Pope Park Master Plan and Projects

Pope Park is a historic park in the center of Hartford, Connecticut that was originally designed by Frederick Law Olmsted. Shadley Associates is currently working with the City of Hartford, the Pope Hartford Designated Fund and the Friends of Pope Park to program, design and implement phased construction based on the Pope Park Master Plan.

In 2006, Shadley Associates completed the first phase of construction at Pope Park, which focused on park entry and community safety at the eastern side of the park facing a large residential neighborhood. Work included new brick piers, ornamental metal fencing on a granite curb, brick pavement and a wide entry promenade facing a vista across the park to the pond. Also included were ADA-compliant walkways into and through the park, which were carefully graded to address the 20 feet of vertical grade change while preserving the trees planted by the Olmsted plan.

The second phase of construction, valued at $1.8 million and completed in the fall of 2007, removed Pope Park Drive, a non-historic roadway that bisected Pope Park. Working with the prime engineers, Shadley Associates designed and assisted with construction of a new park entrance, a new universally accessible walkway and courtyard to the popular Recreation Center, new parking areas that avoid disturbance to major trees, a new multi-use trail that runs the length of the park, and supporting park benches, lights and signage.

Ongoing design work includes the design and grading for Bankside Grove, a steeply sloping wooded area that has received fill from an off-site project, and the bid and construction of a new totlot, ADA-compliant walkways, site furnishings, a new park gateway and new landscaping to rejuvenate the Olmsted Planting Plan in the Hollowmead section of the park.