New Link Could Unite CT River Community with Fresh Energy

A New Vision for Connecting Hartford to the River

Over the past decade, Delicia Arnold has witnessed a remarkable transformation in her neighborhood. What was once a barren stretch of parking lots just north of downtown Hartford has evolved into a vibrant minor league ballpark and hundreds of apartments, with more development on the horizon. Arnold, who moved back to the city with her family, now looks eastward toward the Connecticut River, envisioning a future where stronger connections to Riverside Park could further enhance the area’s redevelopment and offer a valuable amenity for residents.

“It’s going to take on a whole new vibe,” Arnold said, reflecting on the potential of this change.

A long-standing initiative by the iQuilt Partnership aims to create a more walkable and inviting way to reach the river, and it is now taking a significant step forward. The plan involves a major overhaul of the current access point from the northside of the city to Riverside Park—a 1970s-era system of ramps, steps, and a footbridge over Interstate 91. This structure, located in a parking lot and often unclear in its usability, has been a challenge for many residents, including Arnold and her son, who once struggled to push their bikes up the ramps to reach the park.

“It’s not the most inviting or appealing place, especially at dawn,” Arnold said, highlighting the need for improvement. “If a lot of people don’t use it—some even don’t know it exists—then we’re missing out on a great opportunity.”

Designing a Better Connection

The upcoming project, known as “RiverLink,” will focus on redesigning the one-mile path that connects downtown to Riverside Park. The goal is to replace the current access, which is often likened to a prison, with a more welcoming and accessible route. The plans include gently-sloping ramps on both sides of the pedestrian bridge over the highway, potentially stepping off at the intersection of Market and Pleasant streets. This location is near Dunkin’ Park and the North Crossing mixed-use development, making it a strategic point for increased foot traffic.

The $2.7 million design project, supported by iQuilt and the city of Hartford, seeks to raise the profile of this critical access point. It aims to encourage not only pedestrian use but also bicycles, scooters, and wheelchairs. Construction could cost between $20 million and $30 million, with funding expected to come from a mix of federal, state, and local sources. The timeline for construction depends on how quickly these funds can be secured.

“The bridge can become an experience and not one that’s ‘Well, I’m not walking over that,’ ” said Jackie Mandyke, executive director of iQuilt. “We want someone to go on it and say, ‘Wow.’”

Expanding the Vision

RiverLink is part of a larger initiative called Hartline, a 7-mile greenway envisioned between the Bloomfield town line and Riverside Park. If completed, it would extend along city streets, possibly following the Griffin Line rail corridor to Bloomfield. The Hartline is also seen as filling a crucial gap in the East Coast Greenway, a 3,000-mile network stretching from Key West, Florida, to Maine.

Additionally, RiverLink is included in the state’s Greater Hartford Mobility Program, which encourages alternate transportation methods to reduce reliance on motor vehicles. While the program includes major projects like relocating the I-91/I-84 interchange, smaller initiatives such as RiverLink are viewed as more attainable in the near future. These projects aim to reconnect Hartford neighborhoods with its riverfront, which was divided for generations by the construction of interstates in the late 1960s.

A Broader Impact

RiverLink aligns with Hartford 400, a vision for reconnecting the city with its riverfront by moving, burying, or capping highways. It also dovetails with Riverfront Recapture’s efforts to expand a system of walkways along the river, following a north-south path. At Riverside Park, there would be a connection to an east-west option via RiverLink, offering a new route to downtown Hartford and beyond.

Riverfront Recapture is currently expanding Riverside Park, marking the first significant expansion in its 125-year history. The project includes a 2.5-mile river walk between the park and Windsor, named after Joe Marfuggi, the former CEO of the organization. The new section will feature 25 posts with wayfinding, audio, and visual elements that tell the story of the river.

Beyond the ramps and bridge over I-91, RiverLink will stretch west from Market Street, along Pleasant Street, past the ballpark, and across Main Street. From there, it will continue around the corner on Walnut Street to Edwards Street, linking directly into Clay Arsenal. Improvements will include wider sidewalks and other amenities, setting the stage for future phases of the Hartline.

A More Inviting Future

The consulting team leading the design of RiverLink includes Agency Landscape + Planning, a firm with experience in converting rail lines into urban greenways. Other members of the team include TYLin, Langan Engineering & Environmental Services, CHA Consulting, HLB Lighting Design, and Ummo, a branding firm. Their expertise will help address challenges such as the steepness of ramps, the reuse of the existing bridge, and the noise from traffic under the bridge.

Jill Allen Dixon, a director at Agency, emphasized the importance of creating an inviting and iconic structure that reflects the best of Hartford. “A lot of people really imagine something that is more inviting, more iconic—something that is really a symbol of all the great things about Hartford for the broader area to see when they experience this bridge,” she said.

Community input from groups like the Clay Arsenal Revitalization Association will continue throughout the design process, which is expected to be completed by the end of 2027. If the footbridge is replaced, construction may be delayed due to the need for review by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

Amir Johnson, iQuilt’s director of external relations and programs, sees the footbridge’s location over I-91 as an opportunity to market Hartford. “This is what the RiverLink piece will do,” he said, referencing the Beehive Bridge in New Britain as an example of how bridges can be redesigned to be more welcoming and accessible.

As the project moves forward, it promises to transform not only the physical landscape of Hartford but also the way residents and visitors connect with the city’s riverfront.