Malden Awarded $100K Grant To Develop Spot Pond Brook Greenway

MALDEN, MA — Malden has been awarded a $100,000 MassTrails grant to further develop the Spot Pond Brook Greenway.

The Greenway is envisioned as a multi-use corridor following the historic course of Spot Pond Brook through the center of downtown Malden. The goal is to connect pedestrians and bicyclists from the Oak Grove neighborhood in northern Malden to the Malden River and Northern Strand Community Trail as part of a larger shared-use path network.

The MassTrails grant will fund design, engineering and permitting work for Phase II of the Spot Pond Brook Greenway. This phase includes approximately 5,250 feet of paved shared-use path that will connect the MBTA's Oak Grove Orange Line Station to the Northern Strand Trail via Malden Center.

This new phase builds upon the success of Phase I of the project, which extended the shared use path along MBTA and DCR property adjacent to Oak Grove station in Melrose and Malden.

"This grant is great news for our ongoing efforts to improve access and safety for pedestrians and cyclists accessing Oak Grove station and the surrounding neighborhood," Sen. Jason Lewis said. "I want to thank, in particular, Ward 4 Councillor Ryan O'Malley for his hard work and advocacy in helping the city to secure this grant."

The MassTrails Grant Program supports projects that maintain and improve existing multi-use trails and construct new ones across the state. This year's projects will help communities address trail drainage, develop new trails, expand universal access, support the construction of boardwalks and bridges, design and install new signage, acquire new land for trails, and expand and maintain biking trails.

Funding for MassTrails comes from the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation's (DCR) capital budget, and from the motor fuel excise tax on off-road vehicles including ATV’s and snowmobiles.

"I would like to thank Senator Lewis, the legislative delegation, and the MassTrails Team for helping bring this project to Malden," Ward 4 Councillor Ryan O'Malley said. "As an Environmental Justice Community, projects like the Spot Pond Brook Greenway help bring much needed green space and recreational opportunities to Malden’s residents."