EASTHAMPTON — The city is close to finalizing designs for one of four phases of the New City Master Plan that would replace more than 100-year-old infrastructure in one of the city’s oldest neighborhoods.
Phase one of the plan consists of an expansive amount of work estimated to cost around $12.2 million. The work would involve roadway, sidewalk and water drainage reconstruction for five streets in the New City area — Oakdale Place, Dartmouth Street, Exeter Street, Federal Street and Glen Cove Place — and for the rehabilitation of sewers throughout the neighborhood.
Part of this phase includes two new parks known as the Lincoln and Parsons Street Parks, planned for the old Parsons Street School site.
The other three phases include stabilization of the slope and reconstruction of Emerald Place, rehabilitation of the sewer system in the neighborhood and the second phase of street reconstruction including Lincoln Street, Maine Avenue, Harrison Avenue, Clinton Street and Lewandowski Avenue.
Designs were presented at the City Council’s Sept. 17 meeting by Pamela Westgate and Cecelia Carmona, of Kleinfelder Project Consultants, of Springfield, though they are not finalized and the city has not received full funding for the project. After the city put out a bid in 2023, Kleinfelder was awarded the design project, with Klopfer Martin Design Group as a subconsultant for the two parks design, according to Johanna Stacy, senior planner at the Planning Department.
“The New City Master Plan assessed infrastructure condition and function, and identified the northern part of the neighborhood as the highest priority for upgrades,” Stacy said at the meeting, noting that New City was constructed in the early 1900s.
The specific street improvements would make the sidewalks compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and expand them to 5-feet-wide, with curb extensions. The 6-inch, 100-year-old water pipes in the area would be replaced with 8-inch pipes, which experts say will improve water flow. The stormwater drainage system will have increased pipe sizes, a revised water basin catching system and increased green infrastructure features so plants and absorbable materials can mitigate storm impacts.
The estimated cost of phase one infrastructure improvements amounts to $6.32 million, which could change through time. The wastewater improvements are estimated separately at $1.55 million.
The Lincoln Street park would replace the roundabout behind the Parsons Street School, include more functional landscaping, retain the native trees and create shaded structures and seating. It would include two play areas — one for kids aged about 2 to 5 and one for 5 to 10 year-olds. A half basketball court will be included, along with a community garden and wheelchair accessible pathways around the park. The cost is estimate at $3.95 million.
The Parsons Street park would be smaller and connected by a walking path. It would include a play area for 2-to 5 year-olds, seating and plant structures with an estimated cost of $450,000.
The designs implement public feedback from three community outreach sessions, dating back to October 2024. The Planning Department will be looking for funding from Community Development Block Grants (CDBG) and other sources.
The New City Master Plan was completed in 2022, identifying the area that stretches from Ferry to Everett Street in need of major infrastructure improvements. The neighborhood was originally developed by West Boylston Manufacturing Co. as a residential housing area for workers in what are now known as Easthampton’s Pleasant Street Mills, according to the city website. The plan was made possible by a CDBG worth $800,000.
Precinct 2 — the precinct where new city is located — City Councilor Felicia Jadczak reinforced that the redesigns would not take any land away from abutters properties.
“I’ve been following this since I moved to Easthampton in 2021, I’m very excited to see this continue forward,” she said at the Sept. 17 meeting.
At-large City Councilor Koni Denham praised the project managers for involving the community in the design process.
“I think that it was an indication of making it an accessible process as well as just doing your and the city’s due diligence in terms of outreaching and making sure that there is a lot of community participation and community process, so hats off to you for really being diligent and looking for that,” Denham said.
Additional information about the New City Master Plan and project progress can be found on the city website.