Norwood Receives $50K Grant For New Park

NORWOOD, MA - General Manager Tony Mazzucco, Planning and Economic Development Director Paul Halkiotis and Conservation Agent & Environmental Planner Holly Jones announced last week that the Town of Norwood is a recipient of a 2022 MassTrails grant of $50,000.

Norwood was awarded the grant to help fund a full engineering design of the Bernie Cooper Riverfront Park in South Norwood. Norwood's 2022 Special Town Meeting allocated the funds for engineering and construction of the park from Community Preservation Act funds as well as general funds. This grant will reimburse a portion of the allocated funds.

“We are thankful to residents for supporting the creation of the Bernie Cooper Riverfront Park at this year's Town Meeting and look forward to putting this grant toward the planning and construction of the park," Jones said. "We are grateful to the Baker-Polito Administration and the MassTrails program for this funding, and are excited for the Norwood community to be able to enjoy all this park will have to offer in the future.”

The Bernie Cooper Riverfront Park, sometimes formerly referred to as the "Saints Streets Lot"
because of its location behind Saint John Avenue, Saint Joseph Avenue and Saint Paul
Avenue, was purchased by the town in 2020 using CPA funds for Conservation and Recreation. It is named for deceased assistant town manager who died last year after serving Norwood for nearly a half-century.

The nearly 7-acre lot lies next to Eliot Field and the Balch Elementary School and is
bordered by the Neponset River and Hawes Brook. It is also less than a half-mile from
the Coakley Middle School, Hawes Pool and Endean Park and is served by the 34E bus route
on Washington Street.

A community design process last summer resulted in a conceptual design and construction budget for the park. Residents overwhelmingly favored an accessible and natural trail design that would help visitors feel immersed in nature. The concept also features green stormwater designs, river overlooks, and a nature play area and outdoor classroom on the side closest to the Balch School.

The Bernie Cooper Riverfront Park is one of 81 trail improvement projects across the state to receive part of $11.4 million in funding. The MassTrails Grant Program supports projects that build public-private partnerships to maintain and improve existing trails and construct new ones across the state. This year’s projects will help communities develop new multi-use trails, expand accessibility, create connections between towns and existing trails, support the construction of boardwalks and bridges, design and install new signage, and acquire new land for trails.

The town may also receive up to $717,000 in funding reimbursement for the construction of the park from the Land and Water Conservation Fund. The state has recommended this project for funding to the Department of the Interior, where it is being reviewed as part of the federal funding process.