Choose wisely. Connect locally.Add your business 
Chicopee is a city of about 55,000 people where the Chicopee River meets the Connecticut River in western Massachusetts, just north of Springfield. It grew in the 1800s as a mill city, with factories making cotton cloth, swords, bicycles and the famous Spalding sporting goods, including the first basketballs, which were made here.
The Chicopee River falls powered the mills, and historic brick mill buildings and churches still line the riverbanks. Chicopee Memorial State Park has a large pond, beach and wooded trails, and the Riverwalk and Chicopee River bike paths follow the water. The Connecticut River offers wide river views from the city's bridges.
Chicopee has a strong Polish heritage, with grand churches such as St. Stanislaus Basilica and famous kielbasa, and Westover Air Reserve Base is one of the largest in the country. The Basketball Hall of Fame and Six Flags New England are both a short drive away.
A state park with two ponds, one with a sandy swimming beach in summer, plus a paved loop trail of about 2.4 miles for walking, biking and skating, picnic areas and fields. It is the most popular outdoor spot in Chicopee. A parking fee applies in summer for out-of-state cars; arrive early on hot days.
A city park named for a local war hero, with an outdoor swimming pool, sports fields, a playground and picnic areas, and the site of Chicopee's summer concerts and the city's Fourth of July fireworks. It is a lively family gathering place on summer evenings. Pool admission is cheap, with lower rates for residents.
The falls and dam on the Chicopee River in the Chicopee Falls neighborhood, which once powered the mills that made bicycles, firearms and sporting goods. You can see the water from the bridges and riverside roads. Visit in spring when the flow is strongest, and look for the old brick mill buildings nearby.
A paved riverside path in Chicopee Center that follows the Chicopee River past old mill buildings and through green space, with benches and views of the water. It is short and flat, good for a stroll or bike ride. Access it near the city center; it pairs well with a visit to City Hall and the old mills.
A large Polish Catholic church in Chicopee, designated a minor basilica, with twin towers, rich stained glass and a decorated interior reflecting the city's strong Polish heritage. Visitors are welcome outside of Mass times. The annual parish festival is a good time to try Polish food and music.
A Victorian brick city hall from 1871 with a tall clock tower in Chicopee Center, one of the most striking civic buildings in western Massachusetts. It is still the seat of city government. Admire the exterior and tower from Market Square; the interior is open on weekdays during office hours.
The home of author Edward Bellamy, who wrote the famous 1888 utopian novel Looking Backward, a National Historic Landmark in Chicopee Falls. It is owned by the Chicopee Historical Society and opens for tours by appointment and on special days. Contact the society ahead to arrange a visit.
A well known Chicopee shop making handmade pierogi with fillings like potato and cheese, sauerkraut, farmer's cheese and blueberry, a reflection of the city's large Polish community. You can buy them fresh or frozen to take home, and they also ship. Stop early in the day for the best choice of fillings.
Top-rated local businesses in Chicopee, with real reviews on WiserMap.
No reviews yet. Been to Chicopee? Be the first to share your experience.
Share what you loved, what to skip and tips for other travelers.
Log in to write a reviewBeen to Chicopee? Add your best shots to the gallery.
Log in to add photosPhoto: John Phelan, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 4.0
Photo: en:User:LymanSchool (Richard B. Johnson), Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo: John Phelan, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 3.0
Photo: Quintin Soloviev, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 4.0
Photo: John Phelan, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 4.0
Photo: John Phelan, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 4.0
Photo: John Phelan, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 4.0
Photo: John Phelan, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 4.0
Photo: John Phelan, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 4.0
Photo: John Phelan, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 4.0
Photo: Pi.1415926535, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 3.0
Photo: John Phelan, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 4.0
Photo: John Phelan, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 4.0
Photo: LymanSchool (talk) (Uploads), Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo: en:User:LymanSchool (Richard B. Johnson), Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo: John Phelan, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo: John Phelan, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo: Andre Carrotflower, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
