South End / Little Italy (Hartford, Connecticut)

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Before 1880 much of the south end of the city was farmland and pasture. The area around present-day Goodwin Park was part of the Great Swamp, once extending from just west of Wethersfield Avenue to the vicinity of present-day Cedar Hill Cemetery. Wethersfield and Fairfield avenues were the first two roads through the area.

The South End neighborhood grew rapidly after World War I, with the subdivision of land for development. The area along Franklin Avenue became known as Little Italy, with restaurants, bakeries, markets and social clubs. Many of these establishments remain today and the area is a favorite of city residents and visitors alike for shopping and dining.

In the late-1800's, Reverend Francis Goodwin, chairman of the Hartford Parks Commission, championed the cause of green spaces with his slogan, "More Parks for Hartford." South Park was developed in the southern end of the city and opened to the public around 1900. The following year, the parks commission renamed it Goodwin Park in recognition of Rev. Goodwin's service to the city. Today, Goodwin Park is comprised of 237 acres (85 of which sit in the town of Wethersfield), and offers a playground, community pool and 27-hole golf course.