10-2SG Dedham Conservation Commision
Grant Round:
2010 September
Grant Program:
Small Grants
Grant Type:
Other Grants
Grant amount requested:
2,500.00
Grant amount awarded:
$1,000.00
Attachments
Please provide a brief description of the project for which you seek funding.
The Charles River is one of Dedham’s most valuable natural resources, but there are few access points to the river for either passive or active recreational enjoyment. The 2004 Dedham Open Space plan clearly demonstrates the need for this project in both the Community Vision and Analysis of Needs sections of the Plan. The need for “improved access to the Charles River for canoeing has been cited as a need by survey respondents and workshop participants.” This desire for public boat access to the Charles was found to be a priority need by 40% of respondents. Workshop participants and survey respondents supported “access to water resources for canoeing and kayaking, and also indicated interest in expanding passive recreation opportunities such as wildlife observation.” Dedham has long struggled to provide its residents with a connection to the Charles River. The Dedham Water Trail will provide that access in a safe and educational way, attracting visitors interested in our rich history and the ecology of the River. The Dedham Water Trail is a 3 hour canoe or kayak experience on the Charles River. The Trail is located entirely in Dedham and is made a loop by Long Ditch, located in Cutler Park, which is owned by the Department of Conservation and Recreation. Dedham’s portion of the Charles offers smooth water with moderate current. The Water Trail follows the lead of organized hiking trails, by marking the trail with mile markers and signs at launches and at specific historical and ecologically significant locations. Waterproof trail maps will be available at local shops and restaurants. These maps will depict historic and ecologic points of interest, connections to recreational trails and canoe launch sites. The Town of Dedham received funding from the Department of Conservation and Recreation’s Recreational Trails Program to create the water trail. The Recreational Trails Program provides grants for a variety of trail protection, construction, and stewardship projects throughout Massachusetts and requires a minimum of 20% of the total project costs in matching funds. The Conservation Commission is requesting $2,500 to help meet this match requierment. The Conservation Commission has reached out and gained the financial support of the Dedham Land Trust and a local environmental Trust, however we are still short $3,812. With the support of the New England Grassroots Environmental Fund we would only have $1,312.75 left of the match to meet, which we will raise through an additional community appeal.
Project Summary
Dedham Conservation Commission received a grant in 2010 to match a DCR grant to establish the Dedham Water Trail, a 3 hour paddle on the Charles River that connects to hiking trails and downtown Dedham Square in an effort to connect community residents with the natural environment while drawing visitors to the town.
Primary Issue Area:
Land & Water
Please break-down/categorize the program expenses:
| Proposed Item | Estimated $ Amount | Would grant funds be used for this item? |
|---|---|---|
| Remaining Match | $3,813.00 | Yes |
| Site Cleanup | $4,000.00 | |
| Stone Wall Repair | $2,250.00 | |
| Rip Rap at End of Pipe | $2,500.00 | |
| Grantie Installation | $2,000.00 | |
| Walkway | $7,500.00 | |
| Landscaping | $4,500.00 | |
| Guard Rail | $3,750.00 | |
| Install Subbase | $1,750.00 | |
| Crushed Stone | $5,000.00 | |
| Clean Out River Edge | $1,250.00 |
Whom does your group need to make this project happen?
Please explain how your group will engage members from your community in this project.
