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 Pope
Park was donated to the city of Hartford by Colonel Albert
Pope for his employees and city residents to enjoy games, walking and
out-of-door activities. Colonel Pope was the head of the Pope
Manufacturing Company, which manufactured bicycles and automobiles,
including the well-known Columbia bicycle.
The park was designed by the Olmsted Brothers Landscape Architects in 1898, and originally consisted of 90.5 acres. In its original form the park had three separate sections. Its western boundary was defined by the southern branch of the Park River, which today runs underground beneath the park. The southern section, then known as Hollowmead, was the largest, consisting of 73 acres. The second section was the Bankside Grove, 13 acres laid out along the Park River. The third and smallest section was only 4 acres and was separated from Bankside Grove by Park Terrace.
Unfortunately, the last half century has seen a gradual decline of this valuable neighborhood resource. Preserving and restoring the park is an essential component to the area’s revitalization.
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Pope
Park was deeded to the City of Hartford by the Pope family in 1895
"for park purposes only", and was designed by Olmsted firm as an
example of the best that a park can contribute to the neighborhood. Up to
this day, the land is being utilized for a public park. The Park has
athletic fields, a recreation center, a pond, and various other components
that the surrounding community enjoys.