PEABODY — The city’s North River Resiliency, Canal Wall, and Riverwalk Project is on track to move into its next phase.
That was the conclusion of Assistant Director of Planning Brendan Callahan and representatives from Weston and Sampson Engineers, Inc. at a virtual public presentation Thursday night.
The presentation included a brief project recap and an update on site plans, as well as an introduction of an updated design for 24 Caller St.
“This project is a nod to the North River history and is an awesome opportunity for the city,” said Callahan. “Not only will it be a beautiful natural area, but it will also address corridor flooding issues today and the future 75 years.”
Callahan said Caller Street amenities will include benches, lighting clusters, new landscaping and trees. Pathways will be a mix of asphalt and a boardwalk-style decking with seating, and part of the project will incorporate recycled canal-wall blocks. There will also be a gathering deck and graffiti art wall.
Key components of the site include the white birch and river birch groves, and public art displays have been added to the design.
“At the first meeting in January, there was much interest in incorporating more art into the project, so we adjusted the design to reflect that,” Callahan said.
Landscape architect Cass Chroust said other elements desired by residents include historical/interpretive markers, plantings and small gardens, Instagrammable spots, a bird-observation area and more trees with expanded green canopies.
“These kinds of features that add greater environmental focus are always on (the) top of our minds when it comes to these projects,” Chroust said.
The Howley Street site plan calls for a bridge over Strongwater Brook, an eight-foot wide asphalt path with fencing, a boardwalk overlook and seating area, pedestrian lighting and a rapid-flashing beacon crosswalk.
The Caller Street and Wallis Street site plans calls for a new canal wall (which has been moved back for flood mitigation) and vegetative slope, a 10-foot wide boardwalk with overlook seating as well as an eight-foot wide asphalt path with fencing and rapid-flashing beacons at crosswalks. Callahan said the project will also include 1,600 feet of pathways.
The presentation included the results of a survey conducted in connection with the first community meeting in January.
Sixty-four percent of respondents said the project (excluding Caller Street) suits their travel and recreation needs, while 96 percent supported incorporation of public art along the Riverwalk. Respondents were split on the Caller Street component, with 43 percent preferring an art walk/performance space and 43 percent opting for a leisurely lawn and deck space.
With respect to Caller Street, respondents cited several elements they felt were missing from the design, including security cameras, barbecue fire pits, covered areas for rain, signage on the Native American history of the river, space for food trucks and restrooms.
Callahan said the project is in phase two, and is expected to be completed in June. Phase two includes the preparation of plans to bring Riverwalk to 75 percent design. All permit applications are ready to go, and are expected to be secured during phase three. The project will reach 100 percent design sometime in 2022-23.
Additional grants will be sought, comprehensive environmental work will be conducted and a remediation plan will be developed. Grant sources include EPA Cleanup, the Gateway Cities Greenway Park Program, Municipal Vulnerability Preparedness (MVP) Action, Member Designated Projects (MDP) and the Community Preservation Act (CPA).
To date, the project has received $441,588 in funding from the city and $1.36 million from state and federal sources.
For more information, go to www.tinyurl.com/RiverwalkWebinar2 or contact Callahan via email at [email protected], or call 978-538-5780.
