This is my first time coming here, and I definitely need to return to explore the whole grounds!…read more There is plenty of parking upon entering and a dog park right near the parking lot There is an animal barn, a tobacco museum, picnic areas, a community garden, a maple sugar house, a nature center, a soccer field and 12 miles worth of hiking trails!! This could definitely be an all day adventure.

Northwest Park is a beautiful park located in the Town of Windsor. It is 473 acres and it used to…read morebe a tobacco farm. It's located right on the Farmington River. There are forests, wetlands, fields, and 12 miles of trails. There is a nature center, farm animals, tobacco museum, gardens, playground, and picnic pavilions. The tobacco museum is only opened seasonally. The parking lot was on gravel but there were plenty of spots available when I went; there is a porta potty in the lot as well. You can find restrooms at the nature Center too. Once you walk into the park, there is a viewing platform overlooking a small pond. The pond had goldfishes in it! First we went to the animal barn. There were turkeys, goats, ducks, donkey, chickens, cows, and rabbits. Next door to the barn was the maple sugar house; I don't think it was open when we went. We went into the nature center which was very nice. There were many exhibits, taxidermied local animals, a fish tank, hissing cockroaches, frogs, snake, a gift shop, a turtle pond, a tree house, and a table with puzzles and blocks for the kids. There was a clean bathroom onsite and the attendant working in the nature center was very friendly. The playground was also very nice. There were two playscapes for the different age groups. There were a couple of benches and the large picnic pavilions were nearby. They had a couple of gardens as well; one was an organic garden and the other was a butterfly garden, which was accessible. They had informational signs with braille on it. There are quite a few trails on the property. We walked over to the reservoir and Farmington River; the trails were easy and quiet. You can find the map online and in the Nature Center. There are also soccer fields and a dog park. Seriously, you won't be bored at this place. It's nicely maintained and the people of Windsor are lucky to have this park! I'm looking forward to going back!

I came here specifically for the playground. The playground was small and old looking; my toddler…read moreloved the tall metal slide for some reason. The thing was kind of rusty, sharp, and a possible hazard. The playground is fenced in with a small opening and on mulch. There were a couple of swings and some bouncy rides. The two tennis courts adjacent were overgrown and looks like it hasn't been used for years. There were pickleball courts, picnic shelter with grills and tables; there was a softball field as well. I saw a couple of people going down a small trail to the Farmington River to kayak. The gorge is located there and you can see remnants of an old bridge in the river. The park is located in the middle of a neighborhood and looks like it's forgotten/hidden. Maybe an upgrade to the playground and tennis courts will bring in more people.

Friday afternoon we spent a few hours wandering around Tariffville Park and had a great time…read more There is a lot of cool stuff here - tennis courts, pickleball courts, a softball field, a picnic pavilion with tables and benches and grills, a small playground, and some terrific views of the Farmington River if you walk down the long dirt/gravel path to the gorge. From what I've read, the park is quite popular with whitewater kayakers as a way to access the River. But any outdoorsperson will have a blast here with fishing, hiking, and canoeing/kayaking options all over. A few things stood out from our visit- the gnats and flying bugs were terrible, we heard so many bullfrogs it became comical after a while, we saw and heard a lot of small planes due to the proximity of Simsbury airport, and we saw some curious looking concrete structures rising out of the water like so many surfacing Godzillas. Turns out they were some old concrete bridge abutments that used to connect a bridge from Tariffville to East Granby. They create a serious hazard for the boaters, so if that's your thing - be careful.

While driving around in East Granby and seeing the beautiful colors of fall, I ended up at this…read morelittle park, Granbrook Park. This park is perfect if you want to let your dog run, if you want your kids to play, if you want to bring a picnic, or if you just want to be outside. There is a full playground for kids, with the swing and slide, there is also a basketball court. As well as some additional swigs for little kids and big kids. I also took a swing my self, and that is something I haven't done in a long, long time! There is a little pond at Granbrook Park. There's numerous benches and even a grill. There's plenty of exercise one can do here. Unfortunately, this isn't the park for hikes. This is a relaxing, child friendly, beautiful and easy park that's very well maintained.

