THE MALDEN ADVOCATE–Friday, September 1, 2023 Page 9 Resilient Mystic Collaborative communities secure $5.7M in MVP grants for climate resilience Grants will help communities manage heat and fl ooding G overnor Maura Healey’s announcement of $31.5 million in FY2024 Municipal Vulnerability Preparedness (MVP) grants included nearly $5.7 million in funding for community-designed projects to prevent harm to residents, workers and resources in Resilient Mystic Collaborative (RMC) cities and towns. Convened by 10 Mystic River watershed communities and the Mystic River Watershed Association (MyRWA) in September 2018 and now led by senior staff from 20 cities and towns and nongovernmental partners, the RMC focuses on managing fl ooding and extreme heat on a regional scale and increasing the resilience of our most vulnerable residents and workers to extreme weather. These MVP grants bring the total resources secured for climate resilient projects to $61.4 million in state, federal and foundation grants since the voluntary partnership began, with the goal of at least doubling that amount by 2026, when new federal grant programs begin to sunset. “We have an unprecedented opportunity to position Massachusetts as a global leader in climate change mitigation and adaptation, and the MVP program is an important piece of our strategy,” said Energy and Environmental Aff airs Secretary Rebecca Tepper. “The Healey-Driscoll Administration is glad to support our local communities with funding for innovative climate resilience projects that center environmental justice and nature-based solutions.” By far the largest grant — nearly $3 million — went to the Malden River Works (MRW) project, a planned riverfront park designed by the MRW Project Team under the supervision of Community MVP Grant Title Boston Regional Climate Resilience and Recreation in Boston, Revere, and Belle Isle Marsh Burlington Retrofits to Facilities that Host or Serve Priority Populations Chelsea Chelsea Everett Everett Malden Medford Revere Revere Winthrop Woburn Advancing the Vision for a Resilient & Community Focused Eastern Avenue Heat Mitigation at Chelsea's Elementary Schools Resilient and Accessible Habitat at Rivergreen on the Malden River Creating oases in our hottest neighborhoods: increasing urban forest health through green-grey solutions in the Mystic Watershed Malden River Works Medford Urban Forest Vulnerability Assessment Diamond Creek Catchment Climate Resilience Improvements Design and Permitting SPRARR-Regional Prioritization and Design Project Belle Isle Marsh as a Nature Based Solution to Coastal Flooding: Regional Collaboration and Morton Street Neighborhood Design and Permitting Hurld Park Heat Resilient Park the MRW Steering Committee, which, according to the MRW website, “is made up of a majority of resident leaders of color, along with city government representatives, and a resident environmental advocate.” “These funds will alleviate stormwater fl ooding while fi ltering pollutants and toxins before they reach the Malden River,” said MRW Steering Committee Chairperson Marcia Manong. “Using both green and gray infrastructure, we will mitigate the dual impacts of climate change-fueled heat and fl ooding. I consider this a win not just for nearby environmental justice communities but for all of Malden.” “It’s really extraordinary what communities can accomplish when they pool their time, expertise, and aspirations,” said MyRWA Executive Director Patrick Herron. “We are so grateful that the MVP program is enabling these great local leaders to put ideas into action to protect their most vulnerable people and resources from extreme weather.” “This grant helps the City significantly upgrade its Department of Public Works yard to prevent stormwater runoff and other contaminants from finding their way into the Malden River,” said Malden Mayor Gary Christenson. “These improvements are essential to the completion of the Malden River Works Park, which will provide the only signifi cant public access to Malden’s riverfront.” “Boston and Revere received $330,500 from MVP to partner on the design of coastal resilience infrastructure, recreational open space, and ecological restoration along Bennington Street in East Boston and Frederick’s Park in Revere,” said Boston's EnvironGrant funding $330,500 $90,600 $339,000 $315,690 $97,795 $390,725 $2,998,049 $106,500 $386,911 $154,717 $291,076 $180,500 Projects funded by the MVP Grants for Climate Resilience ment Department Climate Resilience Project Manager, Catherine McCandless. “This funding will help us take the next step to protect our neighborhoods from coastal fl ooding while enhancing valuable open space for people and wildlife.” In addition, Revere received $154,000 for continued support of a regional climate resilience partnership among Revere, Lynn, Malden, Everett and Malden called the Saugus Pines River Advocates for Regional Resiliency (SPRARR). “Working together as a region to implement solutions in partnership with state agencies increases our capacity and ultimately yields a better long term solution for addressing climate change and the immediate threat of sea-level rise for communities in the Saugus/ Pines River Watershed,” said Revere’s Open Space and Environmental Planner, Elle Baker. Everett received two grants totaling nearly $490,000 to cool down urban heat islands in residential neighborhoods and continue to improve a much-needed waterfront park. “The work that we are doing at the state, regional, and local level to fi nd new solutions to address our ever changing climate is critical,” said Mayor Carlo DeMaria. “Increasing the capacity of our community to off er residents recreational green spaces where they can gather as families and with neighbors to cool off during summers is an important part of this ongoing eff ort.” Several other RMC communities also received grants: Malden River Works Concept (Credit to Landing Studio) “Winthrop is excited to announce that it received a $291,076 grant to design and permit a nature-based project to manage coastal fl ooding coming in from Belle Isle Marsh,” said Director of Planning and Development Rachel Kelly. “Burlington received $90,000 from MVP to identify and assist fl ood-prone facilities that serve priority populations in the Upper Mystic Watershed,” said Burlington Assistant Conservation Administrator Eileen Coleman. “Medford received $106,400 from MVP for our Tree Warden Aggie Tuden to do an Urban Forest Vulnerability Assessment,” said Director of Planning, Development & Sustainability Alicia Hunt. Woburn Mayor Scott Galvin said, “Being part of this group has enabled us to secure resources and funding for important community climate change projects, including design work for the 11.3-acre climate-resilient Hurld Park. This MVP funding award of $180,500 will help us reach 90% construction drawings for the heat-resilient portion of the park.” Chelsea received two grants, totaling nearly $655,000, to better manage heat along walking routes to the city’s elementary schools and make the highly industrial Eastern Avenue safer, cooler, more welcoming and less prone to coastal fl ooding. RESILIENT | SEE PAGE 12 Need a hall for your special event? The Schiavo Club, located at 71 Tileston Street, Everett is available for your Birthdays, Anniversaries, Sweet 16 parties and more? Call Dennis at (857) 249-7882 for details.
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