Metropolitan District Commission (MDC)

In January 1998, we agreed to take on the day-to-day management responsibilities for the four parks in our network, while MDC - which provides water and sewer services to Hartford and seven surrounding communities - contractually agreed to use its own personnel and equipment to maintain the Riverfront parks, and to provide funding for a park rangers program that Riverfront Recapture administers. The maintenance and rangers programs are funded through an increase in the MDC water rate that averages $6 per household, per year.

With its proven track record of providing outstanding levels of maintenance and park ranger services at its suburban reservoirs, and the existing commitment of $1.6 billion for improving water quality in the Connecticut River, MDC was a natural management partnership choice.

City of Hartford and Town of East Hartford

Our important relationship with the Hartford and East Hartford defines each partner’s responsibilities to the parks, from daily services to long-term development.

The municipalities provide access to the defined parkland, emergency services such as fire and police, our electric and water service, and property insurance for our facilities. They also waive all permit fees for our events, programs and developments, allow us to retain fees collected through our boat ramp operations and vendor contracts, and make annual contributions to the Riverfront Recapture operating budget.

In return, Riverfront Recapture programs all recreational activities and events, maintains oversight of daily park operations and ranger services and secures sponsorship for, directs all Riverfront marketing efforts, coordinates vendor services such as food and beverage sales, manages park maintenance via MDC, purchases general liability insurance coverage, and, equally important, oversees the design, permitting, fundraising and construction of ongoing park development.