Riverfront Recapture formed in 1981 as a private-public effort to reconnect Hartford and East Hartford to the river, making the region a better place to live, work, and play. We constructed three and renovated one waterfront parks, all within the dike flood control system. Master planning for our fifth riverfront park is complete, and environmental remediation of the site, along with Garmany Cove expansion, is underway. Connected by a series of paved and unpaved walkways, a 2.5-mile segment is in the works with new connections from our Boathouse to Windsor Meadows State Park and nearby Keney Park, resulting in 6.76-miles of riverwalks along 5.87-miles of the Connecticut River shoreline and expanding our property oversight from 148 to 304 acres. Construction funding is in place for the riverwalk with plans and permits submitted some time ago. We expect approval progress in 2026 on permits submitted for two of the three sections. 

 

Our regional park system enhances quality of life in the MetroHartford region by providing opportunities for people to enjoy the great outdoors along the river as well as to the arts. Public sculptures are on display in our parks year-round, with an online narrated tour of the 16-Lincoln Financial Sculpture Walk sculptures. Each summer, we hold numerous free public concerts, performances, and cultural festivals, thanks to many supporters. Fee-based recreational opportunities include our Riverfront Community Rowing program and dragon boating. As a community feature and alluring destination, we have helped make the Hartford region attractive to many current and prospective residents and employees. 

 

Over the past 25 years, we have welcomed 19.86 million people into our regional park system, averaging 902,647 people each year.

Birdies for Charity donations will be directed to the Riverfront Endow Hartford 21 Fund at Greater Hartford Gives Foundation. The endowment provides an annual general operations grant to Riverfront.