The Pump House was built in 1947 by the Army Corps of Engineers as part of the Connecticut River Flood Control Program, which began after the downtown area suffered catastrophic floods in 1936 and 1938. The foot bridges on the north side of the park were removed when the Park River was buried, and many of those stones were incorporated into the design of the building.

The Pump House is located on the southeast side of the park and was designed by H. Hilliard Smith to resemble a Cotswold Cottage with Tudor influences.

In the past, the south side of the Pump House was used as an art gallery, restaurant, and public function room. During Winterfest you might find Santa there!

Today the public areas of the facility are managed by the Bushnell Park Conservancy on behalf of the City of Hartford. When not in use for Winterfest, the gallery room and courtyard are available for rent for meetings and celebrations. A portion of rental fees support the Conservancy’s stewardship of the park.

Pump House Rental Information

The Pump House, with its historic brick interior and slate courtyard, is an intimate and beautiful setting to have your next special event – a bridal shower, a graduation party, a work reception, or a wedding or anniversary party. The indoor and outdoor space is rented together, and tables and chairs are for indoor and outdoor use.

  • A 50% rental deposit and a refundable cleaning deposit of $250 will be taken at the time of reservation.
  • No events will run past 10pm.
  • Proof of insurance liability coverage must be provided for rentals by both the renting party and their caterer.
  • Alcohol is permitted. The appropriate liquor license and liquor liability insurance coverage must be obtained by the caterer and the renting party sponsoring the event.
  • Download our brochure for capacity and pricing information.
  • Hartford-based 501(c)3 non-profit organizations and Hartford Residents receive a 10% discount on rates.
  • Minimum number of hours is 3; all rental periods include time for setup and breakdown.

Please note the Pump House is not available for rent during Winterfest, including during the skating rink set-up and breakdown period, typically October 15 through January 31. Contact us for more specific dates.

Download our brochure for more details. To make a reservation, please call 860-232-6710 or email manager@bushnellpark.org.