Programs

  • Program 1 [2018]

    ENTERTAINMENT AND EVENTS: Riverfront Recapture offers family-friendly entertainment in the parks, ranging from cultural performances and festivals to sporting events. Riverfront Recapture produces many events such as Fireworks, the Dragon Boat and Asian Festival and numerous small concerts and arts events. Riverfront also collaborates with other organizations to present a diverse schedule of events such as the Taste of the Caribbean, which is a festival of food, music and dance. A new event last year, the Hartbeat Music Festival was a day-long celebration of local musicians. All of these events are free to attend and in 2018, these activities attracted over 50,000 visitors to the Riverfront.
    Geographies
    Not indicated
    Dates
    Jan 1, 2018 – Dec 31, 2018
    Source
    990
    No causes provided
    No populations provided
    –
    $488.4K

  • Program 2 [2018]

    RECREATION AND OUTDOOR ADVENTURES: These activities range from structured programs such as the Community Rowing program to more passive activities like walks. The parks, on both banks of the Connecticut River in Harford and East Hartford, and the river, provide venues for a variety of land and water recreation. The Community Rowing program serves adults and students from "learn to row" to Masters experience levels. The season culminates in the annual Head of the Riverfront Regatta which attracted 2,900 participants plus 6,000 spectators in 2018, placing it in the top ten one-day regattas in the U.S. Riverside Park is home base for the Riverfront Adventure program which includes a ropes course and dragon boating. A majority of the participants are youth groups, but companies also come out for team-building experiences. Riverfront encourages general use of the parks for picknicking, running, walking, bird watching, and bicycling, etc. and is available for charity walks and 5K runs. The athletic fields' uses include softball, cricket, volleyball and Pop Warner football. 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 from grants. All of these activities, combined with daily park usage attracted 698,000 people in 2018.
    Geographies
    Not indicated
    Dates
    Jan 1, 2018 – Dec 31, 2018
    Source
    990
    No causes provided
    No populations provided
    –
    $910.3K

  • Program 3 [2018]

    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 the extension of the riverwalk north of the Boathouse. The City of Hartford will manage the project and has identified the firm to provide design and permitting. Construction of this extension is expected to be completed in 2020. This new stretch of riverwalk will end at the boundary of private land at the Hartford/Windsor line. Riverfront is in the process of purchasing this property after completing environmental testing and assembling funding in 2018. The new property will allow for the uninterrupted connection of riverwalk from Charter Oak Landing in Hartford to the Windsor Riverwalk and beyond. The large 80 acre parcel will also provide opportunities for many other activities that will make this location a key attraction on the riverfront. Beginning in 2017, Riverfront Recapture took over the responsibility for park maintenance from the Metropolitan District Commission. Volunteers are increasingly important in maintaining the current 148-acre park system. In 2018, 1,864 volunteers worked on various projects to clean up and beautify the parks as well as assist with some of the events. Riverfront manages the parks for the City of Hartford and Town of East Hartford. The municipalities are connected by walkways on the Founders and Charter Oak Bridges. 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, in addition to creating a secure environment for park visitors. Rangers are responsible for opening and closing the parks on a daily basis 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, and enforce park rules.
    Geographies
    Not indicated
    Dates
    Jan 1, 2018 – Dec 31, 2018
    Source
    990
    No causes provided
    No populations provided
    –
    $1.5M