Annual McCarthy Park Cleanup a Huge Success

McCarthy Park, Middletown's downtown park, enjoyed another annual scrubbing today. The path from High Street to the park was raked and re-mulched; the sidewalk along Hotchkiss Street was edged and swept; the earth around the new London plane trees was raked and de-stoned; the McCarthy Park sign was cleaned off; and the tennis/basketball court was swept and raked and cleared of broken glass and plastic etc. And to make it all worthwhile, the Friends of McCarthy Park brought donut holes, super chewy gluten-free cookies, cider donuts, coffee, apples, watermelon, and apple cider. A great time was had by all.

A special thanks to the Wesleyan Frisbee Team, who came out in force to help McCarthy Park neighbors. If you ever want to watch some awesome frisbee action, come down to the park and watch these kids get horizontal! They practice several times a week.



Don't forget: Tomorrow is Halloween! (As if!) Kick off your fright-filled day with an afternoon of trick-or-treating at McCarthy Park. Join community members and enjoy spooky activities, gooey treats, refreshments, music, and much more! Show off your scariest costume and meet neighbors at Middletown’s largest downtown park. All ages welcome, and stay as long as you’d like! The Public Cultures Sociology class at Wesleyan University is hosting this event to celebrate Halloween, bring awareness to McCarthy Park, and promote a sense of community among Wesleyan students and the greater Middletown area.

McCarthy Park Gets Trees

Things are happening at McCarthy Park, which is known to many as City School Field. A group of neighbors have been working for many years securing funds from the Middlesex County Community Foundation and Community Development Block Grants to improve the quality and accessibility of the park. In a previous round, the handicapped-accessible ramp was rebuilt; and extensive improvements were made to the landscaping and drainage between the two levels of the park. This round has seen the resurfacing of the tennis and basketball courts, and the installation of a swing set. The swings have already attracted young parents and youngsters to the park. Most recently, this past Wednesday, four "London plane" trees (similar to sycamores) were planted along the edge of the park, by Hotchkiss Street. A special thanks to Ken Ahnell of Middlesex Alternatives to Incarceration for providing equipment and volunteers.

Here is a slide show of the planting.



Stay tuned for bike racks, benches, and some nicer fencing along the edges. But no need to wait for these—come on over and bring a ball! Many thanks on all these fronts to Middletown’s Park and Rec Department and to Michiel Wackers of the Planning Department.

[Information and photos for this story provided by John Elmore and Jennifer Saines. Full disclosure: I am Jennifer's spouse.]

McCarthy Park Clean-Up

A clean up day is planned for Middletown's McCarthy Park this Saturday, April
25th from 9 AM to 1 PM.  Middletown's Park and Recreation Department will help
out by providing bags and hauling away garbage and brush.  Aside from the
general clipping and cleaning we hope to spread wood chips on the path, spread
topsoil  and seed some bare areas, and sweep the courts.  Please come and
help out if you can!  Bring gloves, clippers, rakes and large brooms if
you have them.

McCarthy Park is located on Hotchkiss St.  The park can also be accessed from an
entrance on High St., between Loveland St. and Church St.  It used to be know as
"City School Field".

Snow scenes from McCarthy Park

From the only park in downtown Middletown, courtesy of Fred Elmore.

McCarthy Park: A Hidden Gem

Story by Fred Elmore


Members of the Friends of McCarthy Park, the City of Middletown and the Parks Department, along with many generous vendors and volunteers, pushed hard this summer to complete additional improvements at the park with funding from a Community Development Block Grant. In the past few years, small grants were used for significant changes: a pathway from High Street between Church Street and Loveland Street was created, trees and crocuses planted, five engraved park benches were purchased, and park signs were installed to inform people of the park’s history and that this hidden green space existed.

(Overgrown courts before)










(New courts)





Soon after the signs had been put in place several years ago, the neighborhood saw a significant increase in park use, with families coming for soccer and volleyball games and neighbors taking walks and relaxing there. But as a group of children from Church Street complained, “The sign says that there is a park here, but when you get here, there is nothing to do.”

Well, now that is beginning to change. I went there this weekend with four children to try out the new basketball net and tennis court. When we arrived, the park was already lively with Wesleyan students who were flocking through an additional new park access behind Wes Wings for an ultimate Frisbee game. The slope from the courts to the lower field had been terraced and seeded, and though folks probably should stay off it till the grass is tougher, it was a delight to see the foot and bicycle traffic. The children looked at the new slope and exclaimed that it would be great for sledding this winter.

We walked from Hotchkiss Street up a new path/ramp to the courts with a couple of balls and racquets. We were so excited to see the courts ready for use, cleaned of the usual debris, weeds, and overgrowth (much poison ivy), and the cracks repaired and resurfaced. The girls actually kicked off their shoes to play tennis barefoot, while my son and I tried out the basketball net. First shot-- swish! What a thrill. Within minutes, neighborhood children began appearing and within an hour my kids met five new children, two more adult friends showed up, and we all had a blast -- it was amazing.

I have been living in the neighborhood for over ten years, and this was the first time I really felt like the park was succeeding in a way that I remember the parks of my youth. Though more improvements are needed, I feel the park is really turning a corner.

McCarthy Park is located between Hotchkiss Street and High Street, south of Church Street.

See you at the park!