CITY OF EASTHAMPTON MVP 2022-2023 ACTION GRANT

The City of Easthampton was recently awarded an FY2022-20223 Municipal Vulnerability Preparedness Program Action Grant through Massachusetts Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs. The primary purpose of this grant project is to construct the Cherry Street Green Infrastructure Improvements that were designed as part of the FY2021 action grant (below). The improvements include water, sewer, drainage, green infrastructure enhancements, sidewalks, curbing and road reconstruction, as well as repairs to the storm drain outlet and restoration of the slope and parts of Brickyard Brook

To join the e-mail list of infrequent project updates, or contact us regarding non-emergency issues, concerns or problems in relation to this project, please send us an e-mail. In case of an emergency situation (such as a water line break or sewer backup into your home), please contact Easthampton’s emergency services dispatch at 413-527-1212

3/20/2023 - Morais Concrete Services has resumed construction of the Cherry Street Utilities, Green Infrastructure, and Roadway Improvements for the 2023 construction season. Work will continue with the installation of new sewer lines, drainage lines, and water lines before the road reconstruction, surface improvements, and other restoration works are conducted. Crews will be on-site Monday through Friday, from 7am to 5pm, to conduct the work.

11/30/2022 - Morais Concrete Services, Inc out of Springfield, MA was selected in May 2022 as the prime contractor for the project. Due to supply chain issues, the start of construction in September was later than anticipated and is continuing to affect the construction schedule. Although we had hoped that construction would be substantially completed by the end of Fall 2022 it is clear that will not happen. At this point in time, Morais is in the process of buttoning up the site to safely pause construction for the winter months. Over the next few days, Morais will be removing their equipment and materials from the street, conducting grading, and putting down temporary paving so that the street and sidewalk will be passable & plowable during the winter. The last day of work for this season is expected to be in mid-December. Construction will resume in the spring (likely in late March / early April) after the ground is thawed enough to begin working again. Any restoration work required to be completed by Morais will be conducted at the END of the project after construction resumes in the spring. If you have concerns about construction related damage to your property, please contact Jamie Webb, Easthampton Assistant Planner at 413-529-1405 or jwebb@easthamptonma.gov.

More information and documents

• The final design drawings for Cherry Street are available. Download/view the final landscape and street layout plans (PDF).
• Take the next step toward managing stormwater and increasing climate resilience in your own yard. Download/view the homeowner’s DIY guide to residential-scale resilient stormwater solutions (PDF) / Spanish Version (PDF). The guide includes practical advice for planning, implementing, and tracking down resources/vendors to support home rain garden projects, water harvesting, conversion of lawns to more habitat friendly, low-maintenance landscapes, etc.
• Plant selection - planting mixes (PDF)
• Plant selection - color palette (PDF) 
• Interactive coloring page for kids (PDF)
• View artist rendering of Cherry Street before/after (PDF)
• View concept plans and graphics - revised 10-13-2021 (PDF)
• View concept plans and graphics - Jan 2021 (PDF)
• Read about the drainage outfall slope restoration (PDF)
• Governor Baker came to Easthampton to announce the grant award. Read the press coverage here: MassLive | Daily Hampshire Gazette | the Reminder | Mass.gov Press Release
• View our complete grant application (PDF)
• Access more project documents here: MVP Documents Repository

CITY OF EASTHAMPTON MVP 2021 ACTION GRANT

Cherry Street Neighborhood: Green Infrastructure Planning and Resiliency Design

The City of Easthampton was awarded an FY2021 Municipal Vulnerability Preparedness Program Action Grant through Massachusetts Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs. A key goal of the City’s grant project is to promote long-term planning and resiliency measures that consider both existing and ongoing infrastructure needs and form the basis of a climate resiliency vision and implementation strategy for the City.

The City has received state funding to develop a Green Infrastructure Master Plan to address stormwater-driven flooding hazards throughout the City and for the design of green infrastructure improvements in the Cherry Street Neighborhood.

The Citywide Green Infrastructure Master Plan was completed in June 2021

• View the Green Infrastructure Master Plan Executive Summary (PDF)
• View the Green Infrastructure Master Plan (PDF)
• Learn more about Green Infrastructure (PDF)

In the Cherry St, Mt. Tom Ave, and Lux Ave neighborhood, this grant is funding:

• Design engineering to repair a failing stormwater outfall at the end of Cherry Street and restore the eroded slope and adjacent stream within Brickyard Brook Conservation Area. 
• Design of green infrastructure practices to manage and infiltrate stormwater along Cherry St, Mount Tom Ave, and Lux Ave to lessen the burden on that stormwater outfall.

Learn more about the Cherry St Neighborhood project: Read more and view graphics

Watch a video of the neighborhood meeting, which was held on 2/22/2021 to discuss the improvements proposed in the Cherry Street neighborhood and solicit comments from local residents.

Want to learn more about MVP? Visit the Resilient MA Climate Website