Briefing: Gateway City Parks
Energy and Environmental Affairs Secretary Ian Bowles recently announced a plan to develop and restore a dozen public parks in under-served urban neighborhoods across the state. The plan is the result of Gov. Patrick’s new Gateway City Parks initiative, which is contributing $8.9 million in grants to cities that show room for considerable improvement in a number of areas.
Where is the money coming from?
Funding for the Gateway City Parks comes from the Environmental Bond bill signed by Gov. Patrick in August of last year, which authorized more than $1.6 billion over a five-year period.
What are the criteria?
Twenty-two cities are eligible for the program, which focuses on communities that have populations of more than 35,000 and median household incomes, per capita incomes and educational attainment levels below the state average. Communities with annual household incomes at least 65 percent below the state median where at least 25 percent of residents are minorities, foreign-born or lacking proficiency in English were also targeted.
How can the money be used?
The program is flexible and allows cities to use the funding for brownfield assessment and clean-up, park planning and needs assessments.
They can also use the grants for construction of parks, greenways and other recreational facilities.
Which cities have projects in the works?
Currently, twelve cities have received funding. They include: Boston, Chicopee, Everett, Fall River, Fitchburg, Haverhill, Leominster, Lowell, Methuen, Pittsfield, Revere and Worcester.
The other 10 eligible cities are Brockton, Chelsea, Holyoke, Lawrence, Lynn, Malden, New Bedford, Salem, Springfield and Westfield.
How is Central Massachusetts affected?
The city of Fitchburg has received $500,000 to buy a parcel of land for a public park. The money will also assist the city in producing design and construction documents and engaging the public in the park-planning process.
Leominster received $155,000 to draft design and construction documents for the Monoosnoc Brook Riverwalk.
And the city of Worcester received $2 million to complete a variety of improvements to Vernon Hill Park.
Click here to learn more about the Gateway City Park program.
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