Mortensen Riverfront Plaza
300 Columbus Boulevard, Downtown Hartford

A jewel on the banks of the Connecticut River, Mortensen Riverfront plaza is the centerpiece of the Riverfront Park System.
Spanning I-91, the park reunites downtown Hartford with the waterfront, bringing pedestrians back to the shoreline and connecting Hartford with East Hartford through the Founders Bridge Promenade.
Enjoy performances at our amphitheater stage; take a boat cruise, order up some food (May - Sept.) Come by foot, car or boat, we’ve even got a place to dock your boat!
PARK AMENITIES
| Mortensen Riverfront offers: | |
| Private event facilities | Paved & lighted walkways |
| Performance facilities | Drinking fountain |
| Public boat cruises | Fishing access |
| Seasonal food service | Public bathroom / port-o-lets |
| Sculptures / public art | |
View Larger Map
To see our boat docking policy, click here.
LUNCHTIME AT THE PLAZA

Buskers Lunchtime Entertainment
Come to the plaza during lunchtime and enjoy Buskers, street performers who use the urban environment as their stage. See jugglers, musicians, actors, comedians, stilt-walkers, and magicians and more, each with their own individual style.
June 3 - July 31: Busker entertainment - musicians, jugglers, clowns - perform Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays from 11:30-1:30pm on Mortensen Riverfront Plaza, Hartford, FREE. No activity the week of July 1.
August 5 - September 11: Entertainers - musicians, jugglers, clowns - perform Tuesday and Thursdays from 11:30-1:30pm on Mortensen Riverfront Plaza, Hartford, FREE.
It’s free and its fun, so come and see the show!
Reminder: Tipping the artists is encouraged - and appreciated!
Lunch available for purchase by Pretty Good Eats from 11:00 – 2:00. Menu includes hot dogs and daily specials.
WALKS/TRAILS
RIVERWALK NORTH - Mortensen Riverfront Plaza to Riverside Park’s Greater Hartford Jaycees Community Boathouse, Hartford
1.6 mile loop. Approximate walking time: 30 minutes
Proceed north from Mortensen Riverfront Plaza following the walkway along the river, pass under a stone arch of the historic Bulkeley Bridge and into Riverside Park to the Greater Hartford Jaycees Community Boathouse. Once you reach the boathouse, simply reverse the directions and return to downtown Hartford. The walkway is paved and lighted its entire length.
Mortensen Riverfront Plaza to Great River Park’s Hockanum River, Hartford and East Hartford
3.2 mile loop. Approximate walking time: 60 minutes
Proceed from the upper level of the Mortensen Riverfront Plaza and head east across the Founders Bridge Promenade into East Hartford. Use the handicapped ramp or descend the stairs to East River Drive and turn left under the highway bridge and then left again up the walkway ramp into the north section of Great River Park. Once you reach the stone arched Bulkeley Bridge (I-84) turn around and follow the path down to the river, under the Founders Bridge and south past the boat ramp and amphitheater. Follow the walkway through the flood plain to the Hockanum River confluence under the Charter Oak Bridge. Once you reach the Hockanum River, simply reverse the directions and return to Mortensen Riverfront Plaza and downtown Hartford. The walkway is paved and lighted its entire length.

PARK RULES & REGULATIONS - For park rules and regulations, click here. Please note: Due to liability and legal restrictions, no outside alcoholic beverages of any kind may be brought into the Riverfront Parks by any party. Riverfront Recapture is the only licensed authority to sell and serve liquor for consumption in the Riverfront Parks.
RESERVE THE PARK - To hold your private event, picnic, family reunion, wedding ceremony, etc. in our park, click here.
WIRELESS INTERNET ACCESS - Thanks to an initiative by the City of Hartford, our parks now have wireless internet access. Click here to sign up for wireless access to the internet in our park from the City of Hartford.
To get up-to-date information of Riverfront happenings, don’t forget to sign up for our e-newsletter on our homepage!









