Learning Corridor Groundbreaking Celebrates Promise of Neighborhood Renewal

Putting first shovel in ground, Governor Rowland propels unique education and community initiative forward

Hartford, Conn., July 31, 1997-- Governor John Rowland joined Hartford Mayor Mike Peters and hundreds of others today for a groundbreaking celebration on the site where three new educational facilities and related child- and family-support facilities will be constructed as part of a community-based urban renewal strategy in the Frog Hollow/Barry Square neighborhoods of Hartford.

The Learning Corridor is the centerpiece of a comprehensive neighborhood revitalization initiative spearheaded by Trinity College and its partners in the Southside Institutions Neighborhood Alliance (SINA) -- Hartford Hospital, Connecticut Children’s Medical Center, the Institute of Living, and Connecticut Public Television and Radio. Situated on a 14-acre parcel of land that was formerly the site of a Connecticut bus garage, the facilities on The Learning Corridor will serve Hartford-area and Capital Region children from birth through grade 12.

"The Learning Corridor is an innovative education and community initiative resulting from a unique public-private partnership and bold leadership in the non-profit sector, particularly from Trinity College," said Governor Rowland. "The State is actively supporting this collaborative effort, but it is moving forward because the institutions in this neighborhood and the community itself have stepped forward."

Added Rowland, "We are celebrating today an urban initiative which is built on education and home ownership at its core. What is happening in Hartford, in these neighborhoods, holds promise and offers a model not just for struggling cities in Connecticut but also for cities across the country. I am proud that our state is taking such a leadership role."

Hartford Mayor Mike Peters echoed the Governor’s enthusiasm. "Through initiatives such as The Learning Corridor, we are putting Hartford on the map as a city that has the vision, the potential, the people, and the commitment to make good things happen," said Peters.

The neighborhood revitalization initiative is supported by the State of Connecticut, the City of Hartford, the federal government, corporations and foundations, and local residents and community organizations. A total of over $100 million has been firmly committed -- $79 million in state funding, $6.75 million from the City of Hartford, $1.8 million in assistance from the federal government, $10 million from the SINA member institutions themselves, and over $3 million in support from corporations and foundations. In addition, significant federal funds have been pledged in support of home ownership and economic development initiatives.

"This celebration is not just about renewing neighborhoods. It is about building community and restoring hope and confidence in a city that enjoys not only a proud past but also a promising future," said Trinity College President Evan S. Dobelle, who served as master of ceremonies at today’s groundbreaking. "Many individuals and institutions representing many different perspectives and interests have come together and worked together as partners. We have discovered that we share not just common zip codes but also, and more importantly, a common and deep commitment to our city, its residents, and the children who represent its future."

The Learning Corridor will be home to an inter-district public Montessori elementary school that will accommodate 330 students, pre-school through grade 5. Also planned is a new Hartford middle school with the capacity to serve 600 students; the curriculum will emphasize science, math and technology, and the school will offer extensive access to science labs and the latest computer technology. A new high school resource center will include a science, mathematics and technology academy and be the permanent home for the existing Greater Hartford Academy of the Arts.

Hartford Superintendent of Schools Patricia Daniel observed, "This is a tangible and significant step in mustering the new resources and the new partnerships the City needs to ensure its children will have the best possible education."

"These initiatives have enjoyed significant support from residents and neighborhood organizations. The many hours spent in planning meetings and discussions with our neighbors and city officials are bearing fruit," said John Meehan, President and CEO of Hartford Hospital.

The groundbreaking marks the start of site remediation, which is expected to be completed within six months. Construction of the new facilities that are part of the Learning Corridor project -- which also will include a new Aetna Center for Families and the new Boys & Girls Club at Trinity College -- will commence immediately upon completion of the site clean-up. The schools are scheduled to be "open for learning" in the fall of 1999.

Back to News Releases