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CHAPTER 8 – PARKS and RECREATION, OPEN SPACE AND ENVIRONMENT
Introduction
The number, type, location and quality of a community's recreational opportunities contribute immeasurably to the quality of life of its residents and to the attractiveness of the community to new residents, business and industry. In many communities, the provision of such opportunities – which may range from formally established parks to undisturbed open spaces – is often shared by the public sector (e.g., the local or state government), semi-public organizations (e.g., a land trust) and private individuals or institutions. Additionally, many communities seek to identify and protect those features of the natural environment that help define the character of the community or make it a unique place.
This chapter examines the array of parks, playgrounds, ballfields, conservation areas, open spaces and prominent physical features that compose Bristol's recreational resources and distinguish its natural environment. The chapter also seeks to address the "conservation" component of the Plan of Conservation and Development by encouraging both the enhancement of the city's recreational facilities and the protection of its environmentally significant and sensitive areas.
Sources of Information
- 1989 Bristol Plan of Development
- Bristol Parks Department
- Bristol Water Department
- Bristol Board of Education
- New Britain Water Department
- Bristol Regional Environmental Center
- Indian Rock Nature Preserve
- Pequabuck River Watershed Association
- Watershed Improvement Network (formerly Pequabuck River Organization)
- Hoppers-Birge Pond Committee
- Save the Hoppers Association
- Central Connecticut Regional Planning Agency
- Bristol, Connecticut, A Bicentennial History, 1785 – 1985
, Clouette and Roth, 1984
- Park, Recreation, Open Space and Greenway Guidelines
, National Recreation and Park Association, 1995
- Connecticut Public Act No. 98-105, "An Act Concerning a Model River Protection Ordinance and Protection of Ridgelines"
Key Findings, Conclusions and Issues
- Approximately 790 acres of publicly owned land in Bristol is devoted to parks and other recreational facilities, public squares, and open space (another 148 acres of non-recreational open land are city-owned). In addition, there are an estimated 790 acres of privately owned (i.e., semi-public) properties devoted to open space and recreation and nearly 740 acres of water supply watershed lands. Both public and private open space and recreational resources thus account for more than 2,300 acres, or 13.5 percent, of Bristol's land area. (See Figure 8-1.)
The city's Parks and Recreation Department is responsible for the maintenance of approximately 560 acres of parks, playgrounds and open space. Its facilities range from small, neighborhood playgrounds to large, citywide parks, including Rockwell Park, Page Park and Pine Lake. The city's public school sites contain nearly 180 acres of land devoted to various recreational facilities, while the city's private schools provide another 15 acres. In addition, the State of Connecticut owns the 49-acre Nelson's Field open space parcel at the intersection of Burlington and Maple Avenues (See Figures 8-2 and 8-3.)
The city owns – and the Bristol Water Department is responsible for – 430 acres of watershed lands, located primarily in northwest Bristol; the New Britain Water Department owns 308 acres of watershed lands, located in northeast Bristol.The city has approximately 790 acres of privately owned recreation and conservation lands, including Chippanee Golf Club, the Bristol Fish and Game Club, Barnes Nature Center and Indian Rock Nature Preserve. (See Figure 8-4.)
Several unique natural features distinguish the city, such as its hilly terrain, the Pequabuck River and the geological formation known as "The Hoppers." (See Figure 8-5.) These features have influenced Bristol's built environment, are important environmental resources for the city, and provide additional open space and recreational opportunities.
Three of the city's most prominent topographical features are Hurley Hill, which separates downtown Bristol from Forestville, Chippen Hill, located in the northwest corner of the city, and South Mountain, located in south-central Bristol.
As it flows east through the entire city, the Pequabuck River – with few exceptions – is largely inaccessible to the public, making it one of Bristol's most under-utilized natural resources.
Bristol is home to a unique geological formation known as "The Hoppers," which is located within a 200-acre open space parcel surrounding Birge Pond. "The Hoppers" is local terminology that refers to huge kettle holes formed during the Ice Age 12,000 years ago.
