Spacious lovely open green space in the heart of downtown Hartford with the Capital building as the back drop. Very clean and simple park and a variety of events are held here throughout the year. We enjoyed the festivities and fireworks (2 shows) to ring in 2025. We much enjoyed walking the park on the paved walkways during the day, and it is great to read the information posted throughout about the history of the park. Take a ride on the old fashioned caraseul. Parking located around the park. read more

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I have been here a few times recently. My son had an appointment at CCMC, so we decided to go before hands. It gives a mini NYC park vibe. There are food trucks, lots of walking space, a playground, a carousel, and lots to look at! There is a lot of space to sit and relax or have a picnic. I would love to see a little more love with the landscape. I'm bummed that the carousel was closed too. read more

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This park is a cool little oasis in the middle of the city. It's giving "mini Central Park" vibes with the massive gold domed Capitol building as a backdrop, so bring your camera because the views and the stone Memorial Arch are stunning. I recommend checking out the vintage carousel; it's a total nostalgia trip and can easily be the best part of the visit. Overall, it's a solid spot to touch some grass, ground yourself, and soak in some history if you're in the area. read more

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I've been here often throughout the years. This place has noticeably become cleaner within the last couple years. It's decently lit at night but there's still a few places I'd avoid. It's very walkable for families and their children. A little bit of wildlife but it is in the center of the city. It's quite busy during the holidays whether it's ice skating or summer concerts. Always something going on. Hard to find free parking but if you go on the weekends you can avoid paying to park. read more

Right across the street from the Capitol Hotel, this is a lovely open green space with cement walkways, a pond with fountains and geese, an enclosed carousel, a playground designed to look like the Capitol Building, and several artistic statues. There are plenty of benches to rest and appreciate nature, or people watch. Lots of lovely deciduous trees with hues of oranges and yellows currently. At 6:30 in the morning on a Sunday, very few people are out and about, a few walking their dogs, a couple runners, and some pairs conversing on the pond-side benches. read more

Bushnell Park - Parks Near Me - Hartford, Connecticut

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Established in 1854 this city park is open daily from dawn to dusk. You are greeted by the magnificent soldiers and sailors memorial arch and in the shadow of the state capital. This park is very walkable with a lot of open green space. The historic carousel is housed in a large building on its own, I am not sure it's the status. It was closed during my visit. There is parking along the side street. read more

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Bushnell Park is a 37 acre park located in Hartford, CT and built in 1854. It is the second oldest public park in the US; the first one is Boston Common, in Boston, MA. Due to the population and economic boom, a public open space was voted on and created for the people of Hartford. It is open dawn to dusk; parking is on street, metered, and around the perimeter. In the park, there are paved and unpaved walking paths, a historic carousel, monuments, and a fountain. There are many events that occur there; popular events are the Hartford Marathon and the Greater Hartford Festival of Jazz. Other features and amenities include, a lake, an arboretum, picnic tables, playground, rotunda, and sports areas. A few of the notable structures that were added in specific years: 1. 1876 the Capitol 2. 1886 Soldiers & Sailors Memorial Arch 3. 1899 Corning Fountain 4. 1974 the Carousel 5. 1996 Performance Pavilion It is a beautiful park with a rich history. My family and I enjoyed walking through and sightseeing. They had a free ice skating event going on when we went. I look forward to visiting again and attending the many events it hosts. read more

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Came here tonight for the firework show and the Hartford Bonanza!! Wow there is an incredible turnout! I cannot believe how many thousands and thousands of people are here and how peaceful it is. The fireworks are launched right in front of the capitol and the green in that part of the park is cordoned off! There are ample police officers on bikes patrolling the event and everyone is having a great time -- it is calm despite the density of people :) lots of children and bubble guns. Parking is a little bit of a doozy when there is an event as big of this one but I lucked out and found a spot in front of the Wadsworth! I've had a few picnics here before and there are tons of walking paths, a few homeless, well maintained grass, and planted flowers in large potters around the park! Thank you :) read more

