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What Happens When Private Groups Save Public Parks?

Connecticut Public Radio | By Colin McEnroe,
Chion Wolf, Betsy Kaplan, Patrick Skahill
Published September 20, 2013 at 4:30 PM EDT
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Credit Wikimedia Commons
Chapel Street Bridge in Edgewood Park, New Haven, Conn.

New Havenitesreclaiming a beautiful park in their city got us thinking about urban parks in general. Frederick Law Olmsted is the undisputed father of American city parks, including Central Park itself. He came from Hartford, and he is buried here.

Hartford was an incredible park city, and by the 1930s it probably had more park acreage per capita than any other city in the nation. From the end of the Civil War to the beginning of World War II, Hartford was a city other cities looked at when they wanted ideas for beautiful parks. Today, the city doesn't even have a parks department, and many of the city's greatest parks are shadows of their former selves. So what do cities do about this? Today, we pool some ideas with people from New Haven and Hartford.

GUESTS:

  • Willie Franklin Hoffman - President, Friends of Edgewood Park
  • Mark Oppenheimer - Reporter/New Haven Resident
  • Brendan Mahoney - Hartford Resident/Park User
  • Henry Hester - Vice President, Friends of Keney Park
  • Nancy Macy - Member, Friends of Pope Park/Director, Pope Park Hartford Designated Fund
  • Alex Ulam - Journalist

Tags
citiesbudgetsparks
Colin McEnroe
Colin McEnroe is a radio host, newspaper columnist, magazine writer, author, playwright, lecturer, moderator, college instructor and occasional singer. Colin can be reached at colin@ctpublic.org.
See stories by Colin McEnroe
Chion Wolf
Chion Wolf is the host of Audacious with Chion Wolf on Connecticut Public, featuring conversations with people who have uncommon or misunderstood experiences, conditions, or professions.
See stories by Chion Wolf
Betsy Kaplan
Betsy started as an intern at WNPR in 2011 after earning a Master's Degree in American and Museum Studies from Trinity College. She served as the Senior Producer for 'The Colin McEnroe Show' for several years before stepping down in 2021 and returning to her previous career as a registered nurse. She still produces shows with Colin and the team when her schedule allows.
See stories by Betsy Kaplan
Patrick Skahill
Patrick Skahill is a reporter and digital editor at Connecticut Public. Prior to becoming a reporter, he was the founding producer of Connecticut Public Radio's The Colin McEnroe Show, which began in 2009. Patrick's reporting has appeared on NPR's Morning Edition, Here & Now, and All Things Considered. He has also reported for the Marketplace Morning Report. He can be reached at pskahill@ctpublic.org.
See stories by Patrick Skahill

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