Riverfront Recapture Inc

RIVERFRONT RECAPTURE IS RESPONSIBLE FOR MANAGING THE RIVERFRONT PARK SYSTEM THAT SPANS HARTFORD AND EAST HARTFORD. THIS INCLUDES SEVERAL FUNCTIONS FROM DEVELOPMENT OF THE PARKS, PROGRAMMING ENTERTAINMENT AND ACTIVITIES FOR ALL AGES, AND COORDINATION OF THE PARK MAINTENANCE AND RANGER SERVICES. IN 2022, MORE THAN 780,000 VISITORS ENJOYED THE RIVERFRONT'S MANY OFFERINGS.

ENTERTAINMENT AND EVENTS: RIVERFRONT RECAPTURE OFFERS FAMILY-FRIENDLY ENTERTAINMENT IN THE PARKS, RANGING FROM CULTURAL PERFORMANCES TO CONCERTS AND FESTIVALS. RIVERFRONT RECAPTURE PRODUCES MANY EVENTS, SUCH AS THE RIVERFRONT FOOD TRUCK FESTIVAL, ASIAN FESTIVAL, AND NUMEROUS MUSIC, DANCE, AND ARTS EVENTS. RIVERFRONT ALSO COLLABORATES WITH OTHER ORGANIZATIONS TO PRESENT A DIVERSE SCHEDULE OF EVENTS, SUCH AS THE TASTE OF THE CARIBBEAN, WHICH CELEBRATES CARIBBEAN CULTURE, MUSIC, DANCE, AND FOOD. RIVERFRONT BROUGHT MORE THAN 30 LOCAL/REGIONAL MUSICIANS TO PERFORM AT THE HARTBEAT MUSIC FESTIVAL, AN ANNUAL CELEBRATION OF MUSIC THAT HAS BECOME A SIGNATURE EVENT. ONE HUNDRED FORTY-TWO FREE PUBLIC EVENTS WERE HELD IN 2022, ATTRACTING 50,000 VISITORS TO THE RIVERFRONT.

RECREATION AND OUTDOOR ADVENTURES: 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, BIRD-WATCHING, RUNNING, BIKING, SNOWSHOEING, FISHING, AND MORE, AND ORGANIZED GROUP ACTIVITIES, INCLUDING CRICKET, VOLLEYBALL, AND 5KS. RIVERFRONT RECAPTURE'S COMMUNITY ROWING PROGRAM, OPERATED OUT OF THE BOATHOUSE IN RIVERSIDE PARK, OFFERS CLASSES TO YOUTH AND ADULTS OF ALL SKILL LEVELES, FROM LEARN TO ROW, TO MASTERS RACING TEAMS, BOTH ON WATER, AND INDOOR DURING THE WINTER. THE FALL ROWING SEASON CULMINATES WITH THE ANNUAL HEAD OF THE RIVERFRONT REGATTA, WHICH ATTRACTED 10,000 PARTICIPANTS AND SPECTATORS IN 2022. THE RIVERFRONT ADVENTURE PROGRAM, WHICH INCLUDES A ROPES COURSE AND DRAGON BOATING, RETURNED AFTER A COVID-HIATUS. THE ROPES COURSE ACTIVITIES RETURNED IN 2022, AND DRAGON BOATING EXPANDED WITH THE RETURN OF THE ANNUAL DRAGON BOAT RACE, WHICH ATTRACTED 50 TEAMS IN ITS FIRST YEAR BACK. PUBLIC BOATING IS POSSIBLE FROM THREE BOAT LAUNCHES. RIVERFRONT PARTNERS WITH A NUMBER OF SCHOOLS AND GROUPS FOR ALL OF 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 740,000 PEOPLE IN 2022.

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. THE CITY OF HARTFORD IS MANAGING THE PROJECT WITH A FIRM PROVIDING DESIGN AND PERMITTING SERVICES. 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 IS UNDERWAY TO ADD UNIQUE FEATURES ALONG THE RIVERWALK TO ADD EXHIBITRY AND ART TO TELL THE STORY OF THE RIVERFRONT. THIS NEW STRETCH OF RIVERWALK WILL END AT THE BOUNDARY OF LAND AT THE HARTFORD/WINDSOR LINE THAT RIVERFRONT PURCHASED THROUGH A SEPARATE 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, WERE SECURED IN 2021 AND 2022 PRIMARILY FOR THE PROPERTY'S ENVIRONMENTAL REMEDIATION, WHICH WILL BEGIN IN 2023. THE OTHER MAJOR ONGOING PROJECT IS A SERIES OF IMPROVEMENTS TO GREAT RIVER PARK IN EAST HARTFORD. 2022 WAS SPENT PRIMARILY IN THE DESIGN AND PERMITTING PHASE AND FUNDRAISING FOR ADDITIONAL IMPROVEMENTS TO ADDRESS EROSION CONCERNS. BEGINNING IN 2017, RIVERFRONT RECAPTURE TOOK OVER THE RESPONSIBILITY FOR PARK MAINTENANCE FROM THE METROPOLITAN DISTRICT COMMISSION. 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, AND 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.