3.5 stars. I came here for the playground and there were lovely views of the bridge and brook…read more There was plenty of parking and a porta potty onsite too. Amenities include basketball court, baseball field, playground, gazebo with picnic tables, grills, and fishing. There was a person in the middle of the brook fly fishing. The playground was on the smaller side but it had swings and slides; the playscape looked old. The playground was on mulch. My only complaint was that it was very buggy. Overall, a decent little park and my toddler was happy with the playground.

Curtis Park is located on two sides of Rte 315 in Simsbury. The south side is all soccer fields…read morewhich the Simsbury Soccer Club uses extensively. I don't play soccer and I am way beyond the age of having kids involved in your soccer teams. So my review is the other side which does include a couple of soccer fields but also includes a large amount of grass fields and access to the Farmingon River . The main attraction though is access to the Farmington river. It is a convenient spot to launch a canoe or kayak. You can paddle downstream a mile or so before you get into the T'ville gorge and you can paddle upstream a long way through Simsbury. Depending on the river level the launch site can be steep which makes a handling a heavy fishing kayak somewhat difficult. There used to be some OK fishing in the vicinity of the launch area but due to increased activity ( lots of boats, dog swimming etc) it is not so great anymore. And my pet peeve.. litter continues to be an issue.

This park has four soccer fields and a large picnic pavilion. Parking was spacious but on…read moredirt/gravel. When we went, it was early afternoon so there was not much shade. We were able to relax in the picnic pavilion for a bit, which was fully shaded on this hot day. The Farmington River is adjacent to this park. Many people use this location to access the river for kayaking, canoeing, and fishing. Based on the Town of Simsbury's website, camping is also available. It's a nice place to play soccer, be a spectator, fish, and canoe/kayak. Based on the All Trails app, you can paddle on the river from Curtiss Park to the Old Drake Hill Flower bridge; can't wait to go back and try this route out!

A clean and large playground that is fenced in. There is a porta potty onsite; no trash cans…read morethough. The parking lot had plenty of spaces. Across from the playground, there was a huge field with a large stage; I'm sure they have good events there. Right outside of the park, near the street, there is a long paved path for walking, biking, etc. My kids loved the playground!

Every kid is welcome to this community playground…read more There's a playscape for kids as young as 2 years old. There are no boundaries for abilities, because this is designed so children of all abilities can play together, whether the kids are fully able or have physical, sensory or developmental disabilities. The playground was opened in October 2002 and you'll find it off of Iron Horse Boulevard inside the Simsbury Meadows Complex. No admission and tons of free parking onsite. They have two playscapes, designed for kids aged 5-12 and another for kids aged 2-5. There's a ton of fun here - baby swings, slides, a sandbox, a huge Boundless playground, two pint-sized climbing walls and lots more. The playground surface is very soft and rubbery, sort of like walking on a wrestling mat. They have gazebo to sit and relax, and porta-potties for when that need arises.

Cute little park. Very easy walking trails, well maintained. The bridge is great for scenic…read morephotos. Small pond with a beach. Restrooms fairly clean.

Stratton Brook State Park was established in 1949 and is on 145 acres. It's located in Simsbury and…read morehas a huge parking lot; there's even an accessible parking lot. When I parked my vehicle, the first thing I noticed was the lovely red covered foot bridge and pond. There was a huge structure that has a fireplace and picnic tables; it's called the Massaco Forest Pavilion, it is historic and built in 1935. There is a boardwalk near the small beach and more picnic tables. Dogs are not allowed on the beach. Restrooms are available; a porta potty and in a small building (not sure if it's open). There were easy trails throughout; I walked on a short one and it was peaceful; quite a few people walking, dog walking, and a couple of them were fishing. I have a feeling this place gets busy in the summer and on weekends. I went on a Spring weekday, so it was nice and quiet.

When looking for a place for a quick walk and a picnic, we were excited to check out Filley Park…read more Although the park is quite small, it was really enjoyable to walk around the wooded trail before walking around the pond and gardens. The wooded loop trail is probably about half a mile and the walk through the garden is probably another ~.15-.25 miles; both are mostly flat. There are tons of benches and a few picnic tables to enjoy the scenery and do some birdwatching. We visited on a Sunday afternoon and the park wasn't too busy. We were able to find a picnic table, that was pretty clean, and enjoy a picnic lunch. All-in-all, we really enjoyed our time and we will definitely be back on a regular basis as it's conveniently located in between all of our errands.

