freshwater wetland. Beyond providing a peaceful place to walk, that wetland serves an important environmental purpose: collecting and filtering stormwater from a large area west of downtown before the water ultimately makes its way toward Nantucket Harbor.

Restoring an Important Downtown Wetland

After more than six years of planning, the Nantucket Land Bank and Horsley Witten Group have developed a comprehensive plan to improve the park’s ecological health, stormwater management, accessibility, and overall visitor experience.

Over time, outdated stormwater infrastructure, sediment buildup, invasive plants, and areas prone to pooling during heavy rain have limited the wetland’s ability to function as effectively as it could. The restoration is designed to work with the natural landscape, increasing the amount of stormwater Lily Pond can hold and filter while creating healthier habitat throughout the park. The Land Bank estimates that the completed project could increase the wetland’s stormwater filtration capacity by approximately 30 percent.

What Will Change at Lily Pond?

Visitors will notice improvements throughout the park, but the goal is to enhance what makes Lily Pond special rather than change its character.

Plans include restoring native wetland habitat, managing invasive species, redesigning and expanding portions of the boardwalk, and improving entrances and circulation through the park. The central wetland will feature an ADA-accessible boardwalk, making it easier for more members of the community to experience this unique landscape.

At the North Liberty Street entrance, new filtration systems and constructed wetlands planted with pollinator-friendly native species are expected to treat more than 1.4 million gallons of stormwater each year. Improvements near Academy Hill will include a cascading bioswale designed to slow, collect, and naturally filter stormwater before it enters the wetland.

Looking Ahead

The project was put out to bid earlier this summer, with construction expected to begin in September 2026 and take approximately 18 months. While portions of the park will be inaccessible during construction, the Land Bank has indicated that it hopes to reopen the park during next summer even while restoration work continues.

Lily Pond has always been more than a pretty green space tucked behind downtown. It is part wildlife habitat, part neighborhood park, and part of the infrastructure quietly helping Nantucket manage stormwater and protect the harbor.

The upcoming restoration offers a chance to make that landscape healthier, more resilient, and more accessible—while preserving one of Town’s most peaceful corners for years to come.

Learn more about the Lily Pond Park Project and follow updates from the Nantucket Land Bank at nantucketlandbank.org.

For more Nantucket stories visit our blog at Fisher Real Eastate.