Brockton named the ‘ugliest city’ in Massachusetts: 4 reasons why that's not true

Amelia Stern, The Enterprise
·3 min read
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BROCKTON — The ‘City of Champions’ was just named the ugliest city in Massachusetts, according to the travel section of online publisher alot.com, who based their selection on reviews by locals on websites like Niche and Reddit.

“The only architecturally interesting part of Brockton, Massachusetts, is City Hall,” they wrote. “The rest of the buildings are organized like a ‘budget version of Paris’ with all of the straight-edged roads, squished townhouses, and a famous library.”

"At least the city is home to a couple of boxing champions," they continued. "Otherwise, it’d be nothing special."

Whether you agree with their review or not, here’s four things that make Brockton beautiful.

An undated photo shows the waterfall at the Upper Porter Pond at D.W. Field Park in Brockton.
An undated photo shows the waterfall at the Upper Porter Pond at D.W. Field Park in Brockton.

D.W. Field Park

“This park is really a beautiful gem in this city,” one reviewer wrote on Yelp. Set on 650 acres of fields and woodlands, D.W. Field Park has been on the National Register of Historic Places for more than 20 years. The park contains a 90-step observation deck, hiking trails, a golf course, and seven bodies of water, including ponds, lakes, and reservoirs. “The park trails were very scenic, passing ponds filled with lily pads and geese. There were also a few waterfalls,” wrote another reviewer on Yelp.

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Dr. Edgar Everett Dean historic home (81 Green St., Brockton).
Dr. Edgar Everett Dean historic home (81 Green St., Brockton).

Historic homes

The man behind the design of the city’s famous City Hall, prominent local architect Wesley Lyng Minor also built several historic mansions that still stand today. From Dr. Edgar Everett Dean’s three-story, Queen Anne Victorian style mansion, located at 81 Green St., to Gardner J. Kingman’s three-story, terra-cotta brick house, located at 309 Main St., both Minor’s houses are a peak into Brockton’s storied past.

Oven roasted Salmon with coconut milk and spinach served at Sodade Restaurant at 1145 Main St., Brockton on Nov. 21, 2021.
Oven roasted Salmon with coconut milk and spinach served at Sodade Restaurant at 1145 Main St., Brockton on Nov. 21, 2021.

Diverse food scene

Looking to try a new cuisine? Brockton has plenty of award-winning, well-loved restaurants representing diverse cuisines from every corner of the globe. Get a taste of authentic Cape Verdean flavor at Sodade Restaurant, located at 1145 Main St., or stop into The Cajun Kitchen, located at 708 Belmont St., for fresh crawfish, steamed mussels, lobster grilled cheese, catfish, and more. "I'm a foodie. I love to try different food places. I tried their jambalaya, and I have to say it was really good and spicy," a Yelp reviewer said of Cajun Kitchen. No matter what you’re craving, Brockton is guaranteed to have it.

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A very young entrepreneur, Lilly Campbell of Brockton, 9, shows she intends to do business the right way by having business cards made for her company Better Beads.
A very young entrepreneur, Lilly Campbell of Brockton, 9, shows she intends to do business the right way by having business cards made for her company Better Beads.

The people

Brockton isn’t called “The City of Champions” for nothing. The city’s slogan caught on due to the success of native boxers Rocky Marciano and Marvin Hagler, but the city has champions of all kinds living within its boundaries. Take Brockton third-grader Lilly Campbell, who created her own business, Better Beads by Lilly, to raise funds and awareness for her big brother with Sickle Cell disease. Or Brockton’s “Pastor Roberto” Silveira who founded The Homeless Improvement Project (HIP) to support the city’s homeless. Everywhere you look, the people of Brockton truly make the city beautiful.

This article originally appeared on The Enterprise: Brockton named ‘ugliest city’ in Massachusetts. Four reasons it's not