A Thriving Modern Community That Values Its History
A former farming town, Tolland was incorporated in 1715. Tolland was named by Money Magazine 2005 as the 29th best place to live in the United States and in 2009 the 27th best place to live in the United States. The Tolland Green serves as the town center and is now included as part of the national historic district. The District includes several attractions: the former Tolland County Courthouse, which now serves as the home of the French Canadian Genealogical Society of Connecticut, the Old County Jail and Museum, which has a treasure trove of historical material about Tolland and Tolland County's past, the Arts of Tolland Art Center which holds frequent fine art exhibits and displays, the Hicks-Stearns Family Museum and many vintage Victorian homes, including a historic Bed and Breakfast.
The Daniel Benton Homestead Museum on Metcalf Road is the town's oldest home and is said to be haunted by the ghosts of Revolutionary War soldiers.
Tolland also has a progressive and expanding park system. Crandall Park is the flagship park with over 400 acres providing a variety of active and passive recreational opportunities. Tennis and basketball courts, a seasonal swimming pool, play equipment, and open air pavilion that could be rented for events and ADA hiking and biking trails. There are 6 athletic fields at the Cross Farms Recreation area as well as an 18- hole disk golf course and outdoor fitness/exercise stations. Access to the Willimantic River can be found at Heron Cove Park, which hosts several athletic fields, a basketball court, hiking trails along the river and a canoe launch. The Crandall Park Lodge is a popular rental facility, available year round for special events, such as wedding receptions, company retreats and family events.
Major state properties include 1,000 acre Kohler Forest abutting the Willimantic River, a popular attraction for bikers, hikers and fly fishermen. The Nye-Holman State Forest also provides nice recreational opportunities including an outdoor archery range. Beautiful Shenipsit Lake is located on Tolland’s westerly border and provides opportunities for fishing and limited boating. Tolland also has many conservation areas with trails for hikers such as: Schindler-Schmidt, Campbell’s Peaceful Valley, Stoppleworth, Knofla, Weigold, King Riverside, Shafran and Parciak.
Enjoy evening concerts and events at the Hicks-Stearns Family Museum in the Art Center as well as special programs throughout the year put on by local groups, including a very popular Family Fun Run and 5K Road Race, a Sprint Triathlon, group bike rides, guided nature walks, youth sport tournaments and other seasonal special events.
A popular attraction in the summer/fall is the Farmer's Market which has held on the Town Green every Saturday between 9:00am and 12:00pm from the beginning of May through the end of November (weather permitting). Seasonal produce is offered.
Town Info
Tolland Town Hall:
21 Tolland Green
Tolland, CT 06084
Phone: 860.871.3600
Regional News
Strengthening our Region
In 2020, a plan for regional economic growth was created between the towns of Bolton, Coventry, Mansfield, and Tolland. Together, these towns will be able to transform the region. We will grow our local businesses and ensure that they flourish. We will connect with our partners at UConn and ECSU to connect students with rural New England. We will collaborate with our local artists and help expand local events to ensure our traditions carry on to the next generation. We will support our farmers and ensure that they thrive. Welcome to the 4 towns initiative, together we will make this a reality.
Colorful Sunset
photo credit: Nicole Damiata
Art & Agriculture, History & Huskies
Within Mansfield's rolling hills and river valleys are sixteen historic villages. The stonewalls throughout the town are reminiscent of Mansfield's agricultural past. In 1881, Charles and Augustus Storrs purchased an abandoned Civil War Orphanage and presented it, with funds, to the State of Connecticut to found an agricultural school. Over the next five decades, this school blossomed into the University of Connecticut, one of the largest employers in Eastern Connecticut and is among the top ranked public universities in the nation.
The Town of Mansfield owns and maintains over 2000 acres of parks, preserves, open space, and agricultural land providing the residents of the town and region with numerous hiking, kayaking, canoeing, walking and biking activities. Mansfield's parks and preserves range in size from 6 to 486 acres and offer trails wandering through woodland's, wetland's, river corridors, grasslands, rocky slopes, and scenic valley overlooks. Many of the Town's preserves connect with natural areas owned by other organizations, creating a tapestry of rural Connecticut preserved for generations. Free downloadable maps of Mansfield's Parks and Preserves are available online at www.mansfieldct.org/trail-guides.
Mansfield is home to a diverse business community, with locally-owned shops and restaurants and national brands found throughout town. Downtown Storrs is a vibrant, walkable neighborhood with over sixty businesses and attractions, municipal facilities, the UConn School of Fine Arts, and Betsy Paterson Square, where the Mansfield Downtown Partnership hosts events throughout the year. For a calendar of events and business directory, visit downtownstorrs.org.