Lake Compounce amusement park offers a unique contribution to the city's recreational resources. The oldest continuously operating amusement park in the country, it occupies a total of 325 acres, of which 53 acres are in Bristol (the remainder is in Southington).
- There are several walking and hiking trails located in the city, managed and maintained by the mostly volunteer Southern Tunxis Maintenance Crew.
- The southwest, northeast and northwest sections of the city lack formal neighborhood parks.
- Local land conservation efforts, led in large part by the Bristol Regional Environmental Center, have been very significant in recent years, particularly in the area of South Mountain. Within recent years, the Center, the Jacklin Rod and Gun Club, and the Bristol Fish and Game Club have all acquired significant properties in this part of the city.
Goals, Policies and Recommendations
Goal:
Provide various recreational opportunities and adequate open space for all city residents. Protect and maintain the quality of the city's watercourses, groundwater, air and environmentally sensitive lands.
Policies:
1. Protect the city's unique geological and archeological sites and its areas of unique natural beauty through acquisition, land development controls, and other preservation techniques.
2. Acquire land for open space and/or recreational purposes as it becomes available, in locations recommended in the Plan.
3. Encourage the establishment of bikeways and/or hiking trails within the city.
4. Improve existing recreational programs and expand their coordination with existing semi-public recreational facilities.
5. Recognize Lake Compounce amusement park as a unique recreational and cultural resource of local, regional and state significance.
6. Consider vacant city parcels for future recreational use as they become available, to help address the need for more neighborhood playground/playfield and passive park facilities.
7. Continue to coordinate recreation programs among city departments and with private institutions, to maximize recreational opportunities, including school indoor activities for adults and children. Maintain cooperation among city departments for the use of the city's many indoor and outdoor recreation facilities.
8. Give attention to the quality, size and location of open space parcels proposed through the subdivision process to assure that they become assets and not liabilities. Where appropriate, consider utilization of the "fee-in-lieu-of-open space" provisions of the Subdivision Regulations.
9. Recognize the need to preserve the environmentally sensitive areas of the Hoppers; encourage the acquisition of additional areas for both preservation and passive/active recreational purposes at the Hoppers; encourage greater utilization of the Hoppers for both passive and active recreational purposes.
10. Recognize the importance of the Pequabuck River as a significant natural asset to the community. Identify and support opportunities to enhance the use of the river corridor for both open space and recreational purposes.
11. Encourage the preservation of South Mountain as an environmentally sensitive area.
12. Carefully control development, especially in environmentally sensitive areas, which could result in damage to the land and environment. Discourage development on ridgelines and in wetlands.
13. Encourage energy-efficient patterns of development and land use, the use of solar and other renewable forms of energy, and energy conservation.
Recommendations:
1. Establish additional neighborhood recreational facilities in the northeast, northwest and southwest sections of the city appropriate to the specific needs of each area. Such facilities might include tot lots, playgrounds, playfields and/or neighborhood parks.
2. Establish priorities for the maintenance of existing parks, recreational facilities and open space, to enrich both the public's current enjoyment of them and their long-term cost effectiveness.
3. Establish a dedicated fund for the acquisition of land for parks, recreational facilities and open space, so that opportunities for acquisition can be acted upon expeditiously and/or used to match State or federal funding programs.
4. Rezone all significant open space and watershed lands in the city to the lowest density residential category.
5. Improve public awareness of the Pequabuck River as an open space and recreational asset; increase public access to the Pequabuck River.
6. Encourage the adoption of ridgeline protection regulations to minimize the visual and environmental impacts of new development on and along ridgetops.
7. Promote the "greening" of the city by encouraging the installation of landscaping such as trees and shrubs along city streets, along other public rights-of-way and in public open spaces, and by requiring landscaping in new private developments.
