Hubbard Park is located on the edge of Meriden, just over the Meriden/Southington town line. According to the City of Meriden website, the park land covers 1,800 acres. There are playground areas and ponds but there are also hiking trails within the park.
Castle Craig
Caste Craig sits at the top of East Peak. The tower was given to the city of Meriden by Walter Hubbard of Bradley & Hubbard Manufacturing Company in 1900. The tower can be seen easily from I-691 East. There is a hiking trail from the bottom of the park to the peak. This trail is part of a larger trail, the Metacomet Trail. There is also a road to the top of the mountain, which is open from April to October. Castle Craig is the highest point on the East Coast that is within 25 miles of the shoreline. On a clear day, one can see Meriden, Hartford, the Berkshires in Massachusetts and even Long Island Sound. During the spring, one can see the daffodils from below. The summer showcases full trees while the fall paints a gorgeous picture of the changing leaves.
Seasonal Offerings
Spring - During the spring, Hubbard Park offers its annual Daffodil Festival. Here, 600,001 daffodils are in bloom and the public is welcome to visit the park. There are also amusements and crafts at the celebration. In 2009, the Festival will take place the weekend of April 25 - 26.
Summer - The main attractions to the park during the summer months are the Outdoor Summer Concerts and Castle Craig. Fireworks are displayed during the summer as well.
Autumn - As the air cools, this is the best time to visit Castle Craig. The foliage is gorgeous and the temperatures and humidity are moderate. While the pool is closed, the playscapes are still open and visitors are still welcome to feed the ducks.
Winter - During the winter, the park features its annual Festival of Silver Lights. In 2008, the festival will open on November 25th at 6pm and will be lit every night through the beginning of January. Visitors drive through the park and enjoy the display.
Directions
The park is located off Rte. 322 in Meriden, CT. For directions, use Googlemaps.com. Your intersections should be W. Main Street and Mirror Lake Drive in Meriden, CT. Using the default address Googlemaps has will potentially give you directions using a road through the park that is closed or has limited access.
