LYNN — Barry Park has been awarded a $400,000 grant from the Parkland Acquisitions and Renovations for Communities (PARC) program as part of an $8 million investment to improve and expand park infrastructure and critical lands across the commonwealth.
The Baker-Polito administration awarded $10.09 million in grant funding for park improvements, open space acquisitions, and land conservation projects in 37 Massachusetts communities and six conservation districts.
The funding for Barry Park will go towards making it more accessible and enjoyable for the community by removing the concrete bleachers on Waterford Street that currently block access to the park.
The grant will also be used to expand previous surfaces in an area that is prone to frequent flooding and to plant shade trees to expand the canopy along Waterford Street and the park’s edge.
Mayor Thomas M. McGee said this funding is wonderful news for Barry Park and the city.
Located at the Community Path along the Northern Strand Trail, which is under construction by the state to link environmental justice neighborhoods with one another, Barry Park will offer Lynn residents and visitors a direct path to the Lynn waterfront.
“Combined with the Northern Strand Community Path, our flood mitigation efforts, and our current splash pad and court restoration project, this funding is key to dramatically increasing usage and access to Barry Park,” McGee said. “In addition, these funds will go a long way in contributing to the health, vibrancy, and quality of life of the surrounding neighborhood.”
Ward 7 Councilor Jay Walsh, who represents the area, thanked everyone involved in the project, describing working to get the funding as a team effort.
“As long as I can remember, the park’s dilapidated bleachers have been a blight on the neighborhood,” Walsh said. “The combination of the removal of the bleachers and the installation of a new splash pad will make Barry Park a much safer and more enjoyable recreational spot for everyone.”
State Sen. Brendan Crighton (D-Lynn) said that while this funding will go a long way toward making Barry Park more accessible and enjoyable for all, he is thrilled to see this historic park that he grew up playing at modernized and improved.
The Baker-Polito administration awarded $8 million through the PARC Grant Program to support 24 projects that will support the development of parks and outdoor recreational assets. The remaining $1.2 million was awarded to four projects through the LAND Grant Program.
Lynn Community Development Director James Marsh thanked the state delegation and Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs for this funding, as well as Walsh for his advocacy.
“In 2019, we made a commitment to rehabilitate Barry Park,” Marsh said. “These funds, which the city will match with $180,000 in Community Development funds, will go a long way in making that commitment a reality.”
State Rep. Peter Capano (D-Lynn) also thanked the state delegation, McGee and Walsh, saying the removal of the “decades-old, crumbling bleachers will allow for greater use and enjoyment of this outdoor space by families for years to come.”
Gov. Charlie Baker said Massachusetts has great open spaces and natural resources that not only provide recreation and access to the great outdoors, but make the commonwealth more resilient to the impacts of climate change.
“Our administration has made land conservation and local park improvements a key priority since coming into office in 2015,” Baker said. “Our proposal to direct $100 million of federal relief funding into parks and open spaces will allow us to invest even more resources into these important projects, especially in gateway cities and underserved communities that need better access to green spaces.”
The PARC program was established in 1977 to assist cities and towns in acquiring and developing land for parks and outdoor recreation purposes.
Any community with an up-to-date Open Space and Recreation Plan is eligible to apply for the program.
Since 2015, the administration has awarded $47 million to 153 projects to acquire land for and build new parks, and renovate existing ones.