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Bushnell Park is located in the downtown area of Hartford, Connecticut. It features an historic carrousel and has numerous monuments such as the Corning Fountain. Bushnell Park is the site of major events such as the Greater Hartford Festival, Jazz Festival, and the Hartford Caribbean Festival. What I love about the park is that it sits right in front of the Capitol Building with an amazing view. read more

This park is pretty bad ass. We had fun here attending this park to exercise and have fun. So much to see and do here. We also watched some fireworks here. It's a nice place for families and friends. I love all of the monuments and history of the park. I will attend this park again. read more

Bushnell Park's got lots of room for exercise walks and other kinds of fun outdoor activities. Tip: There are a number of very nice cherry blossoms that encircle the duck-filled pond here :-) Whatever you decide to enjoy doing while you're here, there are lots of spots within to enjoy some very nice reviews of both the State Capital Building and downtown. Parking here is fairly limited; you pretty much heed to find street parking. read more

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For sure one of the best parks in the state of Connecticut, USA. There are several landmarks such as the arch and fountain. The state capitol building is also around the park. I highly recommend this park to visit if you are in the Hartford, CT area. read more

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I had a day in Hartford and of course I had to visit Bushnell Park. There's a playground and merry-go-round so it's perfect for the kids. There is plenty of parking and absolutely spacious. They blocked the roads and painted the streets so there is plenty of foot traffic to pass through. read more

Bushnell Park - Parks Near Me - Hartford, Connecticut

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I grew up going to this park so it was nice to come back here after so many years. The park is well kept, beautiful trees and landscape. They have a carousel (fee) and a playground for kids to enjoy and during the summer, hold a variety of festivals, concerts, etc. read more

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Amazing park! We came on a busy day on accident and my daughter broke her arm on the monkey bars...not the parks fault... the merry go round was so fun and so was the park...so much that my daughter with the broken arm even wants to go back! read more

I've been to Bushnell Parka few times and have always loved it. It holds my heart because I completed my first and second half marathons by running through the Sailors and Soldiers Arch. It is well maintained, spacious and has something for everyone. It is America's first publicly funded park and we are lucky to have it here in CT. If you are into history...check out the arch and statues throughout the park and take a quick walk to the edge of the park where our beautiful capital building sits. If you have children there is a cute playground and historic and beautiful carousel. There are seasonal activities all year long for all ages. If you are into photography there are lots of things to take pictures of and great views. The grounds are well maintained and always beautiful. There's lots of grassy areas to spread out a blanket and have a picnic or catch some sun. Simply beautiful. read more

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Visiting town and staying just a few blocks off the park. I spent a while walking around the park and really enjoyed the views. The park is beautiful and has lots of history tied up in it. There are plenty of statues and signs that designate and describe what each piece is for. Just a couple downsides being that the park does seem a little on the neglected side. The trash bins aren't completely full, but people seem to not be able to walk an extra 4 feet to throw their stuff away. There were a few homeless people who have set up a day time residency within the park, and have garbage the strewn around. Only a couple had asked for money, but weren't overly bothersome. Unfortunately when I hike in large cities I don't carry anything on me, otherwise I offer food & water over cash. The grass on the east side of the park had appeared to have been cut at all this year and really detracts from the beauty of the park. Otherwise, it was a beautiful day out and it was nice to hike around and see beautiful artwork and learn more on the history of the park and the city. read more

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I love so many things about the Bushnell Park I don't even know where to start...! What mostly draws me here are the incredible views, its as if like a mini version of Central Park, calm amidst chaos..Its a perfect place for afternoon strolls, Im glad I can do that almost everyday. You can check out the civil war monuments, arches and fountains while walking around.The park is home to many annual community events and The Hartford Marathon. Other things to do: While you are here, you can also tour the state capital, the memorial arch. Oh and the carousel, just 100 yrs old..they offer free rides on many occasions. For lunch, you can stop by the food trucks... I usually hit the food trucks on Fridays (just more options seems like) few of them are lined up almost all year round. What's new at the park: The kids play ground is under construction, the ice skating rink is being put up in time for the season. read more

