PEABODY — Now that the City Council has approved a resolution to file and accept grants from the state’s Parkland Acquisitions and Renovations for Communities program, the city is moving full speed ahead on the James Street Eco-Campus Hub project.
City Planner Andrew Levin said construction on the project may begin as early as the summer of 2022. The cost of the project is approximately $645,000. The city has allocated that sum in Community Preservation Act funds.
“This one’s really exciting as it hits all the tabs as it includes several different components in just one project,” Levin said. “It has such incredible possibilities on so many levels, so while we got sidetracked a little by COVID, we believe we are on track to start next summer. It’s just an awesome project.”
The main focus of the plan is to create a system of pathways that provides greater access to the Higgins Middle School, recreational parcels in the immediate area, and access and connection to the surrounding neighborhood.
“The project will provide safer access to the Higgins as well as greater connectivity within the James Street Park, Emerson Park and the middle school areas,” said Levin. “There will also be more opportunities for outdoor use. People will be able to park at the school and connect to James Street and Emerson Park. There are many unofficial trails that already exist and there will be more open green space as well,” adding that a recently-completed path through Emerson as part of a complete streets project will also enhance access to recreational opportunities.
The hub’s ultimate restoration was guided in principle by the 2015 Recreation and Open Space Plan and the 2020 Perkins Street Eco-Campus Connectivity Report, which will enhance the facility with improved infrastructure, path systems, universal access, and other amenities.
Approximately $400,000 of the total cost will be reimbursed from grants from the Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs (EEA) that will be used to bring the project from 75 to 100 percent design and permitting and also cover certain construction costs. EEA offers reimbursable grants to cities and towns to support the preservation and restoration of urban parks through the Parkland Acquisitions and Renovations for Communities grant program.
The Hub is dedicated to park and recreation purposes under Massachusetts General Law Chapter 45, Section 14, which states “the foregoing provisions shall apply to land and buildings acquired for playground purposes, or for park and playground purposes, but shall not apply to land and buildings acquired solely for park purposes. For the purposes aforesaid, any city or town may appropriate money, and may employ teachers, supervisors and other officers, and may fix their compensation.”
Levin explained that Section 14 requires that funding is limited to property that is restricted to permanent use for park or recreational purposes under the provisions of the deed, thereby satisfying the provisions of Section 14.
With the City Council’s unanimous vote, Mayor Edward A. Bettencourt Jr. is now authorized to file and accept grants from the EEA and is empowered to take actions necessary to carry out the terms, purposes, and conditions of the grant, which will be administered by the Community Development and Planning Department.
