I'm amazed by the beauty of this place!…read more MDC operates the water treatment plants located at this reservoir. This is a privately owned area and not a public park. There was MDC Police that patrolled the area when I was there. Parking was plentiful when we went on a beautiful spring weekday. There were clean porta potties onsite. There were trails in the woods and out in the open; the trails were paved and gravel. It is opened daily from sunrise to sunset and closed on Thanksgiving and Christmas. There were two trails; 3.4-mile loop red trail and 2.0-mile loop yellow trail. We started off with the gravel yellow trail that has a slight incline. Then we got onto part of the red loop which was near the bridge overlooking the water. We saw a couple of deer in the woods, geese, and turtles in the water. This is where we walked on pavement. Some of the trees were marked by type. The trail was busy with walkers and bikers. Overall, I really enjoyed the hike/walk and can't wait to go back.

The WH Reservoir has been my peaceful playground and refuge since the '70's…read more Hard to believe that State Connecticut had a planned to construct ring highway through the hills beside the Reservoir. Following public protest and legal battle(s) the project was shelved indefinitely back in the 70's. This was also about the time, vehicle traffic was barred on many of the back MDC roadways. What was left, beautiful network of paved and foot beaten paths. Everyday day of the week, the public are welcome to walk, jog, saunter, bicycle these mapped trails. Mountain biking has been throttled down significantly due to excessive wear and tear on the wooded areas. Biking still remains popular long designated routes and in a one-way pattern (for everyones safety). Pedestrians: Please mind the painted walking path, eyes on drifting into the bike path - that way ALL will enjoy. Kilkenny rock has been one of my favorite destinations (refer to an MDC map) this is a nice overlook of the Hartford sky scape. Trails also connect from the Farmington Avenue entrance across to Route 44 passing over Avon Mountain. GPS and one of my favorite apps "All Trails" are helpful even to a season chap like me.

Went here the other day and it was a clean and well maintained area. I will definitely be checking…read moreback in the spring when the weather is warmer and better

I have lived literally 2 miles away for 10 years and never knew this place existed. I joined a…read morekickball league and went last night for my first game, and was surprised, excited, and shocked all at the same time. This park is massive, and there are amazing views of the city of Hartford. There is plenty of on-street parking, several fields for games, and just wide, open spaces. I'm looking forward to coming here weekly for my games, and also just to explore, have a picnic, or just to play!

This is a beautiful park to walk through. They have different flowers planted for different…read moreseasons. Parking can be difficult to find when it is busy but it is not too bad. Great place to take pictures of flowers and a cute little photo shoot with friends and family.

I absolutely love love love it here!! I was surprised how good it was even in o river!! Just…read moresplendid!!

I was searching for playground and Kennedy Memorial popped up. It's located in West Hartford near…read morethe border of Hartford. There were apartment complexes next to it and it had plenty of parking when we went. There was a playground area on sand with swings, ride ons, and a smaller playscape. The other playground is about 400 meters away, I found it odd that it wasn't connected to eachother; it was fenced in, but there were no gates. The splash pad and pool is fenced in and closed for the season. I think there is a fee to enter, in the summer. There was a hilly field which might be fun to sled on. The basketball courts were in use when we went; it seems to be a popular spot for leisure. There are also tennis courts and ball fields. There was a porta potty onsite; when nature calls, you have a spot! Overall, a nice neighborhood park to enjoy the outdoors and release some energy.

I'm not sure I've ever seen a park with this high a ratio of recreational choices to total square…read morefootage in my life. This small neighborhood park contains a full-sized outdoor swimming pool, picnic areas, a slide pool, multiple playgrounds, spray pad, a full-sized baseball field and two full court basketball courts. It really is an incredible park with so many entertainment and recreational choices for all ages. We walked around today, saw some kids playing on the swings and two more shooting hoops. The park was clean, and both the paved and unpaved paths were free of litter and 99% free of dog poops. It's a very nice oasis of green that's pretty much on the Hartford-West Hartford line.

