Committee refers proposed Upper Cushnet River public rowing dock to full council after questions about outreach and site selection

The finance committee voted Wednesday to refer to the full City Council a Community Preservation Committee recommendation to fund a public rowing dock on the Upper Cushnet River (Acushnet River) at the Aravox site.

Presenters from the Community Preservation Committee described two parallel efforts: creation of an Upper Acushnet rowing center and development of RiverWalk access points. Mary Raposa, working with the CPC, told the committee there were two public meetings — March 8, 2023, and March 28, 2024 — with “over 40 folks in attendance” and that an advisory committee of public members and city staff guided site selection and dock design.

Why it matters: the project would create a public, no‑fee launch site for kayaks, canoes, rowing shells and Azorean whaleboats and is intended to expand non‑motorized access to the north side of the river. Some rowing community members said they felt excluded from the advisory process, and councilors requested more documentation on outreach, advisory‑committee selection and the comparative analysis of sites.

Site selection, users and maintenance Raposa said the advisory group evaluated three sites: Market Basket (ruled out because the city does not own the parcel), Sawyer Street (a bulkhead site under EPA oversight and judged to require more infrastructure), and the Aravox site (city‑controlled, shallow grade to the water and judged most suitable). On the Aravox site Raposa said engineers and dock fabricators recommended a low‑profile launch and that “we're confident that these docs are gonna be well received by the public.”

On use and access Raposa said, “Anyone. Anyone with a kayak, anyone with a canoe, anyone can use the docks.” She added the docks are intended to remain free and open to the public; initially they will not be scheduled or staffed, and the city (DPI/parks) would maintain them.

Transparency and advisory committee composition Several councilors said the project appears broadly supported but raised concerns about transparency and representation. Councilors questioned how the advisory committee was formed and why some rowing interests felt excluded. Raposa said the advisory committee members were drawn from participants at the public meetings and included representatives from New Bedford Rowing Center, New Bedford Community Rowing, the Azorean Maritime Heritage Society, Whaling City Rowing and New Bedford Public Schools. She noted the organization Row New Bedford formed in August and that many of its members had been represented through earlier organizations at the time the advisory group was formed.

Design and timeline Raposa said the proposed dock would be accessible and sized to berth multiple vessel types; she described plans that include approximately 200 feet of main dock length (longer with wings) to accommodate rowing shells and traditional whaleboats. She said the Aravox site could be built quickly if funded and that the city envisages multiple launch points along the RiverWalk in the future.

Action The committee voted to accept the CPC recommendation and to refer the CPA project to the full City Council for approval. Committee members said they will expect meeting minutes, documentation of outreach and the advisory committee’s deliberations to be provided to councilors before the full council vote.