Panorama of Pulaski Park taken on May 5th, 2018 during the Northampton Pride Celebrations.
Photo Source: Claire Rand
Experience being in the park!
Pulaski Park Street View from Google Maps
Pulaski Park is located at 240 Main Street in Northampton, MA. Covering about one acre of land, Pulaski Park is situated in the city's central downtown district. It is one of the most prominent, well-frequented green spaces in Northampton.
In the newly redesigned Pulaski Park, there is plenty of open space for people to rest on benches and walk through the park. String lights are strung across this area that illuminate the park at night. Photo Source: Claire Rand
The park is well-frequented all year round, but in the spring and summer times, many Northampton residents enjoy coming to the park to enjoy the good weather. Photo Source: Claire Rand
Pulaski Park is often the center and gathering spot for many protests, celebrations and demonstrations. This photo was taken on May 5, 2018 during the Northampton Pride Celebration. Photo Source: Claire Rand
The string lights are seen in action here, and are nice new touch to the park. The lights keep the park illuminated so that the park remains accessible and available to all even in the evenings. Photo Source: Claire Rand
Here's what the park looks like as you walk past it on the street. The carefully designed lighting, seamless entrance from the street and inviting open space all help to make Pulaski Park a much loved place in downtown Northampton. Photo Source: Claire Rand
Pulaski park is frequented by a wide range of Northampton residents. Its open layout, convenient bike storage area, water fountain (with water spouts for both humans and pets!) and vicinity to other downtown building such as Memorial Hall in this photo, are just a few ways that make it a truly public space for all. Photo Source: Claire Rand
From across the street, Pulaski Park is visually marked by tall trees and surrounded by Memorial Hall on its left and the Academy of Music on its right. Not pictured in this photo is a convenient crosswalk that allows for direct access to the park from the other side of Main Street. Photo Source: Claire Rand
Next to one of the main pathways into the park is a rustic-looking sign that names this park as Pulaski Park. It is a new feature of the redesigned park, and beneath the sign is a plaque that denotes the park as city property and mentions its re-envisionment from 2013-2017 under the guidance of Northampton City mayor David Narkewicz. Photo Source: Claire Rand
This view gives you an idea of the layout of the park and the positioning of one section with another. The new design for the park was carefully arranged to flow smoothly from one section to another, and allows for patrons to see all around them from wherever they are in the park. Photo Source: Claire Rand
A stone memorial marks the memory of Brigadier General Casimir Pulaski, an American Revolutionary War hero. Hailing from Poland, he played an instrumental part in the fight against the British and helped to secure American freedom. He is honored at this park, and is a significant figure in Polish-American communities across the country. Photo Source: Claire Rand
This is the innovative bioswale, or stormwater system that is lined with native plants that historically lined the Mill River when it used to flow through the city center. This photo doesn't do it justice, but the system is designed to allow rainfall to flow through and be purified naturally before entering the Connecticut River. It is an important piece of both the sustainability the designers wanted to protect within the park, and a nod towards local environmental history. Photo Source: Claire Rand
This is the view from the main deck seating area that divides the park in two. It overlooks a grassy field area, which is a new feature of the park as the park used to have a concrete center with a large tree in the middle that was put in during its last 1976 renovation. Photo Source: Claire Rand
This is the woodland walking paths area that was specifically designed to bring some of the local flora into the park space. This photo was taken before spring had arrived, but in the spring and summer it is a shady, vegetation filled spot of the park. Photo Source: Claire Rand
Towards the park's right side is an area for children to climb and play in, which was designed to have natural elements for play structures. This was a design choice that came out of the three public meetings the designers held to understand what local residents wanted from the redesigned park. This photo also shows a wooden stage area overlooking the grassy section which allows for a variety of performances, protests and demonstrations to occur in the park. Photo Source: Claire Rand
This photo shows the back end of the park as it overlooks the Roundhouse Plaza below. Before the redesign, the back of the park and especially the stairs down to the parking lot below, was dark, treacherous and as a result hardly ever visited. Now, the park has both a nice concrete staircase and wheelchair accessible ramp down. Photo Source: Claire Rand
In this edition of Mayor's Report, Northampton, MA mayor David Narkewicz interviews the designers for the 2016 renovation of Pulaski Park. They discuss what will become the 9 year long process from design conception to re-opening of the park, and the challenges that were had involving funding construction.
This video gives a brief overview of General Casimir Pulaski's life and legacy.
This is a video of the Oct. 12th, 2015 Gen. Casimir Pulaski Celebration in Northampton, MA. In the video, Northampton City Mayor David Narkewicz names October 12th as Pulaski Day in Northampton.
Photo from August 22, 1972 with the caption of: Kevin McDonald prepares to make an announcement at a weekly concert in Pulaski Park. This clipping is referring to the Thursday night rock concert series which was organized by Kevin J. McDonald and attended mostly by young people. The clipping states that the series started two months prior to this photo, in June, 1972.