As someone born and raised in Hartford, I can say this is one of the nicer parks we have. They have…read morean indoor and outdoor pool; separate hours for adults and kids; a gym and basketball court; plenty of outdoor open space to play; walking paths, and ample parking. Additionally, the staff are super sweet and friendly. I'm kinda bummed I haven't made the effort to come here in years past. I only recently started coming because hubby wanted somewhere to swim once it got cold that didn't cost too much. We found free! I will admit that the outside park can sometimes be a little dirty with litter. The city only does but so much. However, I think it's still a worthwhile place to spend time in Hartford!

For a small park, Pope Park has a lot to offer for locals…read more Despite the media painting it as a haven of thugs and bad guys, it really ain't that bad. In either March or April, there has been a carnival taking place for a number of years. And in the springtime volunteers from non-profit environmental groups in Hartford come out in force for an annual spring cleaning. Must we not forget the the number of amenities that the park offers as well: indoor/outdoor pools, a basketball court, little league baseball field and soccer field. There are picnic tables strewn about and also a playscape for the little ones. During the summer there are also musical performances too!

This is a great park located in West Hartford. There were parking available when we went. There is…read morea pond with a ton of geese. The playground was in good shape and big. There's a big kids playscape with climbing and ladders. The little kids playground had a sandbox, swings, slides, tunnels, etc. There were benches and picnic tables as well. The pool and splash pad is adjacent and fenced in; to enter the pool, there is a fee. The splash pad has benches and a grassy area to put your stuff down. The restrooms were clean and there was a Little Free Library right near there. What I loved about the park was the ample amount of shade. Definitely a fun place to take the kids in the summer.

"I'm gonna hang out in the park, hang out after dark I'm…read moregonna be with the gang tonight" (The Ramones) West Hartford's Fernridge Park has so many nice features! We had a very enjoyable time strolling on their trails and taking in the pretty scenery around its big pond. We saw a ton of features on the park grounds - a wood bridge over the water and a splash pad, playground and playscape where the kids were having a blast. We saw families hanging out at their grills and picnic tables, plus a Little League field, basketball, volleyball, tennis courts and a big swimming pool. The leisure and entertainment opportunities here are fantastic. What a great place to relax and enjoy!

Beachland Park used to be a dairy farm owned by the Beach Family in the 1800s. 12 acres were…read moredonated to the Town of West Hartford in 1932. The Vine Hill Creamery building was remodeled to become a clubhouse and storage. There's definitely quite a bit of history here. There's a large pond and a smaller retention pond next to it. The Canadian geese were everywhere so watch your step with their poo. There's a baseball field, soccer field, and basketball courts. For summer recreation, there is a splash pad and pool. On this visit, we went to the playground which had two playscapes; one for younger kids and the other for older kids. There were picnic tables throughout and a short, paved trail. Overall, we had a fun time exploring the park and it's a nice quiet place to get away from the hustle and bustle of the town.

What will you find in Beachland Park?…read more A huge pond, lots of geese on the grass and in the water, soccer fields, a baseball diamond, basketball courts, a swimming pool, splash pads, very pretty scenery, and two playgrounds. There are all sorts of jogging and bike paths that snake through the park including one that took us clear out of the park into a residential neighborhood and then onto New Britain Avenue near Pepe's Pizza. Just a heads up to keep your heads down and eyes peeled on the trails and paths. There was a lot of goose poop on the trails, and I suppose you can't blame the geese for that. But we also saw a lot of canine poop that you can blame the selfish, inconsiderate, slugs of human beings masquerading as dog owners who can't be bothered to pick up after Fido does his thing on the walking path. Shame on them....

We've been to Fisher Meadows a couple of times, sometimes to enjoy the quiet and calm, other times…read moreto enjoy the golden hour, and once to enjoy a warm cup of masala chai surrounded by nature. It is a great spot to witness the magic of different New England seasons.

