Suburban Park (Farmington, CT)

Exploring the Abandoned Ruins of Suburban Park in Farmington, Connecticut

Hidden within the quiet neighborhood of Unionville Village in Farmington, Connecticut, lie the fascinating remnants of Suburban Park, also known as Rainbow Park. Once a lively turn-of-the-century amusement destination, the park’s ruins now rest quietly beneath the trees — a forgotten chapter of Connecticut’s golden age of trolleys and recreation.

A Trolley Park is Born

Suburban Park was established in 1895 by the Farmington Street Railway Company, part of a nationwide trend of “trolley parks” — amusement areas built at the end of streetcar lines to encourage weekend ridership.

For just 15 cents, visitors from Hartford could travel the one hour and fifteen minutes to Unionville and spend the day at the park, which officially opened to great fanfare on Memorial Day, 1895. The event was heavily promoted by The Hartford Courant, which helped draw crowds eager to experience Connecticut’s newest leisure destination.

Spanning 35 acres, the park was a masterpiece of Victorian design and natural beauty. Visitors entered from the western side, climbing wooden stairs that led to a grand dance pavilion atop a small hill.

The grounds featured manicured lawns, winding canals, and a scenic dam that created reflective ponds. Japanese lanterns were strung from trees, illuminating the park’s shaded walkways and giving it a romantic, festival-like atmosphere.

A Day at the Park

Suburban Park offered a diverse range of entertainment — far beyond the rides one might expect from an amusement park.

Visitors could enjoy:

• 🎶 Live music and dancing in the large pavilion
• 🎠 Games and swings, including chair and rope swings
• 🍦 Ice cream parlors and cafes serving local favorites
• 🏏 Polo matches and baseball games on the open fields
• 🎨 Photography studios and shaded gardens perfect for strolling

The park was a popular venue for Sunday School picnics, factory outings, and community events hosted by groups like The Courant’s Fresh Air Fund, Good Will Boys, and The Friday Eve Club.

Suburban Park was both an escape and a gathering place — a symbol of simple, wholesome recreation at the dawn of the 20th century.

Decline and Closure

Despite its initial success, Suburban Park’s popularity was short-lived. By 1905, changing economic conditions and declining ridership led to its closure. The reduction in trolley service, coupled with higher fares, made travel less appealing.

Over the following decades, the land changed hands numerous times. During World War II, the site hosted one of Farmington’s airplane observation posts, reflecting its strategic hilltop location.

By the late 20th century, development pressures threatened what remained of the park. In 1999, a developer sought to excavate the property and build 50 homes. However, an overwhelming 85% of Farmington residents voted to preserve the land. Thanks to a joint effort between the Farmington Land Trust and Unionville Historical Society, the remaining 20.5 acres were purchased for $1.2 million, saving the site from destruction.

Rediscovery and Preservation

Today, Suburban Park has been reborn as a natural open space and local hiking area. The old trolley park is now a peaceful forested preserve with gentle trails, historical markers, and the quiet echoes of its past.

In 2019, Boy Scout Timothy Germano of Troop 170 completed an Eagle Scout project that revitalized the site. His work included:

• 🪧 Informational signs detailing the park’s history and attractions
• 🚶 Trail improvements to enhance accessibility
• 🏞️ A new entrance sign welcoming visitors to the preserved parkland

These additions have transformed Suburban Park into a living outdoor museum — a space where history and nature coexist.

For those seeking more insight into its past, the Unionville Museum features a dedicated exhibit on Suburban Park, complete with photographs, vintage clothing, and memorabilia from its 1895–1905 heyday.

Visiting the Ruins Today

Exploring Suburban Park is a serene experience, perfect for a quiet walk through history. The trails wind through old foundations, stone remnants, and traces of the park’s former canals and dams — subtle hints of what once was a bustling attraction.

• 📍 Address: Park Pond Place, Farmington, Connecticut
• 🌐 GPS Coordinates: 41.757333, -72.883222
• 🅿️ Parking: Available along Park Pond Place near the entrance archway. Additional free parking is located at Lions Memorial Park, which connects to Suburban Park via a short trail.
• ⏱ Trail Length: About 0.5 miles round trip
• 🌳 Difficulty: Easy
• 🕰 Hours: Open daily, sunrise to sunset

Quick Facts

• 🎡 Opened: 1895
• 🚋 Built By: Farmington Street Railway Company
• 🌳 Size: 35 acres (now 20.5 preserved)
• 💃 Main Attraction: Dance pavilion and Japanese lantern-lit gardens
• 🔒 Closed: 1905
• 🪧 Preserved As: Open space by Farmington Land Trust (1999)
• 📜 Modern Use: Nature preserve and historical site

Final Thoughts

The Suburban Park Ruins in Farmington, Connecticut, offer a rare glimpse into a forgotten era of leisure and community. What was once a vibrant trolley park filled with laughter and music has become a tranquil sanctuary for hikers, history lovers, and dreamers.

Walking its trails today, you can almost picture the lanterns glowing, the band playing, and families arriving by trolley to spend the day surrounded by nature and joy. Though the park’s laughter has faded, its spirit endures — quietly preserved in the woods of Unionville.