Photo from August 10, 1973 of attendees of the Young People's Concert program with the caption of: Young people from two to twenty make up much of the audience of the Thursday night young people's concerts in Pulaski Park, sponsored by the city Youth Commission. This tiny listener appears more interested in the popsicle she is sharing with her mother than the music.
Photo from July 3, 1976 with the caption of: Pulaski Park in downtown Northampton, named for Brig. Gen. Casimir Pulaski, Polish-American hero of the American Revolution, has been rededicated during this bicentennial period after the park underwent a $47,000 facelift financed by a state bicentennial grant and matching city funds.
Photo from December 1, 1976 with the caption of: Santa's toy shop and post office in downtown Northampton's Pulaski Park was back in business Tuesday just 24 hours after vandals had smashed windows in the Christmas display. The Chamber of Commerce is offering a reward for information on the incident.
Photo from May 11, 1982 with the caption of: Dennis Pekkala, left, and Dan Crawford were among the dozen Honor Court members who raked and swept Pulaski Park last Friday and carted away a truckload of trash. "We take pride in doing this," said William P. Nagle Sr., who directs the program for recovering alcoholics. (Photo by Richard Carpenter)
Photo from May 13, 1982 with the caption of: With the arrival of spring, there seems to be a little extra time...time to have some ice cream, soak up the sun...or stroll over to Pulaski Park - and strike up a conversation with the folks who rushed by you on the city's streets during those long months of winter. (Photo by Richard Carpenter)
Photo from April 2, 1984 with the caption of: Spring has returned, and city residents flocked outdoors to enjoy the sun. These people in Pulaski Park yesterday found Memorial Hall windows a good place to rest. (Photo by Richard Carpenter)
Photo from July 23, 1984 with the caption of: A "celebration of peace and friendship" between the people of the United States, Central America and the Caribbean was held in Pulaski Park Saturday despite the rain. Various events illustrating the cultures of the Central American and Caribbean nations were held and money was raised to build a day-care center in El Salvador. (Photo Richard Carpenter)
Photo from April 23, 1985 of several protestors holding a banner that says "U.S. Hands Off Latin America AFSC Northampton Mass". The photo caption reads: Protestors against U.S. policy in Central America gathered in Pulaski Park yesterday to start a week-long series of vigils. (Photo by Gordon Daniels)
Photo from May 12, 1986 with the caption of: Sharon Smith and Luis Melendez dance to music played by Luis Rodriguez y su Conjunto Borinquen at the Mother's Day celebration sponsored by Casa Latina and held yesterday at Pulaski Park. (Photoby Richard Carpenter)
Photo from July 21, 1986 with the caption of: An estimated 1,000 people attended the "festival of the peoples of America" Saturday at Pulaski Park which featured music and information on a variety of domestic and foreign issues. Steven O'Halloran, an organizer, said that so far $800 has been raised, with $600 going to an after-school program at Florence Heights, and $200 for a health clinic in El Salvador. (Photo by Richard Carpenter)
Photo from July 13, 1988 with the caption of: A Nap-In to protest homelessness and related issues makes use of the grass in Pulaski Park. (Photograph by Jeff Holt)
Photo from July 3, 1990 with a description of the incident saying, "Until it was removed, a prank sign greeted pedestrians crossing Main Street to Pulaski Park this morning - a street sign that read "Sexual Tension, Mon.-Sun." with arrows pointing in both directions.
Photo from August 18, 1990 with the caption of: Rehearsing for the Notable Performances Theater Company's production of Meredith Wilson's "The Music Man" are, from left: Mia Lipman, Brett Gueguen, Amanda Horowitz and Lise Rasmussen. Joined by the Young at Heart Chorus and the Bridge Company, which works with the developmentally disabled, the show, directed by Holly Wolf, a Smith College Comstock scholar, will be staged from 3-5pm Aug. 25-26 in Pulaski Park. ..."
Photo from October 09, 1990 with the caption of: John Oiko, president of the Polish-American Congress of Western Massachusetts, salutes during the playing of taps at a ceremony in Pulaski Park yesterday. Participants paid tribute to Brig. Gen. Casimir Pulaski, a Revolutionary War hero. (Photograph by Chuck Thomas)
Photo from June 5, 1995 with the caption of: Anthony Musso goes airborne to clear stacked skateboards at Pulaski Park in a recent demonstration of skills.
Photo from September 25, 1995 describing a recent rise in number of teenagers who have run away from home and "[made the] city park their home".
All photos from the section 'Fun, Newsworthy Moments!' are from the Daily Hampshire Gazette. I accessed all of the photos, except for the photos of "Thursday Night Rock Concerts!" and "Youth and Music!" which were photos from the micro-film collection at Forbes Library, from Historic Northampton in Northampton, MA.