Figure 8-1. Existing Parks and Open Space
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Figure 8-2. Inventory of Publicly Owned Parks, Recreational Facilities and Open Space, City of Bristol, CT |
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Name and Location of Facility |
Description of Facility |
Size (in acres) |
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Rockwell Park
(Jacobs Street, Dutton Avenue and Terryville Road) |
municipal park; contains swimming lagoon, picnic areas, pavilions, playground equipment, tennis courts (lighted), basketball courts, baseball fields, hiking trails, swimming pool |
96.2 |
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Page Park
(King Street, Moody Street, Page Avenue and Woodland Street) |
municipal park; contains outdoor swimming pool, playground equipment, fishing lagoon, picnic areas, six tennis courts (lighted), basketball court, softball field (lighted), baseball field, pavilion and lodge buildings |
80.6 |
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Boulevard Park
(Memorial Boulevard) |
municipal park; contains park benches, fishing lagoon, four tennis courts, memorial monuments, walking path with mile markers |
19.2 |
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Seymour Park/Riley Field
(Shrub Road) |
municipal playground; contains baseball field, basketball court, two tennis courts, playground equipment, picnic areas |
5.2 |
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Peck Park
(behind Greene-Hills School) |
municipal park; contains four tennis courts, playground equipment, softball field |
4.0 |
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Kern Park
(behind Ivy Drive School) |
municipal park; contains playground equipment |
3.1 |
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Brackett Park
(North Main Street and School Street) |
municipal park; contains basketball court, playground equipment, park benches |
2.3 |
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Wilson Park
(King Street, Fifth Street and Sixth Street) |
municipal playground; contains playground equipment, softball field, basketball court |
2.0 |
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Veterans Memorial Park
(Central Street and Broad Street) |
municipal park; contains memorial, park benches |
0.1 |
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H.C. Barnes Field
(Mix Street) |
municipal playfield; contains regulation softball field (lighted) |
25.6 |
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E.G. Stocks Playground/J.P. Casey Field
(Middle Street and Lake Avenue) |
municipal playground/playfields; contains playground equipment, volleyball courts, basketball court, softball field, "midget" football field |
10.5 |
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Muzzy Field
(Muzzy Street) |
lighted baseball, football and soccer stadium complex; seating capacity: baseball - 4,900; football/soccer - 5,800. |
8.4 |
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Federal Hill Green
(Maple Street, Queen Street and Center Street) |
municipal green; contains lighted walkway, playfield, park benches, playground equipment |
2.1 |
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Muzzy Triangle
(Park Street/Divinity Street) |
municipal open space |
0.4 |
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Birges Pond/Hoppers
(North Pond Street) |
municipal open space; contains pond, hiking, walking and bicycle trails, picnic areas; fishing and canoeing allowed on pond |
203.3 |
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Pine Lake Open Space
(Pine Street, Birch Street and Emmett Street) |
municipal open space; contains lake, Challenge ropes course and two soccer fields |
54.6 |
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Nelson's Field
(Burlington Avenue and Maple Avenue) |
state-owned open space |
49.0 |
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unnamed parcel
(Mano Lane and Hopmeadow Road) |
municipal open space |
1.2 |
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unnamed parcel
(Cherry Hill Drive) |
municipal open space |
0.5 |
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unnamed parcel
(Marcia Drive) |
municipal open space |
1.0 |
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unnamed parcel
(Violet Drive) |
municipal open space |
1.4 |
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unnamed parcel
(Candlewood Drive) |
municipal open space |
1.9 |
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unnamed parcel
(Jamesdrew Lane) |
municipal open space |
5.0 |
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unnamed parcels
(Brandon Run, Cameron Dr., Corbin Ridge, Tiffany Lane, Tyler Way) |
municipal open space |
31.7 |
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Bristol Indoor Swimming Pool
(Mix Street) |
municipal swimming facility |
N/A |
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Total Acreage |
609.3 |
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Sources: 1989 Bristol Plan of Development, City of Bristol Parks Department |
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Figure 8-3. Inventory of Recreational Facilities at Public and Private Schools, City of Bristol, CT |
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Name and Location of School |
Description of Facility |
Area used for recreation
(in acres) |
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Public Schools |
