Congressman John B. Larson and U.S. Senators Joseph Lieberman and Chris Dodd formally announced Friday they have proposed federal legislation to designate Hartford’s Coltsville neighborhood a national park.
“I am proud to announce we are closing in on our goal of establishing Coltsville as a National Park and honoring the legacies of Colt Firearms and the Colt Family,” Larson, D-1st District, said in a statement issued following a press conference on Coltsville’s grounds.
All three lawmakers said creating a national park will boost the Hartford and regional economy through tourism and jobs.
Last December, the U.S. Park Service rejected an application filed on Coltsville’s behalf to make it a national park. The park service panel that reviewed the application agreed Coltsville has national significance and is worthy of being a national park.
The bill would permit Interior Secretary Ken Salazar to designate Coltsville a national park, but only once the city, the site’s owner, California-based Urban Smart Growth, and other related parties settle on a development proposal for the 260-acre site.
