Patch runs a weekly feature called Patch Picks, highlighting five choice local businesses, destinations, services, organizations, and more, hand-harvested by either us or you, the reader! You’ll find useful lists to help you, your family, friends, and significant others find the best places for everything from Sunday brunch to New Year’s Eve celebrations, pumpkin patches, date night destinations, florists, girlfriend nights out, kids’ party places, parks and more.
This week Patch Picks showcases parks in the region, offering hiking, swimming, splash pads and more.
Northwest Park
In Windsor, offers extensive walking trails, a nature center, playground, picnic tables and a barn with farm animals. There are 12 miles of trails in the park. Northwest Park is open daily, dawn to dusk and there is no admission charge. The Nature Center and Gift Shop are open Monday through Saturday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Call for Sunday hours.
145 Lang Road, Windsor, 860-285-1886, www.northwestpark.org
East Windsor Park
offers supervised swimming, outdoor grills, a snack bar, tennis and basketball courts and a pavilion that can be rented. The park is open daily from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Admission is $2 for residents, $4 for guests of residents, children younger than 2 and seniors 60 and older are free. Season passes are available for residents.
Reservoir Road, Broad Brook
Connor’s Place
A boundless playground in Somers, offers a climbing wall, sand area, playscapes for different ages, swings and a covered pavilion that is available to rent, at no cost for residents and a minimal fee for non-residents. There are nearby fields, including softball and baseball fields.
96 Field Road, Somers
Wolcott Park
has a playscape, picnic tables, a spray pad, tennis and basketball courts and athletic fields in West Hartford. The park is open from dawn until dusk, with free parking.
New Britain Avenue, West Hartford
My Friend’s Place
A boundless playground in South Windsor, My Friend’s Place has two main playscapes for different ages, as well as a sensory garden, swings and more. It is next to the Nevers Road Park, which includes athletic fields, and the South Windsor Bark Park also is nearby.
150 Nevers Road, South Windsor
