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