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Hartford committee backs $636,000 port grant to replace riverfront docks, sends measure to full council
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Summary
The committee recommended that the full Hartford City Council accept an $636,000 Connecticut Port Authority Small Harbor Improvement Program grant to repair floating docks at Riverside Park and Mortenson Riverfront Plaza; Riverfront Recapture said a roughly $159,000 local match is required and most of that funding is secured.
On Oct. 22, 2025, the Hartford Public Works, Parks, Recreation & Environment Committee voted to send to the full City Council a mayoral resolution authorizing the city to accept a Connecticut Port Authority Small Harbor Improvement Program grant to repair and replace floating docks at Riverside Park and Mortenson Riverfront Plaza.
Riverfront Recapture president and CEO Mike Zaleski told the committee the grant is an important partnership for the city and the region and said the riverfront parks draw large audiences: "We attract almost 1000000 people per year to our riverfront parks for our events, programs, and other activities." He said the award will allow Riverfront Recapture and the city to address aging dock infrastructure and continue public access to the river.
The grant is an 80/20 award from the Connecticut Port Authority Small Harbor Improvement Project program. Riverfront staff said the committee-awarded portion to the city is $636,000 and that a local 20% match of about $159,000 will be required; Riverfront Recapture has already spent "a little over $50,000" on initial engineering, permitting and studies and said it has the majority of the match secured. The transcript includes inconsistent numeric formatting; committee materials and the Port Authority contract will provide the authoritative project budget and match requirements.
Mark, Riverfront Recapture's director of park planning and development, described the current floating-dock system as past its expected lifespan (installed at various docks between about 1999 and 2007) and said the work will prioritize accessibility and repairs to power and lighting as well as dock replacement. He said the likely approach is to "lower the freeboard of the floating docks so that they are more applicable to a larger range of boaters" while keeping roughly the same footprint to avoid a more complex permitting process with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
Committee members raised tourism and operational questions. Councilman John Gale encouraged staff to make the docks and riverfront more welcoming to tour and cruise operators, citing regional cruise activity: "Wouldn't it be a wonderful thing, if we could get a cruise ship coming up here once a week, once every 2 weeks..." He also relayed that local tour-boat operators have complained about insurance requirements; Riverfront staff explained the city uses its standard insurance regulations for operators working in city parks.
Riverfront staff also noted parallel investments at Charter Oak Landing, saying a $1,000,000 grant secured through Congressman Larson will fund wharf and infrastructure improvements and a new gate to help keep portions of the park open during some flood events.
Councilman Gale moved to send the grant-acceptance resolution back to the full council with a favorable recommendation; the committee approved the motion. The committee vote advances the measure to the full Council, which must approve execution of the Port Authority contract and a project agreement that will define responsibilities between Riverfront Recapture and the city before construction can begin.
