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Bushnell Park

4.2 (50 reviews)
Closed 7:00 am - 8:00 pm

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Recommended Reviews - Bushnell Park

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Coco G.

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.

Soldiers and sailors memorial
Vicki M.

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.

Walking paths
Kim V.

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.

Sarah S.

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 :)

Sam N.

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.

Dewan A.

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.

Daryl D.

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.

Carousel
Latrice S.

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.

Shona N.

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.

"Lilly Pond"
Adam T.

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.

Sanjay G.

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.

Maria M.

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!

A view of the Capitol building while the sun sets
Shay R.

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.

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Ask the Community - Bushnell Park

Review Highlights - Bushnell Park

Love coming here for free yoga on mondays and Wednesday's and also to jog or go to the carousel.

Mentioned in 13 reviews

Read more highlights

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North Meadows

A beautiful park! It was the perfect place for the Head of the Riverfront Regatta wasn't pleased…read morewith the parking situation but that had nothing to do with the park. When the crew races are there it is extremely packed so it's not really a good time to take a leisurely stroll as there are literally thousands of people there. Beautiful place to take pictures by the water or the boathouse especially at this time of the year with the leaves.

What a hidden gem within Hartford! I was here for a low-key corporate picnic. The Boathouse sits…read moreright on the Connecticut River and functions as both practical boathouse (lower level) and event space (upper level). The parking was incredibly convenient and directions to the Boathouse itself were very clear. We did have a small spot of difficulty finding the door to go to the upper level however. Once upstairs, the view of the CT River, East Hartford, and Hartford was spectacular. The late summer afternoon sun plus faint breeze made for a perfectly comfortable time. People mingled at standing tables and around the benches on the upper deck (and there were a respectable number of benches, which isn't often the case). Inside the event space were polished wooden floors and high ceilings. A coworker noted the restrooms were somewhat oddly placed behind a long hallway closed off by a door and there were some cobwebs in the window frames, but otherwise the space was quite nice. The staff at the bar on the deck poured wine just shy of the adjective "liberal" which was great. However, some other coworkers had to request adjustments of the food arrangement to prevent cross-contamination for those with allergies (adjustments were made promptly). The food - seasonal tapenade for appetizers and build-your-own pasta bar for the main - were well done otherwise with a good array of options. On the whole, a respectable event space on a scenic river. There were other groups actively using the rowing space/lower level, but you could barely tell because the upper level was high enough away.

Tiffany Juliet House - Wedding 8/17/24

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I am so glad I chose this venue for my best friend's Bridal Shower. From the beginning, Corrine was…read moreamazing to work with and was so accommodating in meeting all of the requests I had regarding the date, menu, and decorations. She was always available to speak and no detail was too small for an instant response. The day of the shower went seamlessly! I arrived early to add personal touches, but the entire space was set up for me as soon as I arrived and the staff was so accommodating in helping with anything I needed. As the guests began to arrive, they helped to greet everyone and it was both causal and formal at the same time as the staff passed around breakfast pastries for our brunch and refilled mimosas for everyone to grab upon arrival. When it came time to move into the next room for brunch, one of the two waiters working with us that day made the announcement and helped to guide everyone to their tables. The tables were set up beautifully! We chose to have the "mismatched tea cups" instead of the white ones and every guest commented how adorable and unique they were. The waiters brought a box of assorted tea bags over for each person to choose and everyone loved it! Originally, I planned to use the silk flowers as the centerpieces for the tables, but we upgraded to fresh cut. Even the silk flowers were beautiful and elegant- Corrine has beautiful taste in every piece of decor. Throughout the entire event everyone kept asking how I found out about The Tiffany Juliet House. Everyone was so impressed with the amazing service, the attention to detail ( the light fixtures, the carpet, the window treatments, molding- everything is beautiful inside). I cannot thank Corrine and her team enough for helping to make my friend's bridal shower such a wonderful and memorable event for everyone. They went above and beyond in planning and executing a flawless day and I can go on and on about how spectacular everything was- the food included!

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Bushnell Park - parks - Updated June 2026

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