Riverfront Recapture Inc

RECREATIONAL PROGRAMS: Riverfront Recapture's parks on both banks of the Connecticut River in Harford and East Hartford and the river provide various land and water recreation venues. Visitors to Riverfront Recapture parks participate in individual activities: walking, birdwatching, running, biking, snowshoeing, fishing, and more, and organized group activities, including free fitness programs such as yoga, cricket, and 5Ks. Riverfront Recapture's Community Rowing Program operates out of the Boathouse in Riverside Park, offering classes to youth and adults of all skill levels, from Learn to Row, to Masters Racing teams, both on water, and indoor during the winter. The fall rowing season culminates with our annual Head of the Riverfront Regatta, which attracted 12,000 participants and spectators in 2024. Dragon boating is a growing program with paddlers of various skill levels on the water throughout the season. Riverfront also hosts the annual Dragon Boat Race and Asian Festival. The race expanded to 70 teams in 2024, including local community and corporate participants as well as clubs from out of state. Public boating is possible from three boat launches. Riverfront partners with a number of schools and groups for our programs. Programs generally involve participant fees, but many youth programs are either free to participants or subsidized by grants. These activities and daily park usage attracted 900,000 people in 2024.

PARK MANAGEMENT AND DEVELOPMENT: Projects are underway to expand the park system north of the Boathouse to connect to the Windsor riverwalk. Funding was secured in 2017 for extending the riverwalk north of the Boathouse. Naming this stretch the "Joe Marfuggi Riverwalk" to honor the memory of Riverfront Recapture's former President & CEO, was authorized by the City of Hartford. A separate private fundraising campaign will fund unique features along the riverwalk to add exhibits to tell the history of the Riverfront. This new stretch of riverwalk will continue into Windsor across land at the Hartford/Windsor line that Riverfront purchased through a controlled entity, Riverfront Land, Inc. The new property will allow for the uninterrupted connection of riverwalk from Charter Oak Landing in Hartford to the Windsor Riverwalk and beyond. The parcel will also provide opportunities for many other activities and potential commercial development, making this location a key attraction on the Riverfront. Several large grants, State and Federal, have been secured since 2021 primarily for the property's environmental remediation, which will begin in 2025. The master plan for this future park was completed in 2024. The other major ongoing project is a series of improvements to Great River Park in East Hartford. 2024 was spent primarily in the design and permitting phase and construction is expected to begin in 2025. Beginning in 2017, Riverfront Recapture took over the responsibility for park maintenance from the Metropolitan District Commission, which continues to be the major funder. Most park maintenance, such as mowing, tree care, and other landscaping, is performed by subcontractors. Volunteers have been incorporated into the maintenance plan as companies are increasingly looking to engage employees on community projects. Riverfront manages the parks for the City of Hartford and the Town of East Hartford. Walkways on the Founders and Charter Oak Bridges connect the municipalities. The Riverfront has been a catalyst for economic investment with the development of hotels, a convention center, a science center, a dining/entertainment complex, and housing on adjacent land. Rangers provide hospitality and information and create a secure environment for park visitors. Rangers are responsible for opening and closing the parks daily throughout the year. Between May and October, the busy season for the parks, the Rangers have an increased presence. They provide information and directions to park visitors, assist with parking and boat launch activities, open and close the parks, and enforce park rules.