Committee forwards $1.05 million state planning grant for Tower Hill waterfront to full council

The Lawrence City Budget and Finance Committee on Oct. 15 voted unanimously to forward to the full City Council authorization to expend a $1,054,800 Municipal Vulnerability Preparedness (MVP) Action Grant from the Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs for the two‑year Refuge to River planning project in the Lower Tower Hill waterfront area.

The grant, as presented by Daniel McCarthy, planning director for the City of Lawrence, funds a planning effort to develop roughly 12 acres of city‑owned riverfront land north of the Boys & Girls Club and running toward the city water treatment facility on Riverside Drive. The grant is split across two fiscal years: about $368,000 in fiscal 2026 and about $686,700 in fiscal 2027, McCarthy said.

The nut graf: the project aims to create an environmentally sensitive waterfront esplanade and neighborhood connections while building climate resilience. City staff described year one as concept development and community engagement and year two as producing 60% design plans, cost estimates and preparation for permitting.

McCarthy said the city will partner with Groundwork Lawrence and consulting firm Woodard & Curran on outreach, design and technical work. Groundwork representatives Brad Buscher and Eddie Rosa told the committee engagement with nearby residents will guide park amenities and access. Buscher described the site as “rare” for its size and nearly a mile of waterfront on the north side of the Merrimack River, and said the core amenity would be a waterfront esplanade that could link to broader trail priorities between Lawrence and Lowell.

Committee members pressed staff on environmental and safety issues. McCarthy and Groundwork noted parts of the site lie within mapped flood areas and state BioMap core habitat, which will shape design and regulatory review; McCarthy said the project will likely require review under the Massachusetts Environmental Policy Act. Councilor Vivian Marmol and others raised concerns about flooding risk, river safety (including risks when the river is frozen), parking near planned entry points, and a history of encampments on the site.

Groundwork and city staff said safety measures will be discussed during concept development and engagement and emphasized design strategies to discourage unsafe shoreline access rather than continuous fencing, which they said could be cost‑prohibitive and reduce public access. Staff also noted plans to improve site signage and a kiosk, add lighting and ensure emergency access, and to coordinate with the police department, the city’s homeless coordinator and social‑service providers. McCarthy said the grant includes subawards for local partners; the committee was told those would include the Boys & Girls Club and institutions providing outreach and case management services.

Councilors stressed the need for multiple neighborhood meetings to gather resident input and requested that staff prioritize parking planning at entry points near the Boys & Girls Club. Marmol said she has walked the full river trail and expects to be actively involved in neighbor engagement.

The committee motioned to send the authorization to the full City Council with a favorable recommendation. The motion was made by Council President Giovanni Rodriguez, seconded by Councilor Vivian Marmol, and approved in a 4–0 roll call (Council President Giovanni Rodriguez: yes; Councilor Wendy Luzon: yes; Councilor Vivian Marmol: yes; Committee Chair Infante: yes).