Reverend Horace Bushnell believed that prosperity was a duty and that civic improvement was critical to a prosperous Hartford. During economic decline in the 1840s, he recognized Hartford's long want of spacious ornamental ground and saw an opportunity for civic improvement. After months of planning, he presented a proposal for the park to Hartford's Court of Common Council on October 5, 1853. The council passed a resolution for the park on December 22, 1853, and a public vote was scheduled soon afterward. Approved by public ballot on January 5, 1854, Bushnell Park was established as America's first public park. After many design efforts over six years, landscape architect Jacob Weidenmann was hired in 1860 to finalize the park's design. Originally called City Park, it was renamed Bushnell Park by the City Council on February 14, 1876, just three days before Bushnell's death.

Photo: Devry Becker Jones

Photo: Devry Becker Jones