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CT River Greenway CPA Application 2016Connecticut River Greenway CPA Application 1 COMMUNITY PRESERVATION PROJECT APPLICATION COVER SHEET I: Project Information Project Title: Connecticut River Greenway Boathouse Parking Area and Accessible Boarding Pier Project Summary: CPA Funding is sought to complete the Connecticut River Greenway on Damon Road and allow the City to accept a 100% matching grant. CPA funds were previously awarded for acquisition and development of the site, as well as a user-friendly entrance gate. Northampton Youth and Community Rowing has erected a popular new boathouse using other funds, and we would like to complete paving and add an accessible boat dock. CPA funds will be used as the required local match for a federal (through the state) Land and Water Conservation Fund grant that we anticipate receiving this fall. Estimated start date: Spring 2017. Estimated completion date: Fall 2017 CPA Program Area (check all that apply): Open Space Historic Preservation Community Housing  Recreation II: Applicant/Developer Information Contact Person and or/primary applicant: Wayne Feiden, FAICP Property Owner (if applicable): City of Northampton Organization (if applicable): Office of Planning & Sustainability Mailing Address: PO Box 1553, Northampton MA 01060 Daytime phone #: 413-230-9254 Fax #: E-mail address: wfeiden@northamptonma.gov III: Budget Summary Total budget for project: $180,000 (for final paving portion of project only) CPA funding request: $90,000 CPA request as percentage of total budget: 50% Date Submitted: September 12, 2016________________ Connecticut River Greenway CPA Application 2 CONNECTICUT RIVER GREENWAY CPA APPLICATION Narrative: CPA funds are sought to continue development of the Connecticut River Greenway Park. Northampton searched for a site for riverfront access for many years; to include a dock, boathouse, protected riparian area, and recreation opportunities. We identified the ideal site, the former Lane Company asphalt batching plant on Damon Road. Through a combination of public and private partnerships and many different funding sources, and without the need for CPA funding, the site was secured in 2012. The park now includes 5.5 acres of protected conservation land and 6 acres of permanent parkland. With CPA and state funds the city developed the site to provide access to the Connecticut River, with a walkway, boat docks, interpretation of the New Haven and Northampton Canal, and parking. Through private fundraising, Northampton Youth and Community Rowing has developed a boathouse. The site is focused on rowing shells, sculling, canoes and kayaks and any non-motor watercraft and related tender boats. It is only the second boat access to the Connecticut River on Northampton’s seven miles of Connecticut River frontage. We have come a long way, but additional work is still needed to make the park the community gem that we have envisioned. The site includes a wheelchair accessible pathway from the parking lot all the way to the Connecticut River and to the edge of the New Haven and Northampton Canal. This allows users with disabilities to get to the water via a gangway that meets ADA guidelines for water levels most of the year, but doesn’t allow easy access to watercraft or to the river during the lowest water conditions. This project proposes funding for a fully accessible boarding pier ramp to provide full access to the water and to boats. The park is new, and we are still developing programming to be offered. However, we plan to offer programs for a variety of users and abilities, and want to ensure that our facilities are able to accommodate anyone and everyone who has an interest. There is no other site in Northampton that could provide this opportunity, and it is a major gap in our recreational inventory. CPA funds have been critical in development of the site so far, and the City has been actively planning for future programs as uses as required by a prior CPA award. Accessible use is proving to be a major component of these discussions. We are also seeking funding to complete necessary paving to allow the site to be fully ready to serve as a public recreational facility. Local Community Preservation Act and past funding provided enough funding only to be able to rough-coat the parking areas, and lay a 2.5” binder coat of asphalt on the access road to the dock. The project will allow the final wear coat of asphalt to be installed on the entire parking area, upper and lower, as well as the access to the dock. Two coats of asphalt are critical for the full life of the facility, and failure to provide it will result in premature failure. Additionally, and perhaps most important, the sidewalks, ramp, and dock were all designed to match the elevation of the wear coat. Without it installed, a site that was designed specifically with accessibility in mind includes unintentional obstacles. The majority of permitting for the site is in-hand and work is ready to begin at any time. Dependent upon the details of the accessible ramp, we may need only to modify existing wetlands permits. The overall project has included a great deal of community support. Senator Rosenberg, Representative Kocot, Former EEA Secretary Sullivan, Mayor Narkewicz, the Northampton Parks and Recreation Department and Office of Planning and Sustainability, Northampton Youth and Community Rowing, and dozens of donors and community members have all expressed the importance of the Park to the community, and it has begun to be highly utilized by a number of community groups and individuals. Connecticut River Greenway CPA Application 3 Budget: CPA funds will only be used as the required 50% local match for an expected Land and Water Conservation Fund grant. Project Element Cost Accessible Boarding Pier (design/build) $80,000 Final top wear coat of paving $100,000 Connecticut River Greenway CPA Application 4 Community Need The project created a new park in the most underserved section of the city (our