Elizabeth Park
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First time here on a chilly rainy autumnal day in West Hartford. Though the roses are not blooming at this time of year, all the fall colors are still vibrant and we enjoyed a lovely brisk walk in the afternoon. I look forward to coming to visit again in the spring sometime.
This beautiful, historic, 102 acre park, is located in West Hartford and Hartford. A financier, Charles M. Pond, left this land to the City of Hartford and it was to be named after his late wife, Elizabeth. Elizabeth Park is known for its historic 2.5 acre rose garden; the garden is a municipal garden and the oldest in the US. It is being maintained by the City of Hartford and Elizabeth Park Conservancy. There are various types of gardens, greenhouses, paths, recreational facilities, a Pond House Cafe, and a pond. There are many events hosted there; one of the popular ones is the summer concert series. We found parking near a baseball field. One part had lovely views of the Hartford skyline. It was a beautiful place to walk around especially in the rose garden. We didn't go during peak rose season and it was still lovely. We went to the gift shop and they had clean restrooms there. The park was bustling when we went but there was enough space with peace and quiet at different areas. Overall, a wonderful park and it deserves a visit!
Gorgeous venue, perfect for a date or family outing, wedding pictures, a stroll in the park. Not a lot of flowers were blooming that day that we went in mid May, which probably helped not being that busy. There's free restrooms, and easy parking nearby. I took some flicks of those roses that were starting to bloom. Beautiful photo op area, a few wedding parties were there and I can see why.
A Truely Beautiful Escape in West Hartford! Elizabeth Park is absolutely gorgeous -- the perfect spot for a relaxing day outdoors. The rose gardens are in full bloom and filling the air with a delightful fragrance. Walking along winding paths, you'll find beautifully manicured lawns, shaded spots, and plenty of benches to sit and enjoy the view. For families, there's space for kids to run around, play ball, or have a picnic on the green expanse. The park is impeccably maintained -- you can really tell the grounds team takes pride in every flower bed and tree-lined avenue. Whether you're looking for a peaceful stroll, a family outing, or a scenic backdrop for photos, Elizabeth Park delivers. Free to visit, centrally located, and always welcoming -- this place is a local treasure. Highly recommend it to anyone in the Greater Hartford area
Elizabeth Park Rose Garden is pure romance. From the moment you step in, the scent of blooming roses fills the air and everything slows down. It feels like walking through a fairytale -- rows upon rows of vibrant roses in every shade, archways kissed with petals, and quiet corners perfect for sharing a moment with someone special. We visited just before sunset, and the golden light made the garden glow. It was peaceful, almost magical -- the kind of place where time pauses and love feels a little more alive. Whether you're falling in love, staying in love, or just want to be surrounded by beauty, this garden is the perfect setting. Bring a picnic, hold hands, and let the roses do the talking.
Whether you need a quiet outdoor rest or a good sweat, Elizabeth Park has it all. Here are ample sports areas, walking and bike paths, playgrounds, duck ponds, immaculate gardens of all varieties, a greenhouse housing off-season plants, and a local famous rose crowned by an ivy-covered gazebo. Pick a bench, inhale the roses, and listen to the concert of bees pollinating the lot. This is also a park for every season with winter sledding, summer concerts, autumn foliage and Halloween decor outside the cafe, and spring buds throughout the mature tree canopy. A local church even hosts a sunrise Easter service at the Lookout. Bring your camera and try not to photo-bomb the couple having engagement photos taken down the way as this is a photo destination for sure.
What a beautiful park!! I've had Elizabeth Park on my radar for a while and I finally made it. The park has a restaurant and a cafe that sells ice cream and the ice cream was delicious and very creamy. It was just a relaxing atmosphere and just a beautiful day to walk through the park. There were many individuals who were having picnics, laying out in the sun, and enjoying the flower garden. The flower garden was beautiful with endless flowers and it's a great place to take photos and to book this venue for a special event.
We came to see the Rose Garden, which is large and *beautiful*! We discovered an all together lovely park with more than a rose garden. The park is not too large to explore all in one day with many paths leading in to/out of the surrounding neighborhood. Some paved pathways make strollers and wheel chair access easy. Other areas, like the gardens are mulched path ways or grass and therefore uneven. The gift shop has restrooms (very clean), beautiful gift items, and a film about the park with seats to watch. Gift ware include tea towels, tea pots, soaps and books about flowers among others. There was an adorable porcelain child's tea set. A Cafe and picnic area are also available to visitors. Several benches are available around the duck pond and throughout the park in shady areas. The vine covered gazebo in the center of the rose garden was easily 10 degrees cooler than the surrounding garden. The pond is surrounded by trees with dirt paths wending through the terrain. Parking is limited and free. They have a summer series of entertainment so be sure to check out their website for information. A beautiful stop to enjoy the roses, walk around the pond and perhaps enjoy a picnic. Highly recommend.
