Frederick Law Olmsted – Creating a Beautiful Landscape

Walnut Hill Park in New Britain was originally designed by Olmsted to highlight the natural features and location, which overlooks downtown New Britain. Throughout time, many designers have contributed to the landscape, resulting in a beautiful blend of trees, walkways, flowerbeds, and even the iconic band shell where bands perform live.

Stretching across 693.6-acres, Keney park is one of the largest parks in New England, providing not only neighborhood recreation in a historic designed landscape, but also ecologically rich environments. The park boasts a beautiful, natural look, highlighting typical regional landscapes such as meadows and forests. Plus, don’t miss Keney Park Golf Course!

In the south end of Hartford near his childhood home, Olmsted designed the grounds for The Institute of Living. As Olmsted believed in the rejuvenating power of nature, his landscape plans often included long paths through the scenery — just as the 35 acres at The Institute of Living are designed. The grounds include a public trail which feautures historic notable trees for Connecticut.

With its 325 acres of lush lawns, shady glades and sports fields rolling toward Long Island Sound, this extensive municipal park offers many amenities including a bathing beach, bath house, ball fields, picnic areas and hiking trails. Visitors are delighted by the beaches, surf, and sunshine along three miles of sparkling coastline. The park was laid out just after the Civil War by Olmsted and Calvert Vaux, and the landscape has proved timeless as they entice each new generation of park-goers.

Home to the only Zoological Garden in Connecticut, Beardsley Park is set on 125 acres of land and stands remarkably similar to Olmsted's original 1884 design. Stroll through the park and encounter bridges, open fields overlooking Bunnell's Pond, rolling topography, and wooded areas, and a running stream.