Big open park right next to capitol building... The park itself is very beautiful. I really love the fountain center piece. This park is right near the state capital building which is really a pretty sight. I was there to attend a community event. Throughout the year, events happened in this park. Bushnell Park is a great place to go if you have the need a break from the city life and want to be surrounded by nature. read more

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Beautiful park amidst the concrete downtown area. It's very clean and green! Have lovely views of the Capitol Building, the Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Arch, there is a carousel and it's just a great place to walk, exercise or just enjoy the day! It's an oasis anyone can come to in downtown Hartford! Definitely a must see for visitors! read more

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Bushnell Park was an unexpected and wonderful find when I first moved to the downtown Hartford area. In my opinion it is underrated park because the City of Hartford does so many great things with the park throughout the year. Bushnell Park is a great place to go if you have the need a break from the city life and want to be surrounded by nature. During the Summer: Bushnell Park offers a ton of cultural festivals, parades, or music events. When there isn't a planned event in the park there are always people walking dogs, sunbathing, using the carousel, or playing some type of lawn game. During the Fall: Bushnell Park is the hub for marathons. So if you are an avid runner (beginner to advanced) or love to spectate you can always find a great organization that is hosting a run. During the Winter: The City of Hartford hosts the Winter Fest which offers residents and visitors of the city the opportunity to ice skate, meet Santa (prior to Christmas), and enjoy your favorite winter beverages. During the Spring: Bushnell Park is always jam packed once the snow starts to melt because the grass is always freshly mowed and the fountain gets turned back on. I would highly recommend checking out the park throughout the year to see how The City of Hartford transforms the park. read more

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Amazing and charming, two water fountains in the pond.....envelops the beautiful gilded Capitol building (Elm)---- sunny and a great jaunt for us. Full of life and loads of folk taking in the sunshine, and what is left of the autumnal foliage. Ceremonial arch, the Soldier's Arch, is spectacularly unique. Late 1700's--- Statues and sculptures, I enjoyed....very much. So gorgeous. read more

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While I've strolled through the park recently, it had been a while since I visited for a large-scale community event. Last night's Night Fall performance reminded me just what a special park we have in Hartford (not to mention how amazing Night Fall is - but that's a whole separate entity!). It's so stunning, ideally located and a perfect venue for live performances and hundreds of picnic blankets. Having the state capitol building as the backdrop is beyond magnificent. Well maintained, easy to get in and out, ample parking (in surrounding streets), and don't forget about the century-old carousel! read more

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The Pump House Gallery at Bushnell Park hosts a Bushnell Beer garden every Friday, and it is a shining example of why gentrification is often used to promote a racist agenda. To be clear, this is NOT an indictment of the park nor the Gallery but this event is staffed by people who maybe don't understand that what makes the city great IS the mix of cultures and art forms present. I was there this evening supporting a friend who is a local Hartford artist. I myself am an educator, activist, and artist in the area. While I was there we asked for seating near the performance area and wound up being told that there was NO seating for us. At least six people, four of them unambiguously Black women, wound up sharing one seat or sitting on the ground for the 2-3 hours we were there.. At one point one of the featured artists and another member of my party went to speak with the manager, a person named Jessica, to again see if we could get chairs. We were told that we were making a big deal out of nothing and rather than be given suitable alternatives, were told that our entire party could leave if we were dissatisfied. Bear in mind we were the performers. So here we are, unambiguously Black women and performers, essentially standing the entire time we were there while others sat and continued to be seated. This smacks of a racist and ableist mindset and is NOT the way I want my city portrayed. I know this review may be taken down but screen shots are forever. read more

What a beautiful park! Went here for a leukemia foundation walk and was very impressed on how clean the park was. Also a great view of the capital building. There were benches all around if you wanted to sit and relax or use the walking path to go throughout the park. The was a fountain in the middle of the park and a new carousel being built which I don't think was ready yet for use. If ever in the area again and have some down time would love to come back and pack a lunch and enjoy the fresh air! read more