The park is huge and beautiful! The gift shop is great, the roses and structure are beautiful, and the ponds are nice! I wish I lived near there so I could walk it everyday!
This beautiful park is a great place to escape the busiest of life and just walk in peaceful flower gardens.
Came here for the summer concert and sat in the rose garden. The amount of parking is incredible!! Note but there are actually two entrances rather than one! One is located at the top of the park and the other is off of Asylum Ave. The one at the top was closed during the concert. Arrived around 5 & stayed until about 8:15 and a very light trickle of people were headed out. Not sure how many people attended but it was pretty impressive. Roses were still in bloom! Loved the fragrance. Curious about what they put in the greenhouses! There is a sign stating they are private but they are currently empty! Also note but restrooms are located in the gift shop area! Very clean (even with the turnout as large as the picture I attached).
Elizabeth park in full bloom is a mesmerizing experience! It's clear there was so much work and detail put into this place. Great spot for your daily walk or to get a good photo shoot in!
If I can give this park a million stars I would. I visit this park 3-10 per year, I live 50mins away. This is the most Beautiful park that I have ever been It is one of the reasons I stay in New England.b
11 days ago
17 days ago
I absolutely love love love it here!! I was surprised how good it was even in o river!! Just splendid!! read more
This more than 100 acre park with its stunning rose garden is a wonderful way to spend the day. Entrance is free and it is open 365 days! We visited on a Sunday afternoon in early autumn and we're happy to see some roses still in bloom! There are over 800 varieties of old and new roses a d the best time to see in full bloom is mid June to early July. The rustic gazebo is stunning and allows for a great photo opportunity. There are walking, biking trails and trees throught the park are identified. Plenty of green space to relax and enjoy the beauty and peacefulness of the park. Enter on Asylum Street to view the rose garden, pond, bridge, greenhouses and perennial garden. Stunning. Easy to walk around. read more
First time here on a chilly rainy autumnal day in West Hartford. Though the roses are not blooming at this time of year, all the fall colors are still vibrant and we enjoyed a lovely brisk walk in the afternoon. I look forward to coming to visit again in the spring sometime. read more
This beautiful, historic, 102 acre park, is located in West Hartford and Hartford. A financier, Charles M. Pond, left this land to the City of Hartford and it was to be named after his late wife, Elizabeth. Elizabeth Park is known for its historic 2.5 acre rose garden; the garden is a municipal garden and the oldest in the US. It is being maintained by the City of Hartford and Elizabeth Park Conservancy. There are various types of gardens, greenhouses, paths, recreational facilities, a Pond House Cafe, and a pond. There are many events hosted there; one of the popular ones is the summer concert series. We found parking near a baseball field. One part had lovely views of the Hartford skyline. It was a beautiful place to walk around especially in the rose garden. We didn't go during peak rose season and it was still lovely. We went to the gift shop and they had clean restrooms there. The park was bustling when we went but there was enough space with peace and quiet at different areas. Overall, a wonderful park and it deserves a visit! read more
Gorgeous venue, perfect for a date or family outing, wedding pictures, a stroll in the park. Not a lot of flowers were blooming that day that we went in mid May, which probably helped not being that busy. There's free restrooms, and easy parking nearby. I took some flicks of those roses that were starting to bloom. Beautiful photo op area, a few wedding parties were there and I can see why. read more
1 year ago
A Truely Beautiful Escape in West Hartford! Elizabeth Park is absolutely gorgeous -- the perfect spot for a relaxing day outdoors. The rose gardens are in full bloom and filling the air with a delightful fragrance. Walking along winding paths, you'll find beautifully manicured lawns, shaded spots, and plenty of benches to sit and enjoy the view. For families, there's space for kids to run around, play ball, or have a picnic on the green expanse. The park is impeccably maintained -- you can really tell the grounds team takes pride in every flower bed and tree-lined avenue. Whether you're looking for a peaceful stroll, a family outing, or a scenic backdrop for photos, Elizabeth Park delivers. Free to visit, centrally located, and always welcoming -- this place is a local treasure. Highly recommend it to anyone in the Greater Hartford area read more
1 year ago
Elizabeth Park Rose Garden is pure romance. From the moment you step in, the scent of blooming roses fills the air and everything slows down. It feels like walking through a fairytale -- rows upon rows of vibrant roses in every shade, archways kissed with petals, and quiet corners perfect for sharing a moment with someone special. We visited just before sunset, and the golden light made the garden glow. It was peaceful, almost magical -- the kind of place where time pauses and love feels a little more alive. Whether you're falling in love, staying in love, or just want to be surrounded by beauty, this garden is the perfect setting. Bring a picnic, hold hands, and let the roses do the talking. read more
