FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: March 25, 2002

DODD AND LARSON ANNOUNCE UPCOMING LEGISLATIVE ACTION ON COLTSVILLE

Lawmakers Also Announce Trip To Successful Downtown National Park in Mass.

HARTFORD—Senator Chris Dodd and U.S. Congressman John B. Larson today announced that when they return to Washington in April, they would introduce legislation to initiate a feasibility study of the Coltsville property in Hartford as a first step in gaining a historic designation for the area from the U.S. Department of the Interior. Dodd and Larson were joined by Hartford Mayor Eddie Perez, representatives from Sen. Joseph I. Lieberman's office and representatives of the Coltsville Heritage Park board.

Following a tour of parts of the area, the lawmakers also announced that on Tuesday, a delegation from Hartford will visit the successful downtown national park in Lowell, Massachusetts, which was the first national park of its kind and will serve as a model for the Coltsville effort. The delegation will include Congressman Larson, staff from the offices of Sen. Dodd and Sen. Lieberman, state and city officials, and Hartford neighborhood groups.

Larson stated: “When we return to Washington, we will introduce legislation to pursue the feasibility of bringing a historic designation to Coltsville, which will serve as the first step in the process. Bringing a historic designation to Coltsville and revitalizing the area is going to be a collaborative effort on the part of the Connecticut Congressional Delegation, officials from the state and the city of Hartford, the owners and developers of the property as well as local community and historical organizations. Together we are starting on the road to developing and cultivating Coltsville's history and its importance to the City of Hartford.

“Tomorrow, a delegation from Hartford will visit the downtown National Park in Lowell, Massachusetts to look at that success, which will be used as a model for the Coltsville effort. As Adriaen's Landing and other important downtown projects continue to take shape, the development of Coltsville can be yet another cornerstone in the effort to reenergize the city and the entire region,” said Larson.

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