Beverly To Use $325K MA Grant To Imagine A More Resilient Lynch Park

BEVERLY, MA — Beverly will use a $325,000 state Coastal Resilience Grant to help develop plans to reimagine and reinforce Lynch Park in the face of climate change pressures.

Officials said the need to protect the park, which has been part of the city's Resilient Together Climate Action and Resilience Plan since 2019, took on an extra layer of urgency following the 2022 nor'easter that flooded the park and further compromised park infrastructure.

"Last December's nor'easter really showed how vulnerable our largest and most visited park is to coastal flooding," Beverly Mayor Michael Cahill said. "With these funds, we will work to ensure Lynch Park can continue to be enjoyed by Beverly residents and visitors for generations to come."

Lynch Park is 16 acres and is home to dozens of Beverly Recreation activities, performances and city events each year, as well as a place for the public to gather and enjoy the ocean, rose garden and carriage house.

"Lynch Park is a jewel for the city of Beverly and its residents and visitors," said Bruce Doig, Director of Parks, Recreation & Community Services. "We are very excited to begin working to protect Lynch Park from future storms and flooding and preserve our most valuable asset for everyone to enjoy."

Officials said the eight-month project will include data collection, coastal modeling and field investigation activities to determine current status and future vulnerabilities amid the sea-level rise and expected increased rain and extreme weather events because of climate change.

The seawall will be evaluated to determine near-term necessary repairs and a stormwater management plan will be developed to address drainage and storm surge dangers.

(Scott Souza is a Patch field editor covering Beverly, Danvers, Marblehead, Peabody, Salem and Swampscott. He can be reached at Scott.Souza@Patch.com. X/Twitter: @Scott_Souza.)