This recreation center is on 250.45 acres and is open year-round from dawn to dusk. There is a…read moredecent-sized gravel parking lot with a small playground with swings, picnic tables, and a pullup bar. There are two entrances to the trails by this parking lot and playground. I saw a huge field that is used for soccer. On the lake, you can fish and use non motorized boats; a boat launch is available. This recreation area is suitable for walking, jogging, hiking, cross-country skiing, biking, canoeing, bird watching, picnicing, and camping; for camping, you need to get permission from the Town of Avon. I walked the red trail then got off that trail halfway and walked by the well pump building; this brought me back to the parking lot. That walk was about 2.54 miles because I didn't want to do the bigger loop. On the AllTrails app, there are two trails in the park; Spring Lake and Fisher Meadows Loops. The walk was easy but there were some flooded and muddy areas. I have a feeling it is buggy in the summer but on this fine sunny March day, it was very pleasant except for getting my sneakers wet. Overall, a great space to enjoy the great outdoors.

I'd like to start by noting the Alsop Meadow is a quiet gem, tucked away off Waterville Road and on…read moreNassau Way in Avon. I have known of this Meadow since the 1980's. I actually lived in the original Alsop homestead on Nod Road with 8 other house mates (32.5 rooms, including 5.5 bathrooms) from 1984-86. The Alsop family was & still well known in Avon and its connection to Uncle Teddy, yes, that former President Teddy! The Alsop Meadow is a gifted land trust to the Town of Avon. The land trust features a Farmington River side trail, a peaceful short wooded walk ending at Private Property, which is very clearly marked. An open frisbee golf course starts near the gateway to the Meadow and winds through the trees and the open meadow. A plot of Community gardens are located on the North edge of the Meadow. The gardens also provide a great pollen source for bees and butterflies. A port-a-potty is available and is maintained by the Town of Avon and its lessor. Located near the Canoe launch, placard noting the Alsop's generous gift, and an information board showing the Farmington River trail. If you bring a pup, leashes are required, you're also required to pick-up and carry out their waste. Despite that small sacrifice Alsop Meadow is worth visiting and bring a few frisbees!

Alsop Meadows is a 56.20-acre park located in the Town of Avon. The entrance is behind the Raymour…read more& Flannigan furniture store. The dirt road going into it is very narrow and can only fit one car, certain spots there is a spot to pull off to let other vehicles go. There is a decent sized parking area and a porta potty. A couple of small trails lead to the Farmington River. This is where people take their canoes and kayaks out. I walked on the dirt road through the gates and on the left, there was a community garden. The scent was lovely; ripe vine tomatoes was what I smelled. The rest of the landscape consisted of woods and meadows; there was someone mowing the large, flat, open space when I was there. Around the garden, you won't be able to see the river in the spring and summer, but I'm sure in the late fall and winter, the views and access to the river is great. The park is open from dawn to dusk, daily. The recreational activities include, jogging, walking, hiking, cross-country skiing, and camping. For camping, permission is needed from the Town of Avon. I walked to the end of the dirt road and back; it was a short walk but peaceful nonetheless. I do recommend wearing sunscreen and a hat because there is minimal shade; bug spray too because the mosquitoes were rampant. I saw other people walking their dog and others enjoying the river side. A peaceful spot; however, if you want a longer walk/hike, this doesn't have it unless you walk back and forth a few times.

Beautiful park in the center of Hartford! The carousel, fountain, Pond (when well maintenanced),…read moreand direct access to the Capitol building make this one of Hartford's most popular tourist destinations. The train station is directly across the street making it easily accessible. A lot of people don't know that this is America's oldest publicly funded park, but they offer tours that allow you to find out more about everything that has gone into the park over the years. The views of the city from the top of the arch on Trinity Street are gorgeous. Many events and clubs are hosted in the park like the annual Jazzfest and weekly run club and yoga.

Bushnell Park is pretty pleasant and relaxing, particularly during the daylight hours. Once the sun…read morestarts going down though, I wouldn't recommend hanging around. The number of homeless and people doing drugs openly goes up significantly.