Mortensen Riverfront Plaza

Great place to go for a walk. Sometimes when you need to get out and Bushnell park isn’t cutting it! Nice area to do stairs and cross the river, or walk the path along the river. Good people watching, but I would walk in pairs! Great place to watch fireworks in the summer.

Great place to eat your lunch, then go for a riverside walk, then do some stairs if you want!
Wonderful path to follow, some odd art along the way… or salvaged ships parts. not sure. A nice stage area to do some workout moves, if one is so inclined.
Boat watch, people watch.
They have the Food truck festival here… what a great festival.
I have not been to a concert, but I can see how it would be great.
The plaza connects to the CT Science Center.
A nice area!

Too crowded … Wasn’t organized well … People were standing on the steps when clearly it’s a fire hazard so going up or down the steps was nearly impossible… Cops were more busy getting in lines to order food then staying on the clock to work… When to 4 stands to order food … Hubby got piña colada he liked it, I got a margarita it was too sweet but can’t complain it wasn’t a bar, we got pork w tostones big mistake it dry tough and no flavor. Also ordered chicken stew with rotti in one of the trini stands ehhh I guess u can’t expect much from festival food and lastly ordered rice and peas w some oxtails a 3 year old could cook better… Will I go again next no just went because we were visiting family and that’s what was planned for the day…

This is one of Hartford’s gems, re-​joining the city to its riverfront after decades of separation by levees and limited access highways. The stage, with its distinctive circus-​tent awning, shelters performers at a wide range of music festivals. As a traditional music fan, I’ve really enjoyed the annual Pipes in the Valley event, but the grassy seating area has also accommodated fans of rock, blues, jazz, and more.
The path running along the riverside can bring you north to Riverside Park with its boathouse, picnic area, and challenge course, or south to Charter Oak Landing. Statues inspired by the life of Abraham Lincoln and the end of slavery add an elegant and reflective touch.
The grassy lawn above the stage is one of my favorite features, disguising what lies beneath it — Interstate 91 — so beautifully that I frequently forget that it’s there. In addition to the stairways leading down to the river, elevators will also raise and lower visitors from one level to another.
The Connecticut Science Center stands just at the entrance to the Plaza, and other aerial walkways link it to the Convention Center.
Hartford is fortunate to have such a great venue.

Enjoyed the three previous local reviews, thank you. I will match with 4 stars.
Have yet to attend on of the free events here hosted by Riverfront Recapture but this is a great place to exercise with and around the locals exercising or dancing. The stairs here are a great work out, spaced just difficult enough for my long legs and my wife’s short legs. With all the great food in downtown this is a prime choice for working off some calories. The local dance troupes ain’t bad either.

One of the best-​maintained parks in the area, year-​round. I prefer the solitude of this in winter to the busier times of year, but did enjoy the recent Dragon Boat Races and Asian Festival, as well as the Guitar Under the Stars. They host so many free events and maintain a really chill environment.
I have but two gripes:
*elevator: When it is closed for most of the year, those using wheelchairs lose easy access. When it is open, the elevator reeks of urine.
*rest room situation: This is not unique to this park, but I’m a little snobby and want indoor plumbing. If I can’t get that, at least ensure that the portolets are in well-​lit areas so that if you are there at night, you aren’t fumbling around in a nasty little box in the dark.

It’s right there in front of you but you’re all too busy wizzing past it on the bridge. Stop and enjoy the sculpture walk, and take part in one of the many awesome events hosted at this venue.

Mortensen Riverfront Plaza allows you to enjoy nature and the picturesque waterfront while simultaneously experiencing all of the hustle and bustle of a small metropolis. There are always great free activities on the Plaza and you are a stone’s throw away from great attractions like the Connecticut Science Center.