Whether you need a quiet outdoor rest or a good sweat, Elizabeth Park has it all. Here are ample sports areas, walking and bike paths, playgrounds, duck ponds, immaculate gardens of all varieties, a greenhouse housing off-season plants, and a local famous rose crowned by an ivy-covered gazebo. Pick a bench, inhale the roses, and listen to the concert of bees pollinating the lot. This is also a park for every season with winter sledding, summer concerts, autumn foliage and Halloween decor outside the cafe, and spring buds throughout the mature tree canopy. A local church even hosts a sunrise Easter service at the Lookout. Bring your camera and try not to photo-bomb the couple having engagement photos taken down the way as this is a photo destination for sure. read more
2 years ago
What a beautiful park!! I've had Elizabeth Park on my radar for a while and I finally made it. The park has a restaurant and a cafe that sells ice cream and the ice cream was delicious and very creamy. It was just a relaxing atmosphere and just a beautiful day to walk through the park. There were many individuals who were having picnics, laying out in the sun, and enjoying the flower garden. The flower garden was beautiful with endless flowers and it's a great place to take photos and to book this venue for a special event. read more
We came to see the Rose Garden, which is large and *beautiful*! We discovered an all together lovely park with more than a rose garden. The park is not too large to explore all in one day with many paths leading in to/out of the surrounding neighborhood. Some paved pathways make strollers and wheel chair access easy. Other areas, like the gardens are mulched path ways or grass and therefore uneven. The gift shop has restrooms (very clean), beautiful gift items, and a film about the park with seats to watch. Gift ware include tea towels, tea pots, soaps and books about flowers among others. There was an adorable porcelain child's tea set. A Cafe and picnic area are also available to visitors. Several benches are available around the duck pond and throughout the park in shady areas. The vine covered gazebo in the center of the rose garden was easily 10 degrees cooler than the surrounding garden. The pond is surrounded by trees with dirt paths wending through the terrain. Parking is limited and free. They have a summer series of entertainment so be sure to check out their website for information. A beautiful stop to enjoy the roses, walk around the pond and perhaps enjoy a picnic. Highly recommend. read more
1 year ago
The park is huge and beautiful! The gift shop is great, the roses and structure are beautiful, and the ponds are nice! I wish I lived near there so I could walk it everyday! read more
Came here for the summer concert and sat in the rose garden. The amount of parking is incredible!! Note but there are actually two entrances rather than one! One is located at the top of the park and the other is off of Asylum Ave. The one at the top was closed during the concert. Arrived around 5 & stayed until about 8:15 and a very light trickle of people were headed out. Not sure how many people attended but it was pretty impressive. Roses were still in bloom! Loved the fragrance. Curious about what they put in the greenhouses! There is a sign stating they are private but they are currently empty! Also note but restrooms are located in the gift shop area! Very clean (even with the turnout as large as the picture I attached). read more
2 years ago
If I can give this park a million stars I would. I visit this park 3-10 per year, I live 50mins away. This is the most Beautiful park that I have ever been It is one of the reasons I stay in New England.b read more
Elizabeth Park is a beautiful park that opened in 1897. This park has a beautiful rose garden (but there several gardens here), picnic areas, large stretches of green grass, a playground, lawn bowling courts, basketball courts and plenty of areas to walk. I am surprised that this park does not charge a fee to visit and is also very dog friendly (including in the rose garden). You can also dine at The Pond House Cafe, which is inside the park and can come eat here for lunch and/ or dinner. There is free parking around the park. This park would make for a beautiful photo shoot location. I visited this park with my husband and our little girl dog on a Monday afternoon. It was very lush and green. It was also nice to see the color change of the leaves. We probably spent about 45 minutes walking around the grounds and letting our little girl stretch her legs. But believe you spend more time here and would be a a perfect way to spend an afternoon. read more
3 years ago
I absolutely love Elizabeth Park for its beautiful gardens and activities. Elizabeth Park has a lot to offer. For example, it hosts Yoga In Our City, which offers free weekly yoga classes from May to October. It also has free concerts during the warmer months, in addition to other events! On site there is a restaurant (Pond House Cafe), a gift shop with clean facilities and of course, a gorgeous rose garden. This is a great place to enjoy a picnic, go for a walk through the garden or on the many paved roads. It is not uncommon to see a photoshoot occurring, it's a very picturesque place! Once of my favorite times to go is mid June, when the roses are fully in bloom. The best part is that is completely free with free parking. Be warmed, it can be quite crowded on the weekend. I like to go on weekday evenings because it is generally less crowded. read more
