The Speaker of the state House of Representatives, Rep. Matt Ritter (D-1) of Hartford announced that he is proposing $7 million in state bond funding to, “restore Batterson Park to where it was back in the heyday.”
The Speaker called the condition of the park,
environmental injustice. It is completely inappropriate. It is completely unacceptable that just a few miles from the city of Hartford or New Britain, where some of our poorest residents live, that we took an open space – dedicated in the 1920s to give families a chance, without driving to a beach an hour and a half a way, to come with their families and sit outside, to swim, to play basketball – that we let it get to this.
“And so,” Speaker Ritter said, “I will use the power of my office in the time that I have in politics to right that wrong.”
“Thank you Mr. Speaker,” said Rep. Bobby Sanchez (D-25). “Glad this will go on the State bonding agenda for the much needed funds to get this wonderful asset back into original form and use!”
“I remember going to Batterson Park often with my parents and siblings,” Rep. Sanchez added.
“Batterson Park is a lost natural gem with incredible potential, and the COVID-19 pandemic has further highlighted the need for more outdoor spaces that area families and residents can enjoy,” said Speaker Ritter. “This would be a significant multi-million-dollar investment in restoring Batterson Park back into a regional recreational asset – that is my goal.”
The Speaker’s office said that he was joined for the announcement by Rep. Peter Tercyak (D-26), Rep. Mike Demicco (D-21) of Farmington, Rep. Edwin Vargas (D-6) of Hartford.
Speaker Ritter’s office said that the Park, “has a storied history,” “as a popular summer destination for thousands of day visitors back in the 1950s through the early 1980s, who enjoyed the large lake, picnicking and recreational amenities, which included food concessions, a pavilion, and basketball courts.”
Noting that the Park has been closed since 2015, Speaker Ritter’s office said that, “both its natural assets and infrastructure have deteriorated from a lack of use and maintenance over the years.”
Mayor Luke Bronin (D) of Hartford, Republican Mayor Erin Stewart and Farmington Town Council Chair C.J. Thomas (R) spoke at the event.
Hartford Public Works Director Mike Looney estimated that $3 million of the state funding would be used to rebuild the bath house and concession facilities. He said that about $250,000 would probably be used to improve water quality in Batterson Pond, clearing out invasive species.
The remaining $4 million of state funds, Looney said, would go to general improvements to the park – what he called, “the little things that add up to making a park a very special place and making Batterson Park, especially, a great place to be in the years to come.” He talked about re-seeding lawns, repaving the basketball court, doing utility work and restoring stone grills.
Speaker Ritter’s office said that,
Located about 10 miles from Hartford’s center, the current property spans over 500 acres with about 200 acres of parkland including the 165-acre lake. The lake was originally used as a drinking water reservoir before the Hartford Water Department donated the tract to the Parks Department in 1928. The park was named after Hartford’s mayor at the time Walter Batterson.
