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). 

To join the e-mail list of infrequent project updates: send us an e-mail request.

Calendar of Events

• Construction bids are due 4/6/2022 by 4pm
• Vetting of the apparent low-bid contractor's qualifications and construction award/contracting through end of May 2022
• Morais Concrete Services, Inc out of Springfield, MA was selected as the prime contractor for the project
• Due to supply chain issues, the start of construction will be later than anticipated and will begin towards the end of July 2022. Some incidental site prep work (e.g. project sign and installation of erosion control measures) may begin before then.
• Construction should be completed by the end of the Fall of 2022
• Saturday, 6/4/2022 from 10am to noon (rain date 6/5) - Community event on Cherry Street - Residential-Scale DIY Neighborhood Workshop & Tour: Take the next step toward managing stormwater and increasing climate resilience in your own yard. Design professionals from Fuss & O'Neill will be available to answer questions and help you assess your property for potential home rain garden projects, water harvesting, conversion of lawns to more habitat friendly, low-maintenance landscapes, etc. Sign up for a free consult on your property: https://forms.gle/pdzHNkUivFDasaeZ9

More information and documents

• 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). 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.
• The final design drawings for Cherry Street are available. Download/view the final landscape and street layout plans (PDF).
• Please take our survey about the use of rain barrels around your home
• Flyer (PDF) announcing the Fall 2021 Cherry St Plant Selection Community Workshop
• Choose the plants in front of your property (PDF). Responses due by 12/20/2021. Please send your completed form to jwebb@easthamptonma.gov or mail it to Planning Department, Attn: Jamie Webb, 50 Payson Ave, Easthampton, MA 01027
• 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