West Hartford Dog Park To Close As Crews Knock Down Old School

WEST HARTFORD, CT — The West Hartford Dog Park will temporarily close for about two weeks as demolition work moves forward at the former St. Brigid School property on Mayflower Street.

The town said the dog park will be closed from Monday, Sept. 14, through Monday, Sept. 28, while crews demolish the former school building at 100 Mayflower St.

If demolition proceeds on schedule, the walkway connecting the dog park with Beachland Park will reopen after the two-week closure.

Access from Mayflower Street, however, will remain closed longer.

The town said the Mayflower Street access road to the property is expected to remain closed for about another month and a half while the building is completely demolished, debris is trucked off-site, and dumpsters are emptied.

After demolition is completed, crews will begin restoring the site.

That work will include filling in the former building's foundation and restoring driveway access from Mayflower Street to the dog park.

The demolition is part of the town's redevelopment of the former St. Brigid School campus, an approximately 8.5-acre property the town purchased in 2021 for $3 million.

Plans call for the property to eventually become home to a new community and cultural center connected with neighboring Beachland Park.

The proposed complex is expected to bring several community services together at the site, including a relocated and expanded Elmwood Community Center, Elmwood Senior Center, teen center, and Faxon Branch Library.

The town said the temporary dog park closure is intended to keep visitors and their pets away from the active demolition area.

"Thank you for your patience and cooperation. Our goal is to keep you and your pets safe during construction," the town said.