Contact: Diane Rossini-Smith
Contact Email: drossini@easthamptonma.gov
Easthampton Granted $304,800 For Climate Resiliency Design In New City Neighborhood
Easthampton, MA - The City of Easthampton received a grant of $304,800 for Municipal Vulnerability Preparedness (MVP) 2.0 to continue the Emerald Place Resiliency design. This grant pushes the larger project to finalized designs, including slope stabilization, road, sidewalk drainage, and infrastructure improvements, and a pedestrian bridge on Ferry St. Community engagement continues with New City residents, incorporating feedback from the initial design with regular public updates. The award is a collaboration between the Department of Public Works (DPW), the Planning Department, the Easthampton City Arts, and the Mayor’s Office.
"This MVP Action Grant will allow us to start to tackle a drainage issue we have seen growing over recent years in the New City neighborhood," said Staff Engineer Diane Rossini-Smith. "These public dollars stabilize the slope and manage upstream drainage that has damaged the slope using both old (pipes) and new (green infrastructure) practices."
High-level concepts of this are shown in the “City of Easthampton Green Infrastructure Master Plan” completed as part of the FY21 MVP Action Grant, the New City Planning Study completed as part of the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program, and the initial designs completed as part of the FY23 MVP Action Grant. This project is part of a larger multi-year investment in the New City neighborhood to improve the aging infrastructure, underground (water, sewer, drainage, etc.) and above ground (roads, sidewalks, parks, bikeways).
Climate resiliency and mitigation remain a high priority for Mayor LaChapelle’s administration - protecting residents, property, and jobs. These projects buffer neighborhoods from increased precipitation, temperature extremes, and drought. Green infrastructure interventions include additional tree cover for shade, new sidewalks for better walkability, safety, and enhanced connectivity to open space and retail. Recognizing the tradition of public art in the City, the grant funds the design of a public climate resiliency art piece in New City.
The Healey-Driscoll Administration added $31.5 million to the MVP 2.0 program, providing communities with funding and technical support to identify climate hazards, develop strategies to improve resilience, and implement priority actions to adapt to climate change.
More information about the City’s MVP projects on our website: https://www.easthamptonma.gov/400/Municipal-Vulnerability-Preparedness
More information about the City’s New City Neighborhood Project: https://www.easthamptonma.gov/568/New-City-Infrastructure-Improvements