What's Waiting on the Other Side of the RiverLink?
The Connecticut River is one of Hartford’s greatest natural resources—but for many North Hartford residents, getting there is not as easy or inviting as it should be. I-91 separates the neighborhood from Riverside Park, and the existing pedestrian overpass is steep, isolated, and inaccessible to many users.
That is where RiverLink comes in. The planned bike and pedestrian bridge will begin at Pleasant and Market Streets, cross over I-91, and descend near the Boathouse in Riverside Park. By creating a more welcoming entrance to the park, RiverLink will not only provide a way across the highway—it will connect people to everything waiting on the other side.
What Can You Discover at Riverside Park?
Located just north of downtown Hartford, Riverside Park offers opportunities to explore nature, get active, spend time with family and friends, and experience the Connecticut River up close.
Walk, Run, and Explore the Trails
Riverside Park is home to paved, lighted walkways and miles of unpaved trails that wind through the floodplain forest. Visitors can walk, run, bike, or simply slow down and enjoy the natural landscape along the Connecticut River.
You can experience some of the Riverfront’s different terrain during the Hartford HealthCare Community 5K on Saturday, September 26, 2026. The course travels along the Connecticut River and through Riverfront Recapture’s parks, including paved walkways, wooded trails, dirt trails, and grassy areas.
Check-in begins at 8:00 a.m., the race starts at 10:00 a.m., and the awards ceremony begins at noon. The event starts and finishes at the Hartford HealthCare Community Stage at Mortensen Riverfront Plaza, 300 Columbus Boulevard, Hartford. Current registration is $34.35 for adult runners and walkers and $18.23 for participants ages 16 and younger, with prices scheduled to increase as the event approaches.
RiverLink would create a more direct entrance to these types of outdoor spaces from North Hartford and eventually serve as the river segment of the Hartline, a planned six-mile greenway connecting eight neighborhoods from Bloomfield to the river.
Experience the River from the Boathouse
RiverLink is planned to descend into Riverside Park near the Riverfront Boathouse, home to one of New England’s largest community rowing programs. Riverfront Recapture offers recreational and competitive programs for participants ranging from preteens to retirees, including opportunities for people who are completely new to rowing.
Veterans and active military service members can experience the river firsthand during Veterans Rowing & Kayaking on Saturday, September 12 and Saturday, September 26, 2026, from 9:00 to 11:00 a.m. Both sessions are held at the Riverfront Boathouse in Riverside Park, 20 Leibert Road, Hartford. The program is free, but advance registration is required.
Visitors can also watch rowing in action at the Head of the Riverfront, a nationally recognized USRowing regatta featuring high school, collegiate, and masters rowers. The event will take place on Sunday, October 4, 2026, from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. at Riverside Park, 20 Leibert Road, Hartford. Attendance is free for spectators.
Whether you are getting into a boat yourself or cheering from the riverbank, the Boathouse provides a unique way to experience the energy and scenery of Hartford’s riverfront.
Get Active and Spend Time Outdoors
Riverside Park has much more to offer than trails and river views. The park includes picnic tables, charcoal grills, a playground, a sand volleyball court, cricket and football fields, fishing access, sculpture installations, and other spaces for recreation.
The broader Riverfront park system also provides opportunities to exercise outdoors. RiverBarre will be held on Monday, September 7 and Monday, September 14, 2026, from 6:00 to 7:00 p.m. at the lower level of Mortensen Riverfront Plaza, 300 Columbus Boulevard, Hartford.
The outdoor class combines ballet movement, yoga alignment, Pilates core work, resistance bands, stretching, and controlled breathing. The class is free, with a $5 suggested donation. Participants should bring water and a yoga mat and wear sneakers.
Whether you want to attend an organized fitness class, plan a family picnic, play a game with friends, go fishing, or simply enjoy some time outside, Hartford’s riverfront parks provide room for the community to gather and stay active.
Connect with the Community
Throughout the year, Riverside Park and the larger Riverfront park system host races, rowing programs, festivals, outdoor activities, and community events that bring people together along the Connecticut River.
One upcoming example is the 26th Annual Black-Eyed & Blues Fest on Saturday, September 12, 2026, from 3:00 to 9:00 p.m. at Mortensen Riverfront Plaza, 300 Columbus Boulevard, Hartford. This free festival will feature live blues performances, food from Black-Eyed Sally’s, drinks, and an afternoon of entertainment beside the river. Visitors are welcome to bring lawn chairs, folding seats, blankets, and small soft coolers.
Events like these show how Hartford’s riverfront can serve as more than a scenic destination. It can be a place for music, movement, recreation, and shared community experiences. A better connection to the park means making these opportunities easier to discover and more welcoming to residents from nearby neighborhoods.
More Than a Bridge
Riverside Park is already filled with places to explore, activities to try, and opportunities to connect with the Connecticut River. However, a public park can only fully serve its community when people can reach it safely and comfortably.
RiverLink will help close the gap between North Hartford and the riverfront by replacing an outdated and uninviting crossing with a visible, accessible gateway. What is waiting on the other side already belongs to the community—RiverLink will help more people get there.
Want to learn more and follow the project’s progress? Visit hartford400.org/river-link.