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A Great City Gem Bushnell Park is the oldest publicly funded park in the United States and has great space in the middle of the city among the skyscrapers. Check out their website for scheduled events. The Bushnell Park Carousel is now open for the young at heart and shouldn't be missed. Tours of the Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Arch begin in May and end in October which is offered on Thursdays only. read more

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There are excellent opportunities for some serious people watching awaiting you here! The diversity of the park-goers at Bushnell makes for a nice microcosm of the Hartford community. Everybody comes here - young, old, affluent, working class, black, white, Latino, Asian, Martian (or whatever) and even 4-legged friends make an appearance - everybody. Its quite lovely. Check around for events at the park (i.e. concerts, fairs, etc.) to optimize your people watching experience. read more

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Bushnell park can be used for all occasions, my first time here was today, waking for the Alzheimer's Awareness event. Live music, community booths representing local businesses and booths from Hartford's healthcare providers, facilities, along with 1,500+ people (local, out of state, families of all ages). We didn't even use 1/4 of the park it's huge! This dog-friendly venue is absolutely gorgeous. Surrounded by some of Hartford's most well-known restaurants this is a central point to meet, enjoy a walk, have a picnic, hit up some food trucks, excercise, and much more! I will definitely be spending more time here to relax, enjoy, and participate in more events. If you have kids, there is also an indoor carousel that they can ride, and ponds on site where you can feed ducks and birds! Overall a great place in an awesome location. read more

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I came to Bushnell park recently on a day trip through Hartford. The park itself is very beautiful. I really love the fountain center piece. The carousel is also amazing and I would say great for any age (plus only 1 dollar to ride, how cool?) This park is right near the state capital building which is really a pretty sight. Everyone in this general area was smiling and friendly. It seems like a nice place to walk your dog or just to hang out with friends and family. There are pokestops around too if that's what you're looking for. The only thing is that in pictures I saw it seemed to be a lot larger, it's more of a medium sized park compared to others I've been too. read more

Bushnell Park - Foutian - Parks Near Me - Hartford, Connecticut

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Bushnell Park is a quaint little park in the center of Hartford. It offers free ice skating in the winter and frequent events throughout the warmer months. The views are pretty and it typically isn't too crowded. They are making an effort to attract new people to Hartford by hosting events such as Oktoberfest in the park. I love that Hartford is getting a refresher but the events definitely still need some work. They typically have long lines and sell out of food/beverages before the event is even half over. I have faith that it will improve though and appreciate the efforts for sure! Looking forward to seeing what else comes to town! read more

Beautiful park. They need to clean one of their water features but overall it was a nice space with different architecture. I wish that the carousel was open but I understand. There's also a BLM mural on the grounds so that was a nice surprise. read more

If you live work or daydream about Hartford, Bushnell Park is a great place to start. In recent years The City of Hartford, iQuilt, and Bushnell Park Foundation have work slowly but endlessly on renonvating the area within and around the Park. Today the park is accessible for not only walkers, but cyclists and everyone in between. Not to mention it's better kept than years past. All year long, there is something going on, take a look at some of the reasons why I love and cherish Bushnell Park. Things to do: - On Friday thru Sunday, from 11am-5pm, take a ride on the Bushnell Park Carousel for $1 - Make some time to read at the Corning Fountain - Not nearly as large as the Arboretum of Connecticut College. Take a stroll through the park and enjoy the urban arboretum at Bushnell Park. For me, it provides a welcome connection with the natural world, a place to get away for recreation and reflection. - From May to October between 12-130pm, take a free tour of the Soldiers & Sailors Memorial Arch. Or on your way to the magnificent State Capitol building, take a stroll past the 150 varieties of rare and native trees in park, or stroll on by The Pond - Sampling some of the good eats that local food trucks have to offer (year-round) - During the winter, enjoy free ice skating at the rink near the Pumphouse (also an art gallery that features exhibits by area artists!) or the Holiday Light Fantasia - The Performance Pavilion is probably my favorite part about Bushnell Park. Mainly because it brings people together over theater, music and dance performances by local artists and performing groups throughout the year. Most notably is Monday Night Jazz, the nation's longest-running free jazz concert series that runs from July thru August. Feel some type of way about Hartford? Take a stroll through Bushnell Park and allow yourself to be amazed at what Hartford can offer. read more

