Harbor Development Committee to Approach State About Waterfront Improvements

Last night the Board of Selectmen voted to submit an application form to the Massachusetts Seaport Advisory Council for possible funding of $3,000,000 to develop the harbor and improve waterfront access.

This is not the first time that the continued beautification of the harbor has been discussed and the Harbor Development Committee appeared before the Selectmen earlier in the summer to present artists renderings of possible improvements to the area.

Since then, the Committee has been engaged in preliminary discussions with the Seaport Advisory Council which is the State entity that funds harbor development projects. Although nothing concrete has been presented to the Council, an opportunity has arisen for the Town to approach them for funding providing that there is a clearer vision of what work could done to enhance waterfront access for the residents of Hingham.

Although this is a project that is still in the initial concept stage, it was generally agreed that a waterfront development project in Hingham could enhance commercial and recreational opportunities. If the project receives a positive hearing from the SAC, it is likely that Hingham could receive up to 80 percent of the total cost for Construction with an opportunity for private investment also being considered by the Harbor Development Committee.

With this in mind, the Committee has drawn up a plan for multi-phased improvements to the Harbor and at last night’s meeting Alan Perrault, Chair of the Harbor Development Committee, and Carlos Pena, VP of CLE Engineering Inc., took the time to present this to the Hingham Selectmen.

Perrault stressed that these plans were part of “a bigger picture” and said that “we’re on an accelerated schedule to get on the radar screen of the Seaport Advisory Council.”

He referred to the improvements that have taken place at Scituate Harbor as a template for what could be achieved with appropriate funding from the State and in his opinion there was no reason why Hingