Friends of Goodwin Park (FOGP)
FOGP was formed as a community group to watch over the park's maintenance and work on projects to improve the park. Click here for a brief history of the park.
Special note: The path through the woods that cuts off the corner at Ridge Road and Jordan Lane has finally been cleared of fallen trees from Hurricane Sandy and from a windstorm that brought down a large Pine across the path. The path has also been lined by branches from past fallen trees and has been raked clear of leaves from end to end. It is a great way to soak up a little nature in an urban area and it's also a good place to walk your dog. The lower end has a connecter path to the golf course road so that the path can be used by folks who like to walk around the park. For directions to get to the path click here.
New Concept Plan for park: President Mary McAtee has come up with a new concept plan for the future of Goodwin Park. Click here to read the plan.
Past projects include the installation of a flagpole at the park entrance and the installation of permanent benches around the park's walkway. FOGP has also organized community events at the park such as this year's October Fest, past years Easter Egg Hunts, and park cleanups which often are followed by picnics. Members also volunteered this year to help at the Holiday Light Fantasia. In the past we have had volunteer groups from "Heads Up Hartford," Trinity College, and St. Joseph's University come to the park and work with our members to help with flower beds, cutting trails, litter pick up and other projects. The Friends of Goodwin Park appreciates these volunteer efforts and is open to any group that would like to volunteer to help in our efforts to maintain and improve the park.
Current projects include: 1. Pushing for the return of funds by the City for enclosing the park pool. 2. Having the road through the Park closed to thru traffic thus making it safer for children and adults to play, jog, walk or cycle in the park. There is increased traffic through the Park in the Summer months along with an increase in litter and illegal dumping. The "Friends" feel that the Park can be easily accessed and enjoyed by parking at one of the numerous lots in the park without using the park road as a thru street. 3. Getting the increasingly foul pond by the Pond House cleaned up. Click here for City e-mail addresses to contact. 4. Taking care of the poisonous vines that are strangling the trees in the southwest section of the park. 5. Trying to keep the park maintained.
Our motto is Neighbors helping Neighbors for a better neighborhood. Anyone interested in getting involved with FOGP is invited to attend our monthly meeting held at 7 p.m. every third Monday of the month at the Pond House located near the Hubbard Road entrance to the park. (See map below) Since the park straddles the Wethersfield/Hartford line we would like to see people from both communities get involved.
The next meeting: Our next meeting will be on Monday, April 15. We hope to have the meeting in the newly renovated Pond House however if that is not possible it will be announced on this page. The March meeting has been cancelled.
All meetings will be held at the Pond House (see map below for directions) unless indicated otherwise. Anyone interested in the welfare of the park is invited to attend.
For more information call President Mary McAtee at 860-655-4017 or e-mail Mary at: mmcatee04@aol.com
Left: Goodwin Park Pond House
Below: Map of Goodwin Park