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Bristol Central High School
(Wolcott Street) |
five tennis courts, three baseball/softball fields, one football field, three soccer fields, one track |
27.0 |
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Bristol Eastern High School
(King Street) |
six tennis courts, three baseball/softball fields, one football field, three soccer fields, one track |
29.0 |
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Chippens Hill Middle School
(Peacedale Street) |
two baseball/softball fields, one soccer field |
10.0 |
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Memorial Boulevard Middle School
(Memorial Boulevard) |
two baseball/softball fields, one track |
4.0 |
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Northeast Middle School
(Stevens Street) |
two basketball courts, two baseball/softball fields, two soccer fields |
24.0 |
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C.A. Bingham School
(North Street) |
one basketball court, playground equipment |
1.5 |
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Edgewood School
(Mix Street) |
three basketball courts, playground equipment |
12.0 |
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Greene-Hills School
(Pine Street) |
playground equipment |
7.0 |
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E.P. Hubbell School
(West Washington Street) |
two basketball courts, playground equipment |
15.0 |
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Ivy Drive School
(Ivy Drive) |
one basketball court, one baseball /softball field, playground equipment |
15.0 |
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J.J. Jennings School
(Burlington Avenue) |
one baseball/softball field, playground equipment |
3.0 |
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Mountain View School
(Vera Road) |
two basketball courts, one baseball/softball field, playground equipment |
5.0 |
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C.T. O'Connell School
(Park Street) |
one basketball court, playground equipment |
2.0 |
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South Side School
(Tuttle Road) |
three basketball courts, one baseball/softball field, playground equipment |
9.0 |
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Stafford School
(Louisiana Avenue) |
one basketball court, one baseball/softball field, playground equipment |
15.0 |
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Total Acreage – Public Schools |
178.5 |
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Private Schools |
|
|
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St. Paul Catholic High School (Stafford Avenue) |
one baseball/softball field, two football/soccer fields, one track |
12.0 |
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St. Stanislaus Montessori School
(West Street) |
playground equipment |
.5 |
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St. Joseph's School
(Center Street) |
playground equipment |
.5 |
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St. Anthony's Grammar School
(Pleasant Street) |
one basketball court, playground equipment |
.5 |
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St. Matthew's School
(Welch Drive) |
playground equipment |
1.0 |
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Total Acreage – Private Schools |
14.5 |
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Sources: 1989 Bristol Plan of Development; City of Bristol Board of Education |
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Figure 8-4. Inventory of Privately Owned Recreational Facilities and Open Space, City of Bristol, CT |
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Owner, Type and Location of Property |
Size (in acres) |
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Bristol Regional Environmental Center
Barnes Nature Center – Shrub Rd.
open space – Willis St.
open space – Northmont Rd., Southmont Rd., Beecher Rd.
open space – Marsh Rd.
open space – Brewster Rd. |
53.2
12.4
27.6
77.2
9.7 |
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Barnes Memorial Nature Center
Indian Rock Preserve – Old Wolcott Rd., Wolcott Rd. |
146.9 |
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Girl Scouts Connecticut Trails Council
camp – Willis St. |
35.7 |
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Chippanee Golf Club
golf course/country club – Marsh Rd. |
140.7 |
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Jacklin Rod and Gun Club
rod and gun club – Willis St. |
68.8 |
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Pequabuck Golf Club of Bristol
golf course – Terryville Ave. |
66.2 |
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Bristol Fish and Game Club
fish and game club – Willis St. |
126.8 |
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Hickory Hill Estates Inc.
open space – Julia Rd.
open space – Poitras Rd. |
9.2
6.7 |
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Lawrence Lane Community Association
open space – Lawrence Lane |
4.4 |
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JWDC Development Corporation
open space – Aldbourne Dr. (to be deeded to City of Bristol) |
3.7 |
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Total Acreage |
789.2 |
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Sources: 1989 Bristol Plan of Development; City of Bristol Assessor's Office |
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