Medford, Mystic River Communities Receive State Grants

Rivers Edge Park, pictured above, was recently developed along with office buildings and an apartment complex along the Malden River in Medford. Photo courtesy Preotle, Lane, and Associates.

The following is an announcement from the state Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs:

In keeping with the Patrick-Murray Administration’s goal to provide recreational opportunities for urban residents, state environmental officials today joined municipal leaders and local legislators to announce $508,500 for five projects that will improve public access to the Lower Mystic River.

The grants are made possible by the purchase of specialty environmental license plates, fees for which fund the Massachusetts Environmental Trust (MET). Today’s funded projects, which serve the communities of Charlestown, Chelsea, Everett, Medford, Malden and Somerville, will create, expand or enhance opportunities for biking, hiking, walking, non-motorized boating, picnicking and other riverfront outdoor public recreation in the Lower Mystic River Watershed.

“We’re pleased to award these grants in recognition of the important work these groups and municipalities do to provide better river access for visitors and residents of the Lower Mystic River watershed,” Energy and Environmental Affairs Secretary Ian Bowles said.

“The Mystic River is one of our state’s underappreciated gems. It makes its way through more than 20 cities and towns before emptying into Boston harbor, and is richly deserving of our attention and support,” said MET Chairman James R. Gomes.

“The Wellington Greenway Grant will help us fulfill a long-term dream of the community to come one step closer to connectivity from the Medford/Malden and Medford/Winchester lines,” said Medford Mayor Michael McGlynn.

“The Wellington Greenway Project is designed to be a multi-use pathway providing an intermodal connection between the MBTA Station and businesses along the river. It will allow regional access to the area and great potential for increased recreational use,” said Malden Mayor Richard Howard

“I’m very excited that his project is moving forward and the Patrick Murray administration sees the value in pursuing economic development in our collective areas,” said Everett Mayor Carlo DeMaria

“This grant couldn’t come at a better time. Many community groups already make good use of the boathouse, but its full potential can be realized now that funding will be available for much-need repairs, said Somerville Mayor Joseph Curtatone. “And this timely investment will complement all of the smart-growth and recreational improvements along the adjacent riverfront of the Assembly on the Mystic development. We’re excited to receive this grant, and eager to get started with the renovations.”

In July of 2008, MET solicited project proposals from municipalities and non-profit organizations to improve public access to the Lower Mystic River, with the goal of drawing more people to the waterfront and increasing advocacy for the river’s restoration and protection. The Mystic River flows through 22 cities and towns – including some of the most densely populated urban communities in Massachusetts. The river has a long history of industrial use and suffers from high levels of bacterial, nutrient and chemical contamination. Public access to the riverfront is severely limited in the lower basin, particularly in urban areas.

In addition, state officials announced that MET has received $1 million to fund projects that would improve water quality and wetlands restoration in the Lower Mystic River in East Boston, Charlestown, Chelsea, Everett, Medford, Malden, Somerville or along the Alewife Creek in Cambridge and Arlington. The grants will be funded by a community service payment in a recent settlement related to an oil spill in Everett in 2006. MET is now soliciting letters of interest from non-profit organizations to compete for these funds.

Now celebrating its 20th anniversary, the Massachusetts Environmental Trust was established as a state Trust by Chapter 236, Section 7 of the Acts of 1988 and is governed by a nine-member Board of Trustees appointed by the Secretary of Environmental Affairs. The board is currently chaired by James R. Gomes.

Since its creation as part of the Boston Harbor cleanup, the Trust has awarded over $17 million in small grants to municipalities and non–profit organizations for environmental education, research and stewardship activities state wide. Grant funding comes through two sources: environmental enforcement actions and sales of MET’s three environmentally-themed license plates, which together generate close to $1 million annually to the Trust.

The following grants have been awarded to Medford and other Mystic River communities:

$150,000

Mystic Valley Development Commission will complete a segment of the Wellington Greenway located where the Mystic and Malden Rivers join in the city of Medford. The Greenway is designed to be a multi-use pathway that will provide an intermodal connection between the MBTA’s Wellington Orange Line Station and businesses along the River, as well as enhance recreational connections to the Department of Conservation and Recreation’s (DCR) Mystic River Reservation. The project will complete a missing link in an existing network of trails, providing a direct connection between many local neighborhoods and a number of existing waterfront parks and amenities, benefitting residents and office workers, bicyclists, joggers and boaters.

$42,500

The Mystic River Watershed Association (MyRWA) will develop an Urban Trail Map for the Lower Mystic River and its tributaries to help watershed residents and visitors locate river access points. MyRWA will also develop an activity guide to accompany the map, highlighting special features of the open spaces and access points featured on the map. In addition, MyRWA will facilitate guided canoe and kayak outings to familiarize people with the river. This project will serve the communities of Medford, Somerville, Everett, Chelsea, East Boston and Malden.

$40,000

The City of Medford will upgrade the Condon Shell Park to reconnect Medford Square with the Mystic River. The Condon Shell is an outdoor theater set on DCR-owned parkland on the Mystic River in Medford. Grant funding will pay for additional design and interpretive signage along the river walk in this phase of the plan.