Bushnell Park - summertime strolls (my IG: https://www.instagram.com/hungr_y/) - Parks Near Me - Hartford, Connecticut

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I must admit that i am partial to this place. Its where i met my fiance while walking our dogs! Its a great place to sit out and catch some sun, get a great view of the capitol at sunset or go for a ride on the carosel. During the summer you can find Monday night jazz at the bandshell, outdoor movies on select nights, and lots of fundraisers going on. Christmas brings the outdoor skating rink, snack shack, and Christmas tree/lights. During the rest of the year there are food trucks parked around the park for downtown lunchers. There is a big pond filled with Koi, but unfrtunately its a bit on the dirty side. As a resident i can say cleanliness is where this park is lacking. I really wish the city tried a little harder to keep it free of trash. In recent weeks we have noticed improved landscaping, so thats been a plus. Its a nice place to take a walk before or after a meal downtown! read more

After stuffing our faces with too much food, we decided to walk around this park for a bit to get moving. Bushnell is a beautiful, spacious park. There was plenty of places to have a picnic, for kids to play, for dogs to play (there were people playing with their dogs and I did not see a dog specific area sign so I am assuming the park is welcoming to pets), a carousel, and I believe it is next to the capitol and beautiful building. Aldo there are a good amount of Pokestops there with plenty of friendly Pokemon players ready for a raid...that is, it you are on their team. read more

Frankly, my opinion of Bushnell Park has taken a complete 180 since my first ever visit. The first time, I was naive Midwesterner who visiting town for her job. I decided to take a walk through Bushnell Park. I found it to be unimpressive, and was frankly a little sketched out by the vibe. About a year after having moved into town, I decided to give this park another try, and quickly fell in love. It's a little underrated, as it is in the middle of downtown Hartford. But I guess that's what makes it so beautiful. A lot of green space with rolling hills going up to the Capitol. I've been here on several occasions, as they usually have a lot of events going on--Ugly Sweater Run, Puerto Rico Day Parade and Food Truck Friday. Most recently, I came for the Black & Blues Fest. The music pavilion was actually utilized for this event and I was impressed by the sound quality/acoustics. read more

Beautiful park in the heart of Downtown Hartford, CT. There is a huge indoor carousel & beautiful lake/pond & fountain. There are benches everywhere so you can sit & have lunch or watch kids play, or just to people watch. My only issue is they need more bathrooms. read more

I was fortunate enough to live by Bushnell Park for several years while a resident of Hartford, CT. I feel it can be under-appreciated by some given that it is "downtown" - but I find it to be beautiful and many events (as other reviewers cited) take place throughout the year, mostly during the summer months. I have fond memories of Jazz in the Park during the summer - really makes Hartford, CT shine. After a visit recently, I have noticed the advent of Food Trucks during lunch hours - what a great addition! Its a great place for a walk, run or just to hang out. read more

I came to Connecticut for an interview at a school near Bushnell Park. I was excited that the day I chose to visit happened to be the same day as the breast cancer fundraising walk. The park was lively and full of music and the color pink. The park features the capitol building, a castle fortress looking arc, some statues of historical figures as well as a water feature. This is a nice place to take a stroll through especially during the fall when the trees' colors resemble fire. read more

Came across this park one lazy weekend afternoon. Lovely park for a nice stroll, a quick run, or a cozy picnic. I heard there are free summertime jazz concerts, which sounds awesome! Took a few strolls around the park to walk off the dessert I had just had. Saw quite a few people laying around or sleeping on blankets, which was cool. Only complaint is the metered parking, which blows. read more

The greatest park in Hartford and in the entire state of Connecticut! The carousel is fantastic and there are fireworks on New Years! read more

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