SAUGUS — A $120,000 state grant will pay for the design and permitting of a project intended to create a more vibrant waterfront neighborhood.
The Seaport Economic Council awarded the money to the town for the Ballard Street RiverWalk, a local development project intended to provide direct access to the Saugus River.
“This partnership between the state and our local government brings us one step closer to the project’s construction and completion, which will support the town’s lobstermen and fishermen, improve public access to the riverfront, and encourage economic development,” said Town Manager Scott Crabtree.
The proposed RiverWalk will connect the town-owned boat ramp, Lobsterman’s Landing, and the bike and pedestrian lanes planned as part of the Belden Bly Bridge project. It will also promote foot traffic for the Department of Recreation and Conservation restoration project at the Rumney Marsh and encourage commercial fishermen and recreational boat users to visit the area.
The idea was developed during a series of resident visioning sessions in 2013. Town Meeting in 2014 adopted new zoning to draw new businesses to the underutilized area, including seafood restaurants that will benefit local lobstermen.
The river has been home to a small but vibrant fleet of commercial lobstermen for several years. The town first sought Seaport Economic funding in 2003, and was granted $750,000 to better support the 26 commercial lobstermen who based their living there. The fleet has since been reduced to 20 licensed fishermen.
The town was awarded an initial $120,000 grant towards the preliminary design and planning of the project in 2015.
The economic council, chaired by Lt. Gov. Karyn Polito and administered by the Executive Office of Housing and Economic Development with support from the Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs, was challenged by 78 coastal communities of Massachusetts to leverage their unique geographic advantages in order to grow jobs and the economy.
Bridget Turcotte can be reached at [email protected]. Follow her on Twitter @BridgetTurcotte.
