[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 151 (2005), Part 17]
[Senate]
[Page 22844]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




   IN APPRECIATION OF CONNECTICUT'S METROPOLITAN DISTRICT COMMISSION

 Mr. LIEBERMAN. Mr. President, today is Metropolitan District 
Commission Day in Connecticut and it is with great pleasure that I send 
my congratulations to the commission as it celebrates another year of 
impressive service to the people of Connecticut and our State's 
riverfronts.
  Seven years ago, Connecticut's Metropolitan District Commission took 
on a groundbreaking mission. Expanding its role of providing water and 
sewer services to the Hartford region, the commission made a historic 
step to partner with the organization Riverfront Recapture to maintain 
Connecticut Riverfront parks and provide funding for park rangers in 
each of the parks. Metropolitan District Commission believed then as it 
believes today that creating and maintaining an attractive waterfront 
environment is valuable to everyone in a community.
  Of course, the Metropolitan District Commission is no newcomer to 
civic engagement. For decades the commission has participated in 
enhancing the Connecticut River's water quality--making it possible to 
use the once-polluted river for a rich variety of recreational 
activities, including fishing tournaments, triathlons, rowing regattas, 
and dragon boat races.
  Metropolitan District Commission's partnership with Riverfront 
Recapture is only natural. The team has worked together skillfully to 
create a welcoming presence in the parks and attracting visitors as 
well as residents. Last year, more than 786,000 people visited the 
riverfront parks and as much as $4 billion worth of development 
projects are underway or planned within walking distance of the parks. 
The Metropolitan District Commission's funding efforts and maintenance 
capabilities are critical to making the mission succeed. 
Unsurprisingly, this exceptional partnership is attracting national 
attention as a model for urban parks management.
  By commemorating the contributions of the Metropolitan District 
Commission today, we honor the spirit of entrepreneurship that has 
profited the people of Connecticut and their guests so significantly.
  I am very happy to join colleagues in honoring the Metropolitan 
District Commission on this day, October 25, 2005.

                          ____________________