Great River Park is located on the Connecticut River in East Hartford, CT, covers approximately 21 acres and has 1.3 miles of shoreline stretching between Charter Oak and Bulkeley Bridges. It was constructed in three phases between 1985 and 1996 and features a lighted riverwalk, amphitheater, boat ramp, scenic overlooks, picnic tables and multiple pieces of public art. The project area starts at the existing amphitheater, extends south to the Charter Oak Bridge, and will connect to the American Eagle Financial Credit Union (AEFCU), Capitol Region Education Council Magnet Middle (CREC) school and Simon Konover Company (Konover) proposed multi-family housing project properties covering approximately 13 acres. Within the 13 acres there is an existing easement granted by the Konover Corporation to the Town for construction of the third phase of Great River Park Konover Corporation has indicated that they will extinguish the easement and give the land to the Town as part of the overall project. No additional rights-of-way are anticipated for the project. The main goals for the design and permitting phase are: • Develop plans to reinforce and repair the riverbank where trees have been lost to erosion and protection of threatened mature trees that currently stabilize the riverbank. • Develop plans to repair and widen the Riverwalk to current multi-modal use standards, raise a section of riverwalk to increase its use and reduce maintenance costs, relocate trailside amenities such an benches and trash receptacles to areas less impact by flooding, and for the repair/replacement of underground lighting circuits impacted by decades of flood inundation. • Plan for aesthetic improvements to a vehicular bridge over the Hockanum River used by walkers, cyclists, and emergency vehicles. • Plan for ADA accessible parking at the northern end of the trail
