NORTHAMPTON — Mayor David J. Narkewicz announced Friday the city was awarded a $90,000 federal Land and Water Conservation Fund grant, which will help fund the completion of the Connecticut River Greenway Park riverfront near Damon Road.
Narkewicz said in a news release that the money would be used to finish a fully accessible dock for launching canoes and kayaks, as well as to finish paving and drainage work.
“Last week we formally opened the riverfront park,” he said. “This week we move forward on the final details.”
The project, according to the city, will require local matching funds. A Community Preservation Act application to access those funds is pending.
The 11-acre plot of land was acquired from Lane Construction about five years ago.
The acreage is actually two properties – one to be held as conservation land and the other to be used for recreation – that the city manages as one.
Prior to this grant, funds for the project came from a variety of sources, including $400,000 from the Massachusetts Parkland Acquisitions and Renovations for Communities program, $267,000 in Northampton Community Preservation Act funds and $117,000 from private donors raised through Northampton Community Rowing.
You can learn more about the Connecticut River Greenway Park is available at northamptonma.gov/CTrivergreenwaypark.