The South Meadows is an industrial and commercial area in the southeast section of Hartford. Adjacent to the Connecticut River, it has a variety of private industrial, commercial, and wholesale businesses. It also contains public uses, such as Connecticut's Regional Market, the Connecticut Resources Recovery Authority recycling facility, the Metropolitan District Commission's Yard and Water Pollution Control Plant, the South Meadows Pumping Station, and Brainard Airport.

Regional Market

Hartford's Regional Market, a 32-acre facility with over 185,000 square feet of warehouse space, is the largest perishable-food distribution facility between New York and Boston. Every day, people come to the market shopping for products ranging from ornamental shrubs, flowers and garden plants to fruits, vegetables, meats, cheeses, eggs and Christmas wreaths. It is open year-round and has been serving the public since 1952.

Visit the Dept. of Agriculture site for more information.

South Meadows Pumping Station

Tucked into a corner of the neighborhood, away from public view, the South Meadows Pumping Station quietly does its work of flood control and prevention. It is part of the Metropolitan District Commission and a sister station of the Bushnell Park Pumping Station.

Brainard Field

Named after Mayor Newton Case Brainard, the airfield was dedicated on June 12, 1921. Today, it serves small aircraft, providing charter service and flight instruction. The State of Connecticut Department of Transportation operates the facility, and technical data on the airfield may be found at the DOT website.

Mid-Connecticut Resource
Recovery Facility

Built on 57 acres, the facility, which began commercial operation in October 1987, uses refuse-derived fuel technology to convert 2,000 tons of waste per day into electricity, to power area homes and businesses.

Metropolitan District Water Pollution Control Plant

One of several area facilities responsible for handling an average sewage flow of 100 million gallons a day.

For a look at how wastewater treatment works, visit the MDC site.

Hartford Electric Light Co.

The South Meadows station began commercial operations in 1921. It had the first commercial mercury cycle generating unit in the world. Today, the facility is owned by Connecticut Light & Power.