2 years ago
Stunning park with walking and bike paths, gardens, and plenty of benches for relaxing. Love coming here for summer picnics! read more
Elizabeth Park is one of my favorite CT state parks! If you've never been, you definitely need to check it out this summer... The park is over 100 acres in size, filled with gardens, recreational facilities like tennis courts, baseball fields, basketball courts, and walking paths, picnic areas, a restaurant, a visitor's center, and more. The rose gardens are definitely the prime attraction. Check out their website for the best times to visit as far as when certain flowers will be in bloom. There are lots of cool spots to sit and relax, or enjoy a picnic lunch. There are a couple small parking areas, but on a busy day you'll likely have to park on the street, which is free. If you go on sunny spring/summer day, the park will likely be very busy, with many people going there to take prom/school/wedding photos. I recently went very early in the morning (around 7:30 AM) and there were only a few people there, which was nice! They have a restaurant called the Pond House Cafe, which serves lunch/dinner, and there's also a "snack shack" that has hotdogs, ice cream, soda, etc. The Pond House Cafe also has a banquet area that can be booked for events. There's a visitor's center for information on the park, and inside is also a small gift shop and bathrooms. Overall, Elizabeth Park is a must-see botanical experience in CT! read more
4 years ago
Such a beautiful park! The rose garden is stunning and the perfect location for a wedding or photoshoot! The park is expansive and the grounds are beautiful! read more
Beautiful park, under construction right now .You can definitely visit, only some upgrades for the parking lot I believe.The best attraction are the roses of course when are in full bloom.A lot of wedding and special occasion pictures are taken here and I agree that during the summer it's one of the most beautiful parks in Hartford County.They also have a beautiful portion with tulips in the spring and for a lot of families a great spot for taking walks right after they enjoy a nice Mother's Day buffet at the Cafe in the park .Good for picnics especially when they have the summer concert series. read more
3 years ago
If you are in Connecticut, you must visit this place. Beautiful park. It's huge. If you come during spring, the tulips here are so beautiful. Great place for wedding photos. read more
Really Beautiful rose gardens. Limited but very well maintained and clean restrooms. Plenty of parking all around the extended portion of the park which has lots of grass area for picnicking and fee scattered picnic benches. No fixed grills available though. read more
4 years ago
This park is so beautiful, it's perfect for relaxing and clearing your mind, I suggest you go in the morning. Also it's a perfect place for photography, portraits, couples, weddings and landscape read more
Only thing I can say that I am upset about is not being here sooner to see it all in bloom, simply the most beautiful amazing place that I have ever encountered so far. So many woman who were taking pictures for there weddings in the garden, a woman celebrating her birthday, lots of children and parents enjoying watching their children being amazed by the beauty of the flowers. We even saw a bunny who cut in front of us just dashing along and stopping to smell some flowers also, the atmosphere is so big and beautiful, they also have a little gift shop which has a bathroom in there and it's very nice, I have over 63 pictures but I could only upload 10 of them unfortunately, If you haven't been here please do go and enjoy it with your partner, family or friends. Next year we will be back in June or July when it's fully in bloom read more
Elizabeth Park does a fantastic job during Spring flower season. It's great to walk around with your family, take photos of the beautifully colorful flowers and watch the birds navigate the trees and pond. Kids are on scooters and playing ball. People are enjoying picnic lunches. Wedding parties are joyfully walking around. It's a fantastic way to spend a Spring day. I'll let the pics do the work. read more
As a visitor to this beautiful park, I was amazed by the beautiful scenery that just takes your breathe away. A lot of great areas to take pictures whether it is by the water, nature or the open field. On a beautiful day, this is the spot to be at. This place reminded me of Central Park in NYC for some reason I just wished I came in during Spring when the flowers are in full bloom and in full effect. I saw all the beautiful pictures of flowers that other Yelpers have posted and I truly would one day would love to come back here to see them with my own two eyes. read more
3 years ago
Getting close to the end of the season and everything was still so beautiful even after all the thunderstorms! The rose garden is truly something else and they have a ton of other pretty perennials. We went on a holiday so not sure about the cafe or visitor center. read more