The Town has already begun engaging members of the community as part of the preliminary planning stages for this grant. The Town organized a charette to bring together potential partners, trail users, state agencies and local organizations to create a dynamic and integrative plan for the Dedham Water Trail. As a result of this process the Water Trail received unanimous support from the Charles River Watershed Association, The Dedham Square Circle Group, and The Dedham Community House, as well as the Sustainability Advisory Committee, Parks and Recreation Commission and the Board of Selectmen. The interests of each of the groups we have partnered with range from protecting and enhancing water quality and recreational opportunities on the Charles through improved public access, to attracting low-impact, environmentally friendly tourism to Dedham. In addition to community support, the Town has the support of DCR officials who we have met with to discuss this project. The intent to link the Water Trail with a greater network of DCR trails and greenway systems was of particular interest as it fulfills goals outlined in Commonwealth Connections to create greenways along critical river corridors, such as the Charles, for environmental education and recreation. The Town plans to hold a kick off event for the Water Trail in early summer 2011 that will bring these various community groups together to celebrate the creation of this unique trail system and the revitilization of Dedham's connection with the Charles River. Print invitations will be sent out as well as postings in the local papers. We have spoken directly to the Governor about this event and plan to invite the Secreatary of Enviornmental Affairs as well.
If your group receives a NEGEF Grow grant, how do you plan to pay for remaining expenses?
| $ Amount | Source |
|---|---|
| $2,500.00 | NEGEF Grant |
Please list these materials or services
| $ Amount | Item |
|---|---|
| $4,000.00 | Dedham Land Trust |
| $1,000.00 | Environmental Trust |
| $35,261.00 | DCR Grant |
Please describe what changes will occur in your community and its environment when your group's project is successful.
This project would fulfill the recognized need for both passive and active recreational access to the Charles by refurbishing a historic launch site, the Town Landing and create a location where visitiors can connect and enjoy the splendor of the Charles River either from land or water. The Water Trail would revitalize this urban river corridor by restoring the aesthetic and ecological value of the Charles River.The Water Trail would connect to the greater Massachusetts Department of Conservation (DCR) and Recreation trail system by uniting open spaces and riverfront areas. The Charles River flows past both DCR owned Riverdale Park and Cutler Park in Dedham. The Water Trail would provide a point of access for paddlers to enter the Charles from these DCR locations, as well as provide a safe resting point for paddlers. This partnership between DCR and the Town of Dedham would create a network of trails both on land and in the water connecting the Blue Heron Trail system with Havey Beach, Riverdale Park, Dedham’s Needham Street Canoe Launch, Cutler Park, and Millennium Park. The addition of a Water Trail would expand the trail system to enhance connections between Boston, Needham, and Dedham creating a regional experience that facilitates a variety of trail uses including hiking, canoeing, fishing, and bird watching. The goal of the Water Trail is to attract visitors to the Charles and create an educational and lasting experience that would in turn create environmental stewards of the river. Through interpretive signage placed at key historic and ecologically significant locations along the bank of the river and at canoe launches visitors would learn about the history and ecology of Dedham and the Charles. The Dedham Square Circle group, an association of -merchant-civic-organizations aimed at revitalizing the historic downtown, enthusiastically supports the Water Trail as a means of attracting visitors to Dedham. The Square Circle is in the process of creating a “Destination Dedham” campaign to promote the Square as an interesting place to dine, shop, and explore. The Water Trail with its canoe launch located less than a ½ mile from the Square, would provide tremendous economic benefits to the downtown area through increased tourism.
Please list how many people in your community your group expects to actively engage in this project.
300
What relevant skills does the group need (but does not currently have access to) to help move the initiative forward?
We are currently talking to a cartoonist to help us design the water trail map and are getting prices for various design options. We have sent the work of constructing the actual launch out to bid and are expecting bids to be returned on 10/1/10 with the selection of a contractors to be completed within the month and work to begin in late October on the launch.
What relevant skills do current members of the group have to help move the initiative forward?
This project is supported by a wide variety of organizations. The Charles River Watersehd Association has provided expertise on constructing launches, information on mile markers for the Charles, as well as fishery studies. We have also reached out to Hebrew Senior Life, which operates Newbridge on the Charles here in Dedham and they have offered their proffessional staff's time in developing marketing materials for the launch. The President of the Dedham Square Circle has a vast amount of expertise in developing interactive technology that we have discussed in the future creating features for the trail. In addition to these groups we are drawing on the expertise of various Town staff members and board and commissioners for this project.