The Healey-Driscoll Administration announced Tuesday over $27.8 million in grant funding for park improvements and open space acquisitions across Massachusetts. Among the projects is the proposed Jackson Street Playground Park in Downtown Lowell.
According to City Manager Tom Golden, the Mill City project at 68 Jackson St. was originally slated to cost about $1.5-million. However, the city scaled it back to a little over a million dollars, which would be paid for using AARPA money.
The state is throwing in $500,000 in additional funding, allowing the city to add more usable space and expanding the creation of the “new inclusive and resilient pocket park featuring a play wall, seating, dynamic landforms, resilient plantings, rain gardens and a diverse tree canopy .
The Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs (EEA) awarded Parkland Acquisitions and Renovations for Communities (PARC), Local Acquisitions for Natural Diversity (LAND), Conservation Partnership, Cranberry Bog Acquisition for Restoration, and Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) grants that will support 54 communities. The five grant programs will help municipalities and land trusts safeguard land for outdoor recreation, biodiversity, climate change mitigation, and other purposes.
EEA Secretary Rebecca Tepper announced the awards at a meeting of the Resilient Lands Conservation Coalition. The coalition is a recently formed partnership between state agencies and nonprofit land conservation organizations in Massachusetts, co-convened by EEA and Mass Audubon.
“Investing in parks and open space is critical for our state’s resilience against climate change, tackling issues like urban heat islands, flooding, sea level rise, and drought,” said Governor Maura Healey. “These projects boost public health, drive tourism, and strengthen our economy. By aligning our grants with the Resilient Lands Initiative, we commit to creating sustainable communities and safeguarding our natural resources for future generations.”
“The Resilient Lands vision prioritizes the well-being of Massachusetts communities by focusing on land conservation. Projecting forests, farms, and soils creates healthier and safer spaces for residents, supports local agriculture, and strengthens community ties,” said Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll. “The grants we are awarding today all play an important role in reaching that vision and empowering neighborhoods to thrive and flourish.”
The PARC Grant Program, which was established in 1977, supports cities and towns in their efforts to acquire and develop land for park and outdoor recreation purposes.
This program includes two categories of grants.
The first category is the Small Town grant, designed for towns with less than 35,000 residents, and offers a maximum grant award of $100,000. The second category is for cities and towns with more than 35,000 residents and provides a maximum grant award of $500,000.
