Mayor James J. Fiorentini > Press Release

For Immediate Release, November 1, 2006

 Haverhill Receives $40,000 Urban River Visions Planning Grant

Mayor James J. Fiorentini, Congressman Martin Meehan, State Senator Steven Baddour and State Representative Brian Dempsey today announced that the City of Haverhill was one of six (6) communities in Massachusetts to be awarded a $40,000 Urban River Visions Grant from the State of Massachusetts.

This grant, which is to be used for planning, allows the City to design a series of boardwalks, trails, walkways and other means of connecting its citizens to the Merrimack River.

In announcing the grant, Mayor Fiorentini called it “part of our continuing effort to reconnect our citizens to the water front.”

The grant will allow the nationally recognized firm of Goody Clancy to come to Haverhill to do a series of community visioning meetings.  Those meetings will, in turn, result in a series of plans, designs and sketches on how Haverhill can better connect its citizens to the Merrimack River.  The next step is for the City to apply for grants to actually implement those visions.

Mayor Fiorentini said it his hope that ultimately these grants will lead to a series of boardwalks and bike trails along the Merrimack River:

“Our overall goal is to reconnect people to the water through a series of boardwalks and trails along both sides of the river.  We are a long way from achieving that, but this is a step in that direction.  This new grant is a perfect match for our 40R design standards and our application for a river front boardwalk.  ”

Congressman Martin Meehan, who wrote a letter in support of the grant said:

“The Urban River grant is great news for Haverhill and will help the city pursue innovative avenues to reconnect downtown Haverhill with the Merrimack River, maximizing the resources and opportunities for development that the river represents,"

State representative Brian Dempsey, who also supported the grant said:

"The Urban River Visions grant is an important aspect of the continued
revitalization of Haverhill's downtown," said Representative Dempsey. "The
Merrimack River is a key feature of the City; one that when fully utilized
can be both picturesque and economically beneficial. This grant is
tailor-made for cities like Haverhill and will allow for a plan to be
developed to best utilize this tremendous resource."

In making the announcement Mayor Fiorentini praised a number of people and groups who assisted in obtaining the grant. 

The grant application was filled out by Emily McCourt, the new Economic Development Specialist for the City who has also become, unofficially, the City’s grant writer. 

Fiorentini also praised local residents Larry Olasky and John Maddox worked with the city to provide information about the grant and to assist the city with the grant application. 

The Mayor also thanked elected officials including Congressman Martin Meehan, State Senator Steven Baddour, and State Representatives Brian Dempsey, Harriett Stanley and Barbara L’Italien all of whom wrote letters in support of the grant application.  “This was a team effort” said Fiorentini, and we thank all the members of the team who participated.