Town Manager Scott C. Crabtree Announces Town of Saugus Awarded $1 Million Grant for Final Design, Construction of Ballard Street RiverWalk Project

Photo: Town Manager Scott C. Crabtree and Lieutenant Governor Karyn Polito at the Seaport Economic Council meeting on Wednesday, February 27, 2019. 

(Saugus, MA) March 4, 2019 – Town Manager Scott C. Crabtree is pleased to announce that the Seaport Economic Council has awarded the Town of Saugus an additional $1 million towards the final design and construction of the first phase of the Ballard Street RiverWalk, a local development project spanned along the river aimed at providing direct access to the waterfront and economic development opportunities in the area. 

The Saugus RiverWalk, when completed, will help attract local citizens and leisure visitors alike to a newly accessible and inviting part of the Saugus River and set the stage for the establishment of new restaurant and retail businesses in the area.

The Seaport Economic Council is chaired by the Lieutenant Governor of the Commonwealth Karyn Polito and administered by the Executive Office of Housing and Economic Development with support from the Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs. The Council is working to challenge 78 coastal communities of Massachusetts to leverage their unique geographic advantages in order to grow jobs and the economy as well as prepare for the future as we confront the challenges posed by sea level rise and increasingly powerful coastal storms.

Lieutenant Governor Polito and the Seaport Economic Council awarded the Town with the grant during their meeting on Wednesday, February 27, 2019.

“I am extremely grateful that Lieutenant Governor Karyn Polito and the Seaport Economic Council have awarded the Town of Saugus additional grant funding for the final design and construction of phase one of the Saugus RiverWalk,” said Town Manager Scott Crabtree. “This partnership between the State and our local government brings us one step closer to the project’s completion, which will support the Town’s lobstermen and fishermen, improve public access to the riverfront, and encourage economic development. On behalf of the Town, I would like to thank Lieutenant Governor Polito and the rest of the Council for their continued support.”

Saugus is one of 6 communities and 4 educational institutions awarded funding at the recent Seaport Economic Council meeting for their initiatives to improve coastal public infrastructure and promote maritime economic development.  

Previously, the Town was awarded $120,000 through the Seaport Economic Council in November 2015 for the plan and design of the RiverWalk. The Town was awarded an additional $120,000 from the Seaport Economic Council in August 2017 for the design and permitting of phase one of the RiverWalk.

The Town has a potential to receive up to $3 to $3.5 million in grants from the design through construction phases of this project.

“This funding provides a tremendous opportunity for the Town of Saugus, and I am so thankful for the continued support from Lt. Governor Karyn Polio and the Seaport Economic Council, as well as the Town Manager for securing this essential additional funding,” said Board of Selectman Chair Debra Panetta. “Once complete, the Town of Saugus will benefit from the RiverWalk’s economic growth, maritime development, and local attractions.”   

A Brief History of the RiverWalk

The Seaport Economic Council’s grant approval comes after a long history tied to the location on the banks of the Saugus River. The first integrated iron mill in the United States was the Saugus Iron Works, a National Park site. Other mills followed in the 19th Century utilizing Saugus River hydropower.

In addition, the Saugus River has long been home to a small but vibrant fleet of commercial lobstermen. In 2003, the Town sought Seaport Council funding of badly needed renovations and improvements to Lobstermen’s Landing to better support the 26 commercial lobstermen who based their living there. With $750,000 from the Seaport Council, the Town was able to make the necessary repairs and improvements.

More recently in 2013, the Town’s Economic Development Committee launched a series of visioning sessions in which the public was invited to help craft a plan for the Saugus River waterfront. A common shared vision was to create a RiverWalk to increase public access to the river banks, to encourage the development of new tourism oriented business compatible with and supportive of the lobstering industry, and to create a seamless public pedestrian access way that connected significant public spaces and facilities along the Saugus River.

Four years ago, the Economic Development Committee proposed a Waterfront Mixed Use Overlay District zoning by-law, which was adopted by Town Meeting. This bylaw permits uses ranging from residential to light industrial, to office to hospitality enterprises.

Despite years of efforts, the Town’s lobster fleet has reduced to 20 licensed commercial fishermen. Now, the Town believes it is essential to introduce new facilities and businesses to help bolster the lobster fleet. With grant money from the Seaport Economic Council for the design and permitting for a new RiverWalk, the Town believes that reinvigoration of Lobsterman’s Landing is possible.

For more information, please contact the Town Manager’s office at 781-231-4111.

About The Town of Saugus

The Town of Saugus, Massachusetts, is a family-friendly, historic neighborhood Town located along the north shore, ten miles north of Boston. First settled in 1629, Saugus is home to historic sites, top-tier public services, and a thriving business community. Strong community support, a forward-thinking approach to town government, rich recreational opportunities, affordable choices, and easy access to all the amenities that Boston has to offer – they all contribute to make Saugus a Town where businesses flourish and families make their home.

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