After the 1936 flood, the Park River was channeled into a massive underground conduit (45 feet wide and 30 feet high). An pond was designed and built by the Olmsted Brothers’ firm in 1943 at its present site close to Jewell Street. Today’s pond recalls the serpentine path where the Park River once flowed. With brownstone walls and almost immediate drainage problems, the new pond was plagued with mud and shallow murky water. But, thanks to the support of thousands of New Englanders, work was undertaken by the Bushnell Park Foundation in 1983 to rebuild the pond. A more recent addition to the pond is a stainless steel sculpture gracing the surface of water near the Carousel. The sculpture is the work of Norwalk, Connecticut sculptor Charles Perry. It was donated by the Travelers and formally dedicated and named “Harmony” in September 1990.
Pond Dredging Project Starting in May 2025
One of the biggest changes this spring is happening at the pond. A long-awaited restoration project is now underway, with work that began in early May and is expected to conclude in September.
The project includes:
- removing built-up sediment
- restoring the pond bottom
- repairing the historic brownstone walls
- installing new concrete sidewalks & modern well pump
- updated electrical systems
- and new benches
Funded by the City of Hartford, the project is being overseen by Beta Group, with construction by Yield Industries. Bushnell Park Conservancy has championed this restoration for many years, and we’re thrilled to see it finally coming to life.