Mansfield Hollow State Park is one mile east of Mansfield Center off Route 89. Activities include boating, fishing, hiking, field sports, picnicking and cross country skiing.
Wolf Rock and Nipmuck Trail - Along the south side of Browns Road and Crane Hill Road is Wolf Rock. Walking along the Nipmuck Trail through the deep shade of dense oak woods, one climbs a long granite escarpment that opens to a beautiful view of the valley of Sawmill Brook over a forty-foot cliff. Wolf Rock is a glacial boulder approximately two yards in diameter perched on the lip of the cliff. Follow the trail north to the Gurleyville Gristmill.
The Gurleyville Grist Mill is a 19th Century stone mill built at the site of a 1724 mill, in the historic village of Gurlyville. Groups may be hosted any day by appointment. Call Joshua’s Trust at 860-429-9023. There is no admission fee, but donations are welcomed and appreciated.
William Benton Museum of Art at the University of Connecticut, is open to the public. Current hours are:
Galleries, Visitor Services & Store
- Tuesday–Friday 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM
- Saturday & Sunday 1:00 PM – 4:00 PM
The Beanery Café
- Open Monday – Friday: 7:30 AM – 3:00 PM
For tour information please visit https://benton.uconn.edu/education/group-tours.
Mansfield Historical Society Museum and Library are located on route 195, one mile south of the University campus. Saturday and Sunday, 1:30 PM to 4:30 PM, from June through September and at other times by appointment. To make an appointment please call the museum at 860-429-6575.
Jorgensen Center for the Performing Arts at the University of Connecticut offers more than 40 performances from September through May. Jorgensen hosts professional touring attractions for every taste, ranging from Broadway musicals to symphony orchestras, recitals and chamber concerts, dance, opera, pop, country, jazz, cabaret, multicultural and children's events. Box office number: 860-486-4226.
Town Info
Mansfield Town Hall:
4 South Eagleville Road
Storrs/Mansfield, CT 06268
Phone: 860.429.3302
Things To Do
University of Connecticut Campus Tours - The Lodewick Visitors Center provides student-guided campus tours for prospective students and their families, group tours for high school students, and other specialty tours. Campus tours are offered year-round and are available most Mondays through Saturdays. The Lodewick Visitors Center is open Monday through Friday from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM, is open on Saturday from 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM, and is closed on major holidays. Call 860-486-4900 for more information.
Ballard Institute and Museum of Puppetry - Located in Downtown Storrs at 1 Royce Circle. Open Wednesday through Friday from 11:00 AM to 5:00 PM and Saturday and Sunday from 11:00 AM to 7:00 PM (closed Monday and Tuesday).
UConn Dairy Bar - The UConn Dairy Bar is located at 17 Manter Road on the UConn campus. Open daily from 11:00 AM to 7:00 PM. For more information call 860-486-1021.
Mansfield Community Center - Opened in 2003, our 38,000 sf Community Center has become a true health, fitness, educational, and recreational resource for the entire region. The facilities, programs, and staff are all focused on one thing - making your visit to the Center enjoyable, useful, and safe. The mission of the Mansfield Community Center is to provide area residents with a friendly and vibrant recreational facility, while promoting health and wellness, encouraging family activity, strengthening sense of community, and stimulating active living.
Community School of the Arts - The Community School of the Arts (CSA) has a long history of providing community based programs to the greater Mansfield area. The CSA began as the Community Music School (later renamed the Community School of the Arts) at the University of Connecticut (UConn). UConn administered the program for over 35 years, primarily at it’s Depot Campus in Storrs. In 2014 the University partnered with Mansfield Parks and Recreation to continue offering an array of high quality instruction in the arts. 2016 marked a new era for the CSA, as Mansfield Parks and Recreation began to independently administer the CSA program. The program maintained operations out of several facilities including UConn’s Music Building, the Mansfield Community Center, and E.O. Smith High School.
In the fall of 2019, the grand opening of Lenard Hall granted a very special new home to the CSA and all of its music, visual arts and performance instruction. Through the generosity of principal donors, John and Jean Lenard and others including the Jeffrey P. Ossen Family Foundation, the Lenard Hall facility was made possible. Mansfield Parks & Recreation is eager to continue to grow the program in its new location by expanding on the programs we offer.
The Town of Mansfield is host to a number of community events throughout the year, including:
- Memorial Day Parade (May)
- Pride Month (June)
- John E. Jackman Tour de Mansfield (June)
- Celebrate Mansfield Festival (September)
For information about these and other events in Mansfield, please visit mansfieldct.gov/discover.
