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The first park in Connecticut is almost 200 years old. How to visit this spring

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The first park in Connecticut is almost 200 years old. How to visit this spring


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As the snow begins to melt and the warmer weather of spring starts to creep in, many people will be heading back outdoors into nature, and for many, that means returning to a local public park.

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Whether you prefer to enjoy the spring weather with a run, a bike ride, a picnic or a simple walk, Connecticut has plenty of public parks that make for a perfect spring day.

If you want to immerse yourself in history as well as nature, Connecticut also has plenty of historical parks, with the state’s first park, Bushnell Park, opening almost 200 years ago.

Here’s how to visit Connecticut’s oldest park this spring.

History of Bushnell Park

Located in front of Connecticut’s state capital, Bushnell Park was first established in 1861. However, the idea for the park was first suggested by Rev. Horace Bushnell, pastor of Hartford’s North Congregational Church and graduate of Yale University, in 1853.

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According to the Bushnell Park Conservancy, Rev. Bushnell proposed the park for multiple reasons – to clean up the city, create a space where poor children could play and build a beautiful setting that would establish Hartford as the state capital over New Haven, which shared the title of capital with Hartford at the time.

While plenty of parks were popping up in the states in the 1800s, one of Rev. Bushnell’s ideas made this park proposal unique – the sourcing of the park through public funds.

A Hartford City Council meeting in October 1853 unanimously approved Rev. Bushnell’s idea, and in January 1854, Hartford citizens voted the idea through, making Hartford the first city to use public funds for the creation of a park.

After years of securing land and creating a design, Bushnell Park, then called City Park, was established in 1861 under a design by Swiss-born architect Jacob Weidenmann. The original park contained 157 varieties of trees and shrubs, graceful paths, the Park River and several bridges.

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Over the years, Bushnell Park has gained many additions, including the Soldiers & Sailors Memorial Arch, the Capitol building overlooking the park, the Corning Fountain, the Carousel and the Performance Pavilion. Due to flooding, the Park River was buried in an underground tunnel in the 1940s, resulting in the destruction of its bridges.

Today, Bushnell Park remains a scenic place to connect with the Hartford community and escape the business of city life.

How to visit Bushnell Park

Bushnell Park is open daily from dusk to dawn. For those driving to the park, 99 Trinity St. in Hartford is the best address to use in a GPS. Metered parking, which is free on weekends, is available around the park’s perimeter.

Bushnell also frequently hosts community events like yoga classes and movie nights, as well as free tours of the Soldiers & Sailors Memorial Arch from May through October.



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Connecticut

Canadian aerospace company Bombardier launching new ‘fast track’ training program in Connecticut

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Canadian aerospace company Bombardier launching new ‘fast track’ training program in Connecticut


WINDSOR LOCKS, Conn. (WTNH) — Bombardier, a Canadian company, is launching a new “fast track” training program in Connecticut.

The new program will expand Connecticut’s aerospace industry by creating an accelerated pathway for experienced aircraft maintenance technicians to receive new certifications and enter high-demand careers quickly.

“We know the demand for aviation technicians far exceeds the number of students we can currently prepare throughout our traditional programing alone,” Dr. Alice Pritchard, executive director of Connecticut technical education and career system, said. “Our goal is to create a sustainable workforce solution that can continue producing skilled aviation technicians for years to come.”

The program is set to start soon at the company’s service center at Bradley International Airport.

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Injuries reported in multi-vehicle crash on I-91 South in Hartford

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Injuries reported in multi-vehicle crash on I-91 South in Hartford


Injuries were reported in a multi-vehicle crash on Interstate 91 South in Hartford on Wednesday morning.

State police said the four-vehicle crash happened around 5:55 a.m.

The highway was briefly closed between exits 30 and 29A. It has since reopened.

According to state police, injuries were reported, but the extent is unknown.

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The crash remains under investigation.



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Avon daycare releases dates, times that former employee accused of sex assault worked at other Connecticut locations

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Avon daycare releases dates, times that former employee accused of sex assault worked at other Connecticut locations


AVON, Conn. (WTNH) — In light of recent information that a now-former Avon daycare employee accused of sexually assaulting children had filled in at multiple Connecticut locations, the company has released a timeline of when and where he had worked.

Jan Carlos Berrios Otero’s employment with BrightPath Early Learning began in January 2022, according to a letter sent out to families. Within the last four years, he had filled in at daycare locations in Simsbury, Windsor and West Hartford.

According to BrightPath, Berrios Otero had covered partial shifts at the following locations on the following days:

  • Simsbury, Jan. 20, 2026: Berrios Otero covered a shift for about four hours and 20 minutes
  • Windsor, Sept. 16, 2025: Berrios Otero covered a shift for about six hours at the 555 Day Hill Road location.
  • West Hartford, Sept. 24, 2025: Berrios Otero covered a shift for about three hours at the Park Road location

BrightPath stated that to its knowledge, there are no known allegations, complaints or incidents that occurred during these time frames.

Berrios Otero, 29, is facing six counts of risk of injury to a minor, six counts of fourth-degree sexual assault, and two counts of aggravated sexual assault of a minor for allegedly sexually assaulting five boys ages 3 to 5 during the month of March.

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BrightPath is working to identify all students who were in attendance in Berrios Otero’s classroom during the partial shifts that he had covered, and will communicate with the families directly as soon as possible, the letter stated.

“Please know, we also understand our review is taking a considerable amount of time; however, the time we take to ensure we are supplying the most accurate information is critical,” the letter said. “We are working diligently to get information to law enforcement and the appropriate governing agencies to support their investigations, and of course to all our families.”

According to BrightPath, Berrios Otero underwent a state and federal background check, which includes state and national criminal records searches and a review of the sex offender registry.

During the background check, which is renewed every five years, Berrios Otero had no prior convictions and was thoroughly vetted through the company’s hiring requirements. He additionally complied with staff qualifications and training.

The daycare says it is conducting a review of all of its records for the past four years across all of its Connecticut centers.

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