Community Corner

Hidden Gems Of Hartford And Tolland Counties

The latest Hidden Gem was actually called a Hidden Gem by two state leaders recently.

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Center Springs Park in Manchester with the foot bridge to the Cheney Historic District in the background.
Center Springs Park in Manchester with the foot bridge to the Cheney Historic District in the background. (Chris Dehnel/Patch)

MANCHESTER, CT — Talk about a Hidden Gem ... State Rep. Jason Doucette and Connecticut House Majority Leader Jason Rojas actually called Center Springs Park in Manchester that very thing at a public event last week.

And it certainly is.

Located at 38 Lodge Drive in Manchester, Center Springs Park might be hidden, but it also connects the Downtown area with the Cheney trail system. On a regional scale, one could even connect to Bolton Notch and eventually to Willimantic or Vernon via the park on foot or cycling.

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Outdoors hub aside, Center Springs Park offers one of the best sledding hills in north-central Connecticut, a easy walking loop, a pond for fishing and a soon-to-be renovated amphitheater.

It also features a gazebo, observation patio, picnic areas, Little League sized baseball field and a basketball court and one of Manchester Mayor Jay Moran's favorites — a disc golf course.

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State officials thought so much of it that $3 million is being invested in Center Springs Park for renovations via the State Bond Commission.

In all, the park measures 55.78 acres. The land was donated in 1915 by the Cheney and Hilliard families and the park was established six years later. The bridge to the Cheney trail system and the historic district is across the street from the main entrance.

The sledding hill at Center Springs Park (top) and the Lodge Street entrance. (Chris Dehnel/Patch)

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The Hidden Gems series features out-of-the-way mom and pop restaurants, small specialty stores you may have never heard of, little-known historical markers or beautiful nature spots that may be a bit off the beaten path, all located within Hartford and Tolland counties. Do you have a favorite "hidden gem" in the area that you wish to see featured in this column? Email your ideas to tim.jensen@patch.com.
Other columns in this series:
2022

2021 and earlier:

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