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.

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!

Every single time I go I love u. This time I we went late in the afternoon and spread a blanket…read more The roses aren't blooming yet in early May, but it was definitely still beautiful

This more than 100 acre park with its stunning rose garden is a wonderful way to spend the day…read more 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.

"Why do you have to say that there's always someone who can…read moredo it better than I can? But don't you think that I know that walking on the water won't make me a miracle man?" (Elvis Costello) There are four baseball fields in a park where Asylum Avenue and Trout Brook Drive meet in West Hartford. Three of the fields are used by the WH Little League. The fourth field is different. You might say it's a Miracle Field. This field was designed for physically and cognitively challenged players. The playing field is built with a soft rubberized surface that is fully wheelchair accessible. Instead of raised bases and a pitching mound, these features are painted into the field's flat surface. The  base paths, distance from the pitchers mount to home plate, and outfield fence distances are shorter than regular Little League fields. Other than these tweaks and accommodations, the Miracle Field looks very much like a  typical Little League field. Fundraising for the Miracle Field started in 2008, and through private, corporate, philanthropic and governmental entities, over $800,000 was raised to construct not only the field but a playground, restroom and concession facilities that were accessible to all. In 2012, the Miracle League Field opened as the first of its kind in New England. Their website says it's still the only one of its kind in Connecticut.

Wonderful playground in West Hartford, parking can be tricky as you park in the old UCONN parking…read morelot off Trout Brook. Drive to back of the lot where you will see a row of handicap parking spots and a small wooden bridge. The ball fields and playground are extremely well maintained with restrooms for your use. Our 2yr old had a wonderful time, love the ground covering. There are several picnic tables there are well if you want to bring a snack/meal with trash & recycling containers.

Spacious lovely open green space in the heart of downtown Hartford with the Capital building as the…read moreback 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.

I have been here a few times recently. My son had an appointment at CCMC, so we decided to go…read morebefore 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.

This 33 acre park in West Hartford was established in 1962. The man-made pond is called McGovern…read morePond. It is stocked with all types of fishes. There are trails throughout too. There is a parking area. I saw many people fishing the day I went. We went in the summer but the trails were overgrown so we didn't want to risk getting ticks on us. I look forward to going back soon to hike the trails. It is a lovely park with a nice pond!

If you turn onto Mountain Avenue from Farmington Avenue, be on the lookout for the entrance and…read moreparking lot for the Spice Bush Swamp Park. It'll be on your left. The park is 33 acres of peaceful tranquility. We had a very enjoyable time walking the path around the Pond and took a few of the trail's branches into smaller trails into the woods. There seems to be a big renovation project going on, as we saw some excavation, a piece of heavy equipment, new hay bales and sprinkled hay, and new rocks placed here and there. We didn't see any life in the pond -no fish or frogs or turtles, so maybe the renovation will address that eventually. But we did see a few ducks leisurely swimming around, and we did see one spectacular example of life in the air, as a huge heron flew over the water and soared toward Mountain Avenue, The Pond Trail is flat, clean, and about as low impact as you can imagine. One patch had some goose poop to be wary of, and some of the woods trails had fallen trees you'll have to navigate. Here's a cool Spice Bush Swamp Pond Park history nugget I found - the land was given to the Town of West Hartford by Arthur Doctor for just $1.00 in September 1962.

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.

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....

This little hidden spot is a gem if you're looking to get away from the busy life. It is peaceful,…read morewith manicured grass, a little stream of the Connecticut River, and some geese staying cool in the water. It is super easy to access, just an easy drive down the road from Old Wethersfield and past the dreaded DMV. You can bring your lunch here and have it on the bench. Be sure to dispose of your litter in the trash can. There was a very kind older gentleman who was working to pick up the litter of the ground, he said "it gives me something to do". There's no reason for this, as there's a substantial amount of trash cans. This is a nice place to go on a boat ride down the Connecticut River, and to try to catch some fish. The Wethersfield Cove is a beautiful place to rest your mind and your eyes.

Wethersfield Cove is an inlet which connects to the Connecticut River. There were warehouses built…read morein the 1600s, to store goods such as food and lumber to be sent out to trade with places like the West Indies; products traded in return were rum, molasses, and sugar. The Cove Warehouse Museum still stands today and is open seasonally to the public. There is the heritage trail that runs through it, a boat ramp, rocky beach, picnic tables, porta potty, and a huge parking lot. As far as beach goes, I wouldn't advise swimming in it because of a huge sewage leak back in the 1990s. It is a beautiful spot to walk, picnic, and just enjoy the vista. I'm sure it's fun to go boating on it too. Overall, a nice little neighborhood park with tons of history.

Mikey's Place is a beautiful playground located in Wethersfield. It has two sections, one is for…read morelittle kids up to age five, and the other section is for older kids. This is a very thoughtfully designed playground for every child, despite their physical abilities. There are ramps for wheelchairs, so wheelchair users can access the playscape. The ground is in part wood chips and in part padded. If anyone should fall the injuries would be at worst minimal. The playground features swings, slides, a sandbox, see-saws, and much more. My friend's three year old son had a great time playing here. I even took a swing on the swing myself. This playground is dedicated to a little boy named Mikey, who died at just under three years old, from a rare neuromuscular illness. Mikey's Place has brought countless kids together, allowing them to play, laugh and build friendships.

One of the larger playground near the DMV. This is a wheelchair accessible playground which is…read morelocated in Standish Park. It's created to honor the memory of Mikey, a toddler with spinal muscular atrophy. There were two areas: toddlers from 2-5 years old, which was fenced in and an older kids section. There is a small parking lot, benches, and adult swings. When you first walk in, you will see a "Grandpa Boat" which is a swaying boat. My toddler loved the cars; you can push your child around the playground. I saw a free little library as well as trash receptacles. I saw a gazebo which is nice to sit in on a sunny day. This is definitely one of the nicer playgrounds I've been to.