Why walk in Goodwin Park?

Charles Dickens wrote this about walking:  "The sum of the whole is this:walk and be happy; walk and be healthy.

Have you wondered?

Have you wondered what is happening with that tract of land just beyond the ball field?  You know the one - it used to be a gravel parking lot that was often used by thoughtless people as a dumping ground. At various time one might have seen old carpets, furniture, tires, even a burned out car!  The Friends of Goodwin Park, along with the city department of public works (DPW), is turning that "parking lot" into a bit of "paradise." Progress to date includes removing the old gravel and asphalt, removing the weeds and planting winter rye as a cover crop.  In the spring, we will plow under the winter rye and either plant one more season of rye or, if the ground is ready, sow seeds to create a meadow - one that will require minimal maintenance but will attract birds, butterflies, bees and other small critters.  And that's a good thing.

Restored Hartford Golf Course Gives Public a Place to Play, Jobs for Residents

Thanks, WNPR for this wonderful piece. And of course, the accompanying video:

MassLive.com: Goodwin Park, Keney Park on Course for Stunning Revival

Hartford municipals Goodwin Park, Keney Park on course for stunning revival - MassLive.com

In the South End, Goodwin Park GC is open and fully-operational as a playable, but challenging 27-hole daily-fee facility.

To the north, Keney Park GC is undergoing a massive renovation with plans to open nine of its 18 holes this summer and the rest a month later.

"This has all been a team effort, the city has rallied around this . . . and we have great momentum,'' said Tom Baptist, who is responsible for day-to-day oversight of golf operations as superintendent of Public Works in Hartford.

Segarra Touts Investments, Growth In State Of City Speech

Hartford Courant article, here.

...Instead, Segarra focused on long-term investments in all corners of the city, from $700,000 to rehabilitate the Goodwin Park golf course in the South End to a proposed $68 million in this year's capital improvement budget toward future renovations at M.L. King School in north Hartford...

Landscaping and Winter Clean-up

The absence of the snow allowed DPW to finish up leaf removal with several crews working throughout the park in December and early January to get the task completed.  More recently crews turned their attention to the wooded areas of the park including sections of the golf course.  Trees that are damaged or diseased are being cut down.  Underbrush and fallen trees are being removed along Ridge Road.  A few trees have been removed from the golf course in order to improve some greens and fairways in the important effort of revitalizing the golf course.  All of the work is being completed under the direction of an arborist. 

DPW "Thank-you" Breakfast

On December 3, 2014 the Friends of Goodwin Park hosted a “Thank You Breakfast” for members of the Department of Public Works to express our appreciation for their sustained efforts to maintain and improve Goodwin Park.  The breakfast buffet was held at “My Friends Restaurant” at Franklin Ave. and included eggs, bacon, sausage, French toast, pancakes, juice, coffee and tea. We were pleased to support a local business and glad to have an opportunity to express our appreciation to our very valuable partners at DPW.