Hartford Mayor Pedro E. Segarra says the Connecticut Bond Commission’s approval of $5 million for the Coltsville Historic District is another boost in Hartford’s efforts to win National Park designation for the South End site.
Obtaining national park status is part of a broad strategy championed by private, public, civic and cultural organizations and leaders to redevelop Coltsville as a historic, cultural and tourism attraction.
These include Samuel Colt’s residence Armsmear, the Colt armory’s 10 industrial buildings, former Colt worker housing, the Church of the Good Shepherd and Parish House, Colt Park and several other structures associated with Colt history.
The $5 million will come in the form of supplemental funding for the municipal open space grant-in-aid program, and will ensure that land acquired with the bond monies remain in open space and be accessible to the public.
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The bond commission approved the aid on Friday.
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“I am thrilled at the continued momentum toward achieving this objective, which reinforces our housing revitalization efforts in the area, not to mention the iQuilt partnership and our heightened focus on enhancing and promoting Hartford’s cultural assets,” Segarra said in a statement.
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Earlier this month, Segarra and Connecticut Congressman John E. Larson (D-1st District) testified to the Subcommittee on National Parks, Forests and Public Lands in Washington on behalf of Coltsville’s National Historic Park bid.
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In September, the pair toured the site with U.S. Interior Secretary Ken Salazar to Hartford.
