Hubbard Park (Montpelier, Vermont) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Hubbard Park |
|
|---|---|
.jpg)
Hubbard Park Tower
|
|
| Location | City of Montpelier, Vermont |
| Area | 194 acres (79 ha) |
| Created | 1899 |
| Designer | Park designed by: Dana F. Dow, ASLA, Tower design by: Harry Morton Cutler |
| Operated by | City of Montpelier, Parks and Trees Department |
| Website | Hubbard Park |
Hubbard Park is a big park in Montpelier, Vermont. It covers about 194 acres, which is like 194 football fields! You can find it just north of the Vermont State House.
The park has lots of fun things to do. There are about 7 miles of trails for hiking and skiing. You can also find a soccer and ball field, picnic spots, and a hill perfect for sledding in winter. The park also has seven fireplaces and two covered picnic areas. A special part of the park is its historic 54-foot tall observation tower. This tower was built between 1915 and 1930. It is so important that it was added to the Vermont State Historic Register in 1990. It also became part of the National Register of Historic Places in 2018.
Contents
History of Hubbard Park
The land where Hubbard Park now sits has a long history. In 1781, Colonel Jacob Davis, a soldier from the Continental Army, got the official charter for Montpelier. This included the park's land. Later, the land was passed down to his son, Thomas. In 1815, Thomas gave the land to two local business owners, Capt. Timothy Hubbard and Erastus Hubbard. Eventually, Erastus's son, John Erastus Hubbard, owned the land.
Hubbard Park officially started in 1899. John Erastus Hubbard (1847–1899) gave 134 acres of land, known as "Hubbard Hill," to the City of Montpelier. He wanted to "preserve wilderness" for people in the future. Before it became a park, much of this land was cleared for animals to graze.
After Hubbard's gift, the city created a Park Commission. This group planned how the park would look and be used. In 1907, Dana F. Dow was hired to design the park. He wanted to keep the land natural. He planned roads that followed the land's curves and suggested planting new trees. Dow also thought an observation tower should be built at the highest point of the park.
.jpg)
The road to the top of the hill was built in 1910. In the 1920s, many red pine trees were planted on the hillside behind the Vermont State House. By the 1960s, these trees grew tall and blocked the view of the State House from the tower.
From 1933 to 1936, the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) helped improve the park. The CCC was a program during the New Deal that put people to work. They made the park more enjoyable without changing its natural beauty too much. They fixed roads, planted new trees, and cleared away brush to prevent fires. All the inner roads were made better. Hubbard Park Drive was improved so people could easily get to the park from different parts of Montpelier. A new trail for horses was also built, allowing visitors to explore the whole park. They planted 3,000 Norway spruce and 1,000 red pine trees. The park's seven fireplace picnic area and a sledding hill were also added. In total, they cleared 20 acres of woodlands, replanted 7 acres, and built or improved 4 miles of roads.
In the late 1960s, a youth group added a nature trail. A special grant helped build a shelter, barbecue grills, picnic areas, and a field for softball or soccer. In 1985, a fitness trail with obstacles was added for visitors to use.
Over the years, more land has been given to the park. In 1990, the Heney family donated 50 acres. In 1995, nine more acres were added with help from the Vermont Housing & Conservation Board. These additions helped connect Hubbard Park's trails to other nearby parks and the North Branch Nature Center.
The Observation Tower
In 1908, Dana F. Dow suggested building an observation tower at the park's highest point. This spot was owned by Jesse S. Viles, who agreed with the idea. In 1911, Viles gave this land to the park.
Dow wanted the tower to offer great views of the State House and the area around it. He also wanted the tower to be seen from downtown Montpelier. This would make people want to hike up to the top. He said, "People enjoy the fun of climbing a tower to get the view."
The road to the top was finished in 1911, and the tower's construction began in 1915. The first donation of $500 helped prepare the foundation. Harry Morton Cutler, a park commissioner and architect, designed the tower. He worked as the treasurer for the National Life Group in Montpelier.
The tower was built slowly, a few weeks each year, by John Miglierini and his crew. They gathered stones from old walls and fences nearby. These old stone fences can still be seen in the park today. The tower was finished in 1930 and cost about $8,000. The flat area inside the tower was added later. Many people think the top of the tower looks unfinished, but its uneven shape was planned to look like an old medieval ruin.
In 1990, the tower was repaired to keep it safe. The iron stairs, which were 50 years old, were replaced. In the summer of 2009, the tower was closed for a big restoration. Workers fixed the stone walls inside and out. The metal stairway was cleaned and repainted with rust-resistant paint.
Park Features
Old Shelter Pavilion
The Old Shelter Pavilion is near the park's main entrance on a large grassy hill. It offers a beautiful view of the surrounding hills. Next to it is a field for soccer or softball and a small parking area. In winter, this hill is a popular spot for sledding. The Old Shelter Pavilion has barbecue grills, picnic tables, a drinking fountain, and a composting toilet.
New Shelter Pavilion
The New Shelter Pavilion was built to be easy for everyone to use, including those with disabilities. It has a grassy lawn for games, picnic tables, a small parking area, barbecue grills, a water fountain, and a composting toilet.
Seven Fireplaces
Near the middle of Hubbard Park are the Seven Fireplaces. This area is perfect for barbecues and picnics. It has fireplaces and grills for campfires and outdoor cooking. Trails from here lead to the North Branch Nature Center and to Hubbard Park's Fitness Trails.
Tower
The 52-foot tower is at the highest point of the park. It offers a beautiful view of the mountains around it. While trees now block some of the view of downtown Montpelier, you can still see several mountain ranges from the top. At the base of the tower, there are picnic tables and benches. There is also a large grassy field. Fruit and nut trees are planted around the tower to attract wildlife.
The tower stands on a concrete slab that forms a three-foot-wide terrace around it. A low stone wall surrounds this terrace. The tower's walls are very thick at the bottom (5 feet) and get thinner as they go up. The top part of the wall, called the parapet, is designed to look like an old ruin. A stone seat is built into one corner of the observation deck.
Pond
Hubbard Park also has a small pond that was made by people. It is near the main entrance.
Trails
Hubbard Park has many trails that are great for walking, hiking, jogging, and running. In the winter, these trails are used for cross-country skiing and snowshoeing. There are about 7 miles of trails throughout the park.
Events and Activities
The All Species Day Parade is an annual spring celebration. It traditionally gathers at the soccer field in Hubbard Park at noon on the first Sunday of May since 1989. At 1:00 PM, the parade starts from the Winter Street park entrance and goes to the Vermont State House.
Since 2018, the annual Parkapalooza music festival series has been held in the park. It takes place on the third Saturday of each month from June through September.
