This is an absolutely beautiful and peaceful park for all to enjoy. The flowers are simply stunning. It is a pleasure to walk around, soak in the sun, and relax with nature. It is also a great place to walk around after a meal at the Pondhouse restaurant (which is located within the grounds of the park). Highly recommended location for residents and visitors alike.
Elizabeth Park is a wonderful place to visit when the roses are in bloom.for an extra treat have lunch at The Pond House which is in the park.
Hartford's tony "West End" boasts the Governor's mansion and neighboring Elizabeth Park. The "Pond House" café serves a terrific and moderately priced lunch, dinner and weekend brunch year round in a well, "park-like" setting complete with Koi ponds. The most famous feature of the park though, is its extensive cultured rose gardens where hundreds of varieties vie for attention during blooming months of late May to September. Popular with locals, it is one of the better maintained parks in the area.
I am a volunteer in the rose garden and have therefore been able to explore the park fully and this has increased my appreciation of the park even more. The roses are just spectacular when in bloom. Sign up for one of the free walks. The last one I participated was a walking tour that showcased some of the very large and very old trees on the property. The tour guide, who was in his 80's, was informative and entertaining. When through, visit the Pond House. The food is well worth it. If the have there watermelon salad available, try it ... to die for. Fish selections are especially good. Check out their schedule of events on line and enjoy. They also do craft shows on ocassion.
If you want to take a nice walk on a lovely day while learning and exploring this is the place to go. Great flowers with great smells and herbs and other gardening items. They even have a place to go and eat now. It has been there a long time. It is maintained beautifully and historic homes are in the area to view as well. Plenty of space for playing games and they do have a playscape in a separate area of the park.
Free rose garden on the outskirts of the city very beautiful nice relaxing time in the park to stroll or for a picnic has a multifunction pond house can hose a wedding or any function. Good size pond with fishes in it and water sprays. But go for the rose gardens and the flower gardens are very well kept
Pond house resturant ...Is an excellent venue for lunch... Servicios are very good and menu is very good, too...
The tulips in the spring are stunning. Haven't seen the rose gardens yet, but I've heard great things!
We were expecting roses but they weren't in bloom. It is still a beautiful park. Very busy on a Saturday afternoon.
The rose gardens are at their best in the month of June. The Park sponsors several special events around the time the roses peak. The Heritage Rose garden has been undergoing a major renovation in the last 2 years. It is looking good. We enjoy riding bikes and running around the park. The Wednesday evening concerts in the summer are good and bring out large crowds. Arrive early to park and claim your picnic space! On the Hartford side of the park, across Prospect Ave, there is a good playground and a steep hill for sledding in the winter. The Pond House restaurant has fine dining. We've enjoyed special occasion dinners there and attended several banquets there. The ice cream shack seems to have unpredictable hours, and often the kids are disappointed that it is closed.