BUSHNELL PARK FOUNDATION KICKS OFF YEAR-LONG
CELEBRATION OF PARK’S 150^TH ANNIVERSARY 
WITH RE-ENACTMENT OF HISTORIC SPEECH

(HARTFORD, CT, January 2, 2004) . . . Hartford’s Bushnell Park turns 150 this year, and the Bushnell Park Foundation will mark the occasion with a year-long series of events and activities.  January 5^th, 1854 is the actual date on which Hartford citizens voted to use public funds to create the park. A re-enactment of Reverend Horace Bushnell’s historic appeal to the City Council, which took place prior to the vote, will take place at the Old State House City Council Chambers on January 5, 2004 at 11:00 a.m. 

The re-enactment will be performed by actor John McDonough, with the assistance of Hartford Mayor Eddie Perez. McDonough is a Connecticut resident who has been a frequent guest on Garrison Keillor's A Prairie Home Companion and was seen on the Fox Family Network for three seasons as Captain Kangaroo. 

Hartford was the first city in the nation to purchase land to create an urban park for its citizens. 

The Bushnell Park Foundation is collaborating with several Hartford institutions to mark this important milestone in the city’s history, including the Connecticut Historical Society Museum, Trinity College and the Wadsworth Museum of Art. A schedule of events and activities to occur in the coming year will be announced at the event.