By Gianna Ferace ’25
Beverly and Salem have been given a $425K grant for coastal resilience for the North Shore’s shoreline project. $325,000 was given to Beverly to design a resilient Lynch Park. The other $110,00 went to Salem, in order to create a pathway and bank restoration on Winter Island.
Recently, former mayor of Salem, Kim Driscoll, stated that she knows “…firsthand the challenges our cities and towns are facing when it comes to tackling coastal flooding and erosion. Our coastlines are part of Massachusetts’ culture, and these grants will help provide support needed to ensure our communities can develop pragmatic approaches to maintain their quality of life.”
Governor Maura Healy also added that “In the past year, we’ve seen extreme storms bring catastrophic damage across the state. We need urgent action to address these escalating impacts of climate change.”
So what exactly will the funding do? Beverly plans to use the grant to evaluate the potential impacts of climate change to the seawall. They will also develop plans to mitigate flooding as well as drainage and protecting public access and the amenities at Lynch.
Salem’s funding will go toward coastal erosion at Winter Island. They will focus on community engagement, pedestrian management, and assessments of shoreline erosion and invasive plants. Salem officials said the project will help preserve a valuable recreational and historical resource in the city.
The common goal of the grant project is to help preserve valuable pieces of the North Shore and ensure their future for years to come!