I attended the Rose Weekend at Elizabeth Park today. So glad I arrived just before 10am. Was able to get a quick parking spot at one of the entrances near the tennis courts. The weather was just perfect to walk and enjoy the abundance of roses. Who would've guessed there were so many varieties? There was a bonsai exhibit that I was 4 minutes early for and was not allowed in until it was 10:00 on the button. Buh bye bonsai exhibit. Why so rigid? The grounds were impeccably manicured and easy to walk on. I can see why so many people get married there! We went to the Pond House for a light lunch. Separate review. read more
I spent part of the afternoon here before a concert in Hartford and definitely enjoyed the lovely landscape and envelops this park. It was too early for roses, so the rose garden and gazebo looked rather bare. However, the tulips were in bloom and were wonderfully arranged in beds. Even with the gazebo just having some green around it, the structure itself has a robust look to it. There are tennis courts and baseball fields, along with lots of space for play. This is a great spot for a walk or taking pictures for a wedding/graduation. read more
3 years ago
The blooms are so gorgeous! Completely worth the visit-- lots of folks come for the roses, but the tulips are just as gorgeous! read more
3 years ago
According to information available online, this park has a lot to offer. When we got there on 6 July 2023, however, the combination of heat and humidity was just too much to handle. The meadows around the rose garden appeared to have a drainage problem as pools of water were visible and our shoes got muddy. To make things worse, fresh droppings from flocks of Canada geese filled the air with foul smells. All that said, we did enjoy the perennial garden and took some pictures... read more
Today was the perfect day to meet up with friends to hang out in the park for a girls day. I always love coming here during the summer to see the roses in bloom and it's been so weird not having been here for a while, so it was so nice to stop and smell the roses. I love the precautions put in place because of covid, and it's just such a nice place to go when you just need to be outside to unwind. One day I will finally eat at the pond house. One day! read more
I had to take a little stroll here before work today and also for Earth Day!! The rose garden is beautiful and the flowers were blooming. This is a great park to walk or go for a run! So glad the weather is nice again to enjoy it read more
One of my favorite parks and even better if you can visit a weekday morning when not crowded. This rose garden is the first and oldest municipal rose garden in the US. Visit on a Sat in the summer to see beautiful brides taking pictures. This last visit I walked around the Pond House. Its surrounded by beautiful potted plants and the attention to detail was impressive. I'd love to stop by for lunch sometime. Grateful for little treasures like this on the city. read more
7 years ago
Beautiful park full of streams, ponds, open fields and flowers. Simple pleasures of life is to appreciate nature. Wonderful landscape through the park and an amazing Rose Garden. Nicely maintained grounds. Breathtaking in the spring and summer months when the flower gardens are in bloom! read more
THIS IS A REVIEW OF YELP'S VOLUNTEER DAY ON SATURDAY MAY 6th Yelp is a lot more than writing about cold French Fries and crummy service. On Saturday May 6th, about a dozen Yelpers welcomed Spring by volunteering to spend some of their mornings in service to the community. We converged at Hartford's Elizabeth Park to fertilize hundreds (maybe even thousands?) of the Park's 15,000 rose bushes. We started the morning with a very nice presentation on the history of Elizabeth Park and its Rose Garden, and it sure is an impressive history. We learned that we were about to work on the oldest municipal rose garden in the United States. Yup -right here in Hartford, the Elizabeth Park Rose Garden is the nation's oldest and goes way back to 1904. We walked over to the equipment shed, gloved up, and loaded dozens of 25-pound bags of fertilizer into a wheelbarrow which Yelper Antonio D. expertly maneuvered into the rose garden. The fertilizer (which we found out was made from Bridgeport sewer sludge!) was scooped up into plastic cups and we sprinkled it into a ring around each rose plant. We fanned out and started working on the plants in the garden's hundreds of beds. How many plants did we get to? Hard to say, but we had a dozen people going at it for two and a half hours, and we sure covered a lot of ground. One of the things I discovered this morning was that no matter how far I stood away from those nasty rose thorns... they always seemed to track me down and say hello. Time and time again, I've remarked about what a nice group of folks we have in the Hartford Yelp community, and today's community service project reinforced that observation. We worked side-by-side, laughed, told stories, and just enjoyed ourselves. At the end of our shift, the gray weather turned, and the sun came out. Maybe it was Nature's way of saying "Thank You". There are plenty of volunteer opportunities available at Elizabeth Park- go check them out. read more
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Is there an admission fee for the park or for parking? Is it handicapped accessible? Thank you.
No admissions fee and parking is free. The park is handicapped accessible. There is one handicap parking space in the main loop as well as a few by the Pond House Cafe.
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