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Commissioners press for accessible walkway at Hicksbridge Landing as Seaport grant details remain unclear
Summary
Commission members reported new floats installed at Hicksbridge Landing but said the walkway to them is not yet wheelchair‑accessible; they will follow up with project leads and verify whether Seaport economic grant funding and any ADA set‑aside will cover required access improvements.
Commissioners raised concerns on June 22 that although new floats have been installed at Hicksbridge Landing, the connecting walkway and surfacing have not been made wheelchair‑accessible.
Members said the project included new parking spaces but that the hard surface/access route to the floats remains incomplete. The commission agreed to do a site visit and to follow up with project leads, including Jeff Paul and representatives who applied for Seaport economic grant funds, to confirm timelines and funding. One commissioner flagged a town set‑aside (they described a common practice of reserving a portion of grant awards for ADA accessibility) but staff reported that the Mass Office on Disability contact referenced (Jeff Dugan) was not aware of a universal 10–20% set‑aside and advised verifying the specific grant terms.
Why it matters: installing accessible surfacing and clear pedestrian routes is necessary to translate new floating infrastructure into usable access for people who use mobility devices; commissioners said handicap parking is only meaningful if there is an accessible route to the facility.
Next steps: commission members will arrange a walk‑through of Hicksbridge Landing, contact project leads about the grant and invoice timing, and request documentation on any ADA‑related set‑aside or grant conditions before committing town funds.
