Elizabeth Park is owned by the City of Hartford and, even though over 80% of the Park is physically located in West Hartford, the City of Hartford is responsible for Elizabeth Park. The City of Hartford and the Conservancy have a public-private partnership that ensures the continuing maintenance of the gardens and grounds, restoration of buildings and structures, and public events in the Park. 

Their relationship is governed by a formal written license agreement that also covers use of volunteers and contractors, fundraising by the Conservancy, programs for visitors, and management by the Conservancy of the Pond House Café. The relationship between the City and the Conservancy is collaborative and a model of how a municipality and a nonprofit organization can work together for a common purpose and the good of the public.