Recreation Feasibility 2014 CPA annual report
Recreation Feasibility Study 2014 CPA Report
Joint project of: Recreation Commission, Recreation Department, Planning and Sustainability
The Recreation Feasibility Study has funded due diligence and feasibility necessary for six projects
1. New Recreation Complex: Identified what is now Florence Recreation Fields.
2. Riverfront park: Identified what is now the Connecticut River Greenway riverfront park and
identified what could be included, helping leverage donation of land to city.
3. Connecticut River Greenway trail: Identified what is now the Connecticut River Greenway trail
concept.
4. Parcel C: Identified what portion of the Northampton State Hospital could become permanently
protected as the Ray Ellerbrook Recreation Area and would not be needed for other municipal uses.
5. Rail Trail connectivity: Identified the opportunity to connect the City’s rail trail network with the
state network and what is now the planned MassCentral rail trail underpass.
6. Ellerbrook Recreation Area: Survey identified land appropriate for recreation without preventing
the use of the remainder of the parcel for a future fire station, leveraging the permanent
preservation of this land.
In 2014, the project funded:
1. Stewardship: helped build capacity of new Friends of Northampton Recreation as a stewardship
partner.
2. Florence Fields Recreation Area: helped with the feasibility phase of a new recreation pavilion.
3. Lampron Park: helped do feasibility and basic work to convert unprotected Lampron Park into a
protected park.
Current Status
$17,795 of the original $40,000 grant remain. We expect to spend all of these funds over the next year:
1. Feasibility of new community gardens targeted for environmental justice communities.
2. Feasibility of rail trail extensions north and west.
Submitted, on behalf of the Parks and Recreation Department, Parks and Recreation Commission, and
Planning and Sustainability by Wayne Feiden, FAICP, Director of Planning and Sustainability.