After budget cut, Riverfront Recapture douses annual fireworks display
Photo | FLICKR USER PATRICK
Riverfest fireworks in 2014.
For the second time in five years, Riverfront Recapture has canceled its summer fireworks display, but this time the move is likely permanent.
The nonprofit, which oversees public parks along the Connecticut River in Hartford and East Hartford, said Tuesday that the annual Independence Day fireworks show would no longer take place.
Riverfront CEO Michael Zaleski said recent budget cuts and increasing concern about keeping the growing crowds safe, as the area around the display has grown tighter with tree canopy and development, were the driving factors behind the cancellation.
“We have had to admit to ourselves that we can no longer welcome tens of thousands of people to Mortensen Riverfront Plaza for a fireworks show on the river and ensure both good viewing and safe egress at the conclusion of the show,” Zaleski said. “There are times when tough choices have to be made, especially in light of the well-publicized recent cuts to our budget. It’s disappointing to lose a great fireworks show but we still have a robust year of events to come.”
The Metropolitan District Commission voted late last year to cut its contribution to Riverfront’s budget more quickly than previously expected, from $1.3 million to $600,000, the Hartford Courant reported.
In an interview Tuesday, Zaleski said the budget cut was a contributing factor in the cancellation but not the main reason.
"The dollars are just one of several things we are dealing with," he said. "The cut we took has an impact but it’s not primary reason for not doing the event."
Zaleski said Riverfront Recapture will continue operating the rest of its events, including the food truck festival that has occurred on the same day of the fireworks display.
Riverfront has faced funding troubles before. In 2016, Hartford and East Hartford pulled a combined $100,000 in public safety staffing support for the fireworks, leading Riverfront to cancel the display.
The organization rebounded the following year, with the help of corporate donations from United Technologies Corp. and others.
The fireworks display costs approximately $5,000 per minute, Riverfront said.
In a statement, Hartford Mayor Luke Bronin said the fireworks have become increasingly difficult to host safely, as tens of thousands of people crowd into a limited space.
"This is certainly disappointing, but we should be excited for the full summer of great events in our parks and throughout Hartford – not to mention the dozens of other fireworks across Connecticut every year,” Bronin said.
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