Chicopee accepts $100,000 DER grant for Abbey Brook phase 2; council appropriates $365,000 match

The Chicopee City Council on April 1 accepted a $100,000 grant from the Massachusetts Division of Ecological Restoration (DER) for phase 2 of the Abbey Brook revitalization project and approved a $365,000 appropriation from free cash to fund the next design steps.

City planner Lee Pouliot said phase 2 focuses on the undersized culvert under Front Street and another culvert through the Chicopee Electric Light parcel; the work aims to increase conveyance under Front Street, create a natural channel to the Chicopee River and abandon the aging culvert through the electric light parcel. "The proposal that went to DER was essentially to get us through some concept analysis and 25% or schematic design," Pouliot told the council. "I would anticipate the design development phase is gonna take us maybe a year and a half to 2 years before we're ready to bid a project for construction." Pouliot warned construction will require further design, engineering and permitting because the Front Street area contains significant infrastructure.

Councilors moved to receive and pass both the grant acceptance and the companion appropriation request. The grant acceptance motion was made by Councilor Goff; the appropriation motion was moved by Councilor Cushing. Roll calls recorded the motions passing (recorded tallies: grant acceptance—11 yes, 1 out of chair; appropriation—11 yes, 1 out of chair). Pouliot said the City would seek further DER awards for construction funding when the project advances.

Councilors said the project addresses documented infrastructure vulnerability at the Front Street crossing and will require additional design phases before construction funding and timelines can be established.