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Memories of Pope Park Sought

May 9-16, 2007
By The Hartford News

Do you or someone in your family have a special memory of Hartford’s Pope Park? Perhaps you played in a sports league there as a child, or attended the circus, a 4th of July celebration or other neighborhood event. Maybe you spent time in the park with your boyfriend or girlfriend, or learned to ride a bike there.

As part of a special event to celebrate the completion of Phase II of Pope Park’s Master Plan, the Friends of Pope Park and the Pope Hartford Designated Fund are encouraging members of the public to submit stories, photos or other memorabilia for an exhibit about Pope Park memories. The exhibit will be unveiled during a celebration at the park on Saturday, September 8, 2007. Selected items may be included in a Memory Book which will be published after the event.

To participate, submit your stories on the Pope Park website at www.popepark.org, or mail stories or photos to Friends of Pope Park, c/o The Parisky Group, 30 Arbor Street, Hartford, CT 06106. Please include your name, mailing address and telephone number with your submission. Photos will not be returned. Please do not submit valuable or irreplaceable items. If you have a vintage photograph or unique item to share, please call Steve Mirsky, President, Friends of Pope Park at (860) 757-6537 and we will discuss special arrangements to duplicate or safeguard your item prior to accepting it.

The deadline for submission is July 1, 2007. All participants who submit an item will receive an invitation to attend the exhibit opening on September 8. For more information contact Steve Mirsky at (860) 757-6537.

The Friends of Pope Park and the Pope Hartford Designated Fund are raising funds to implement the Pope Park Master Plan, a $13.6 million renovation of the century-old park. Phase I, a new entry-way at the entrance of Park Street and Park Terrace and a series of pedestrian pathways, was completed last year. Phase II is the signature component of the Master Plan and includes the removal of Pope Park Drive to reclaim its original park land, a new courtyard plaza at the entrance to the Recreation Center and a new parking lot to serve the Recreation Center and ball fields.

For more information about the Pope Park Master Plan, or to make a donation, visit popepark.org.