Tremendous progress has been made in the reclamation and renovation of Filley Park…read more When I first visited and posted in 2013, the place was a mess. The Pond was full of silt, and needed to be excavated and restored. Massive populations of ducks and geese had done their things and fouled up the area. When I next visited in 2018 a lot of progress had been made. I saw all sorts of construction activity, heavy equipment, and big piles of dirt and gravel. Improvements to sidewalks, landscaping, and lighting were underway, as was the dredging and refilling of the Pond. And when I visited yesterday, I saw much more! The sidewalks and benches and seating areas are finished. The Pond looks great, The ducks and geese are mostly gone, and a few straggles were clustered way off to the side. There's still some construction equipment on site, and excavation continues, but the overall progress is quite remarkable. We walked around the Pond as far as we could and took a stroll on some of their hiking trails.

This is small park was donated to the town of Simsbury in 1946 by Henry and John Ellsworth; this…read morewas done as a memorial to their sister, Annie Ellsworth Schultz. This park has many types of trees and plants, located near the Simsbury Town Hall. There is no parking lot; I would park across the street at the shopping plaza. The garden is maintained by the Simsbury Beautification volunteers. There's a paved pathway through the park. A notable landmark is the gazebo, don't forget to look up at the ceiling; there is a map of all the trees in the park. There were benches throughout and a sign showing what types of trees that were planted. Overall, a cute park if you're in the area and love nature.

In the heart of Simsbury's central business district, right next to Town Hall and across the street…read morefrom J. Foster Ice Cream you will find this beautiful hidden oasis of greenery. There's a brick pathway that takes you around the property, and as I walked it this morning, I saw gorgeous landscaping, flower beds, at least six benches, a picnic table, a water fountain and a nice gazebo. One very cool feature I saw is a map legend identifying the dozens species of bushes and trees all around the park. To complete your educational experience, there are dozens of individual signs identifying the various trees and shrubs on the property. It's a destination for wedding photos and public gatherings, and its quite beautiful.

What a beautiful place! Even in February at 25 degrees and snow on the ground. There is parking off…read moreAlbany Turnpike and in the other end of the reservoir. The land is on 3000 acres and has over 30 miles of trails and woods. They are open daily from sunrise to sunset. We walked on the road because the trail had some snow on it. My step counter said I walked about 3.1 miles in that loop. There is a water treatment facility in there with parking for employees and vendors. Once we got to the other parking lot, we got onto the paved trail and walked by a dam. Eventually, the trail becomes gravel; the view of the reservoir was stunning (see my pics). I did see some benches at the begining of the trail. There were tons of people walking, jogging, and dog walking, even in the cold. I didn't get to explore all 30 miles of trails yet but I look forward to doing so when the weather gets warmer!

If you're heading down Route 44 from the Farmington Valley toward Hartford, you'll see the sign for…read moreReservoir 6 on the left. We found over a thousand acres of some of the prettiest scenery we've seen in a long time. There is a 95% flat and non-challenging path that circles the reservoir in a 3.6-mile loop. The reservoir is gorgeous, and you'll catch glimpses of Simsbury's Heublein tower and the Hartford skyline on your walk. We ran into maybe 100 people out there today, enjoying the gorgeous weather and scenic beauty of the grounds. A lot of folks had their leashed dogs with them, everything from a huge Great Dane to a medium sized Bichon Fraise to a tiny mini Schnauzer that was being hand carried. I loved the fact that every single dog we saw (that wasn't hand carried) was both leashed and well behaved. But, I hated the fact that on two occasions, we saw a tied blue plastic bag of dog poop laying right on the center of the path. How freaking lazy and disgusting can you be? It's very odd to see the different personalities of the fellow visitors -some were super friendly and loved to chit chat, others wouldn't even make eye contact as we passed in opposite directions. Oh well..... There is a small parking lot shortly after you pull in, but if its full, no worries -just keep driving on the road and soon you'll hit a second lot on the other side of the reservoir. We saw a few MDC police cars on the grounds, so apparently, they patrol the area.