Bushnell Gardens
Bushnell Gardens is a proposed extension of Hartford’s historic Bushnell Park, the first such expansion of the nation’s first publicly funded urban park in more than one hundred years. The public gardens and terrace link the park to Main Street and its key destinations, including City Hall, Wadsworth Atheneum, and Travelers Insurance’s iconic tower.
On behalf of Suisman Urban Design
Completed in 2018, the first phase of Bushnell Gardens involved the reconfiguration of Gold Street, which had already been reconfigured twice in its history, in order to consolidate two separated city parcels into a single 1-acre park site. The new lawn and surrounding streetscape have already improved the connection to Main Street and have won support from surrounding establishments and residents. Phase 2 will introduce terraced gardens, a fountain, signage, and a new terrace with cafe overlooking the main park area.
We designed a brochure to help in fundraising for completion of Bushnell Gardens
Bushnell Gardens is one of the most historically and culturally rich sites in the entire region. It contains a raft of stories about architecture, landscape design, urban design, outdoor sculpture, funeral statuary, music, photography, and education. Bushnell Gardens was the site of the Heublein Hotel, a venerable landmark and the birthplace of Hartford’s jazz scene in the 1950s and 60s. The Gardens celebrate the Heublein’s legacy with a café, terrace, and jazz circle.