Medford Releases Results Of ARPA Survey, To Fund Parks, Housing, More

MEDFORD, MA — The City of Medford has closed its American Rescue Plan survey and will outline the results at a virtual community meeting via zoom on Nov. 9 at 6p.m., Mayor Breanna Lungo-Koehn said Monday.

Upon the signing of the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) by President Biden in March 2021 Medford was allocated nearly $50 million in federal stimulus funding over a four-year period. The funding must be allocated to eligible pandemic-affected programs and resources.

After allocating a percentage to existing fiscal needs — such as over $20 million to revenue replacement and needs outlined by city staff who are working every day to help those most affected by COVID-19 — some of the over $20 million remaining will be invested directly into community projects, programs, and initiatives as well as water and sewer infrastructure, open space need, and more.

“The data we received from this survey will help inform our future project investments and allow us to better understand where there are unmet needs in our community,” Lungo-Koehn said in a statement. “While the projects we’ve already allocated funding for closely match the wishes of our residents, we’re now equipped with additional information from the public that will allow us to better craft our strategy to closely align with their priorities.”

The survey, launched in July, was distributed in multiple languages and aimed at helping gather community input and priorities for how to best allocate a portion of the remaining ARPA funding.

Respondents ranged from a broad cross section of backgrounds and demographics — making up varying income, education and housing levels — and highlighted several areas of interest for the City to invest funding.

Per the data, the top three eligible areas where the city should allocate ARPA funding are:

• Water/Sewer/Street improvements — 64.2 percent
• Improvements to outdoor green and park spaces — 61.5 percent
• Investment in Social Services (housing services, food assistance, mental health services, childcare) — 60.3 percent

These results closely reflect the priorities of the City’s ARPA strategy and to date, Lungo-Koehn said. About 80 projects have been approved that fulfill these expenditure areas.

Here is a list of projects currently underway or approved in Medford:

• Public Health
  • Rapid COVID-19 tests
  • Multi-language Kiosk payment system
  • Water Filling stations installed in our schools
  • Public Health Rodent Program
  • Voting Booth upgrades
• Negative Economic Impact
  • Renovation of Tufts Pool Deck
  • Free one-month trial memberships of Bluebikes to low-income residents
  • McGlynn Playground Redesign
  • Support for Community Memorial Gardens at MPS
  • Parking Meter upgrades in Medford Square
• Public Sector Workforce
  • Admin support in the Board of Health
  • Community Social Worker
  • Board of Health 5 Multilingual Community Liaisons Project
  • Health Equity and Outreach Coordinator
  • Translation Services for communications
  • Economic Development Planner
• Infrastructure
  • Sewer lining upgrades
  • Centralized wastewater treatment projects on Main Street and Mystic Avenue
  • DPW Water Meter System
  • Flood mitigation projects
  • Lead Rebate Program
  • Water/Sewer/Street upgrades on Pinkert Street

Residents will receive a more comprehensive presentation of current and future projects, along with a thorough breakdown of data compiled from the ARPA survey, at the Nov.9 meeting. For more info, including zoom information, visit medfordma.org/arpa.