Recapturing the Park River 

South branch of the Park River in Hartford from the Hamilton St. Bridge

Large portions of the Hartford’s Park River have been buried and its banks made of concrete that follow the cities streets and freeways. But now, slowly the Park River is making a comeback owing to a number of initiatives supported by the Eastern Connecticut Resource Conservation & Development (RC&D) Council and a growing coalition of groups and individuals including NRCS that are underway to try to restore the Park River’s place as the backbone of Hartford’s neighborhoods. Work is already underway to begin development of a greenway and multi-use trail along the south branch of the river. The Eastern Connecticut RC&D Council received a grant from the Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection for the project and additional funds are being sought to add amenities to the trail and develop trail connections to other neighborhoods and towns.

Preservation efforts for the north branch of the Park River are also continuing. Through a grant from the Connecticut Rivers Alliance, the Eastern Connecticut RC&D Council is partnering with the Hartford Ecological Cities Project to develop a new website, http://www.ParkRiver.org, which will serve as a clearinghouse for Park River history, ecology, and ongoing projects.

With funding from the US Environmental Protection Agency, the Eastern Connecticut RC&D Council has completed two important publications about the Park River. The first is a vegetative management plan for the South Branch of the Park River. It includes a short history of this urban river; existing vegetation; and an assessment of the current vegetation, wildlife, and water quality. A management strategy for the streamside vegetation encourages planning based on existing assets, the introduction of site appropriate native plantings, and the control of invasive plant species.

The The South Branch of the Park River: Images of Transformation focuses on the history of Hartford as it relates to the South Branch of the Park River. This document discusses the history of settlement along the river, manufacturing history, flood control measures, and environmental and economic impacts. The conclusion of the report echoes the many voices in the Park River area, from those living adjacent to the river; community and environmental groups; to local, regional, and state governments.
Your contact is Elizabeth Rogers, NRCS RC&D coordinator, at 860-870-4942 ext. 105.