Newton Awarded $340K MassTrails Grant For Marty Sender Greenway

NEWTON, MA — The City of Newton has received a $340,298 MassTrails Grant from the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) to complete the second phase of the Marty Sender Greenway Restoration, a 3,700-foot section of the Blue Heron Trail along the Charles River in Auburndale known as the “Riverwalk.”

Newton’s project was among 81 chosen from 167 applications submitted to DCR. The grant will help the city with accessibility, safety, and environmental improvements along the Marty Sender Greenway.

“Over the last couple of years, the importance of the Commonwealth’s trails and other natural resources has never been greater for children and families seeking to get outside and explore nature,” Governor Charlie Baker said in a statement. “By partnering with organizations like the Conine Family Foundation and working with municipalities across the state, we will continue our ongoing efforts to provide a high level of access for people of all abilities to enjoy.”

According to Mayor Ruthanne Fuller, the first phase of the Marty Sender Greenway Restoration improved the first 1,000-feet of existing, degraded path and made four wooded outlooks wheelchair accessible. It will be completed in the next few weeks.

Phase 2 improvements will allow the Marty Sender Greenway to better withstand increasingly frequent flooding and provide universal access. In addition, it will enhance the circulation of water between the Charles Rivers and wetlands, expand wildlife habitat, and reestablish the natural ebb and flow within the flood plain behind Lyons field.

The design and permitting process for Phase 2 is slated to begin this summer and go out to bid by the Spring of 2023, Fuller said.

All MassTrails Grant Program applications are reviewed by the governor’s inter-agency Trails Team and the Massachusetts Recreational Trails Advisory Board (MARTAB). The program provides essential funding for project development, design, and construction of shared-use pathways.

Fore more information on The MassTrails Grant Program, click here.