only low income and minority environmental justice area more than a mile from any park). When complete, it will serve a city-wide unmet recreation area (access to the river) that is listed on both the city open space plan and the state outdoor recreation plan as among the greatest needs in the area. Northampton has seven miles of frontage on the Connecticut River, but until the creation of the Greenway Park, had only one public dock at the Elwell State Park. The items being requested for CPA funding will allow the Park to be more effectively used. Community Support The overall project has a great deal of community support. Senator Rosenberg, Representative Kocot, Former EOEEA Secretary Sullivan, Mayor Narkewicz, the Northampton Office of Planning and Sustainabilty and Parks and Recreation Department, and dozens of donors and community members have provided strong support and public hearings, meetings, site visits, and community fundraising solicitations. Community Preservation Criteria The project meets several Community Preservation general criteria: Serves more than one CPA program area The construction phase of the project is a Recreation project (access to, along, and into the river), but the overall project (acquisition of riverfront) serves both Open Space and Recreation. Contributes to the preservation of Northampton’s unique character, boosts the vitality of the community, and enhances the quality of life for its residents The project creates a new park, the city’s first riverfront park and the city’s first human-powered boat-focused park. The site also supports the largest single apartment complex in the City (River Run Apartments), a project that currently has no access to a city park (although it abuts a conservation area). The site will also help leverage future economic development (the Lane Business Park), whose taxes over a decade will be far more than the public investment in this project. This project will also, eventually, be linked to the community through an extension of the City’s multi-use trail network. Addresses recommendations contained in the Sustainable Northampton comprehensive plan and/or the Northampton Open Space, Recreation, and Mixed Use Trail Plan 2011- 2018 or is consistent with other city-wide planning efforts that have received broad- based scrutiny and input and can demonstrate wide community support Creation of a boathouse and river access at this site was specifically identified in the Open Space and Recreation Plan. Serves under-served populations Connecticut River Greenway CPA Application 5 The project will provide access to River Run condominiums, the largest low- income condominium complex in the city. The condos are currently isolated from other parks, as well as the rest of the City, by busy, unsafe roads. Places high value on sustainable, ecologically responsible, energy-conserving structures, locations, and materials; demonstrates that the project minimizes the ecological footprint The project will convert a former brownfields site into a park, preserving and enhancing the riverfront area, promoting safe low-carbon using recreation, and encouraging healthy recreation choices. Receives endorsement by community groups, municipal boards and/or departments and City residents. The project is supported by the Office of Planning and Sustainability, Recreation Commission, Conservation Commission, Transportation and Parking Commission, and Bicycle/Pedestrian Subcommittee, Northampton Youth and Community Rowing, and hundreds of city residents. Support letters supplied for the original project still apply. Leverages additional public and/or private funds, or demonstrates that other funding sources are not readily available or sufficient The total CPA commitment, if this project is approved, will still be 25% of the overall project ($1 CPA for each $3+ from other sources). All of the other funds have been leveraged from the community and other donors and grant sources. Demonstrates a high benefit/cost value The entire project will provide a huge value to the community at relatively low city CPA investment. The focus on this current application is improvements that will lengthen the life of the park and reduce future city costs. Can be implemented expeditiously and within budget The city has already received bids and awarded a contract so costs are a certain thing at this time. The project can be done quickly (over the next few months). The project also meets many of the specific Open Space and Recreation criteria: Open Space Criteria: Provide opportunities for passive recreation and environmental education Provide connections with existing non-motorized multi-use trails or potential trail linkages Preserve valuable surface water resources, including rivers, streams, lakes, ponds, wetlands, buffer zones, vernal pools and riparian zones Recreation Criteria: Support multiple active and passive recreation uses; Serve a significant number of residents; Connecticut River Greenway CPA Application 6 Expand the range of recreational opportunities available to Northampton residents of all ages Enhance the appreciation of the natural world and its conservation Contribute to the positive health status of its citizens Benefit conservation and recreation initiatives Maximize the utility of land already owned by Northampton (e.g. school property) Promote the creative use of former railway, waterways and other corridors, including connecting corridors, to create safe and healthful non-motorized transportation and exercise opportunities Incorporate environmentally friendly design and long-term maintenance Project Timeline: If funded, we will conduct the paving work in spring 2017, and will order an accessible dock immendaitely. Attachments: Photographs of Park and boathouse Boathouse and River Access The final wear coat of pavement will allow the pavement to match up with the elevation of curbing and stormwater structures The base coat of pavement is cracking at the edges of the dock access and the parking area New Boathouse and River Access