Joan Hartley

Hartley: Fulton Park Warming Hut Brought Back to Life

Senator Joan Hartley joins Waterbury elected officials and Fulton Park Conservancy members in a formal ribbon-cutting ceremony for Fulton Park’s newly renovated 3,000 square foot warming hut.

WATERBURY—State Senator Joan Hartley (D-Waterbury) along with Waterbury elected officials and community members today commemorated the completion of Fulton Park’s warming hut with a special ribbon-cutting ceremony. Nearly $1 million in renovations has been allocated to the warming hut project, transforming it from a storage space to a destination for community events.

Initially built sometime between 1917 and 1922 by the Olmsted brothers firm, the warming hut park served as a hub for skaters who used the park’s pond in the wintertime.

“The renovation of the warming hut is symbolic of this community’s dedication to revitalizing an urban park.” said Sen. Hartley. “This project is only one phase of a continuing initiative to fully restore this historic Olmstead park.”

“Fulton Park has a rich history in Waterbury with generations of residents, parents and children enjoying the many recreational options offered,” said State Representative Jeffrey Berger (D-Waterbury). “The Warming Hut renovation will serve to enhance the park and ensure that it remains the community center it has been for many years into the future. Thank you to the City of Waterbury and the army of community volunteers for their commitment of time and energy in restoring this city gem.”

“The restoration of the Warming Hut at Fulton Park is another step in returning this park, the crown jewel of the Waterbury Parks System, to its original splendor” said Mayor Neil O’Leary. “I can’t say enough about the hard work of Cathy Smith, the Fulton Park Conservancy President and all our stakeholders in this project. I thank our legislative delegation in Hartford, especially Senator Hartley, and all who were involved in this worthwhile project. This building is more beautiful than we could ever have imagined.”

The newly renovated 3,000 square foot warming hut includes new plumbing, heating and electrical systems, insulated interior wood stud and bead board partitions, and a concession area that was made into a kitchen for caterers.