This project could not have evolved without advice from all of the following:  Margaret Miner and Rose Guimaraes, Rivers Alliance of Connecticut, provide on-going advice about the network of available watershed resources. Eric Hammerling, Executive Director, Farmington River Watershed Association shares his insightful advice. James Gibbons, John Rozem, and Chet Arnold of UConn Non-point Education for Municipal Officials and the Center for Land Use Education and Research, provide insight and data on land use and development within the watershed. 

Dr. Aimlee Laderman, Yale School of Forestry and Environmental Studies, is a key resource.  David J. Bardin, of Washington DC, thoughtfully discussed the challenge of changing conventions. Wendi Goldsmith of The Bioengineering Group, Inc., is building examples of successful natural best management source controls. Dr. Rutherford Platt, Director of The Ecological Cities Project; who has developed the urban rivers network, demonstrated that the basis of change is through person-to-person relationships. 

Mark O’Rourke, ASLA, prepared efiles for the watershed maps that are now posted on the parkriver.org website – visual information that has been essential throughout the project. Nicholas Caruso, prepared the timeline history of development along the Park River as posted on the parkriver.org website. Gregory Kendall is excellent field company along the Park River. Filmmaker, Julie Wyman and Seymour embraced the river.

Jack Hale, Executive Director of Knox Parks, has long advocated a “Friends of the Park River Watershed Association”. Charmaine Craig, also of Knox Parks, organizes for the river. John Guskowski, Ruth Klue, and Liz Rogers of Eastern Ct RC&D supported the website start-up. Jill Barrett, Toni Gold, and Phil Will of the Farmington Avenue Alliance are smart urbanists. David Barrett of the West End Civic Association is an excellent neighborhood leader. Judy Harper, Director, Ct Audubon Society Center at Glastonbury, added this topic to the calendar of events. Shannon Raider grew Hartford. University of Hartford Professor Wick Griswold has been working for decades on the Hog River.

Sandy Fry of Capitol Region Council of Governments; Craig Della Penna of Northeast Greenways Solutions; and Bill O’Neill of Ct Greenways Council; describe how greenways happen. Phil Moreschi, P.E., explained technical terminology.  The MDC, the CDM project team, Mary Phil Guinan, and the MDC LTCP Citizens Advisory Committee, welcomed environmental questions in their discussion.  Linda Bayer and The Hartford Neighborhood Environmental Project group added the Park River to Earth Day.  Vi Beaudreau of River Wright Boat Builders, Southend Community Services. Craig at Riverfront Recapture include the Park River in the summer Science on the (Connecticut) River Project.  Megan Hearne, Connecticut River Watershed Council River Steward, shares information. 

For over a decade, Susan van Kleef, Watkinson School Science Teacher, has taught her students about the North Park (Hog) by collecting water quality samples for Ct DEP Project SEARCH.  Thomasina Levy, Ct State Troubadour and Laura Deutsch Music Teacher, wrote a song about the Park River.  University of Hartford Magnet School  third grade students sing that song, and who with their teachers (esp Anne Shemkovitz) are exploring the Park River. 

Ct DEP Commissioner Gina McCarthy has taken time to listen.  Sally Snyder, also of Ct DEP, has outlined a realistic perspective.  Seth Lerman, with USDA, WHP, reviewed the river habitat.  Dave Queeley, New England Director of the Parks for People Program Trust for Public Land, concentrated on Hartford parks.  Barbara McGrath Assistant Director, Ct Urban Legal Initiative; has given her time.  Hartford Councilman Robert Painter, MDC listens encouragingly. Allan Williams emphasizes the need for future funding.

Most importantly, Marc Pelletier supported the project coordinator. 

The persons listed above gave their time to review ideas about improving the Park River; forming a Park River watershed organization; and deciphering the long term potential.  Their combined professional values, and diverse perspectives, have informed the evolution of this project, and will shape the future of the watershed environment. Other professionals have offered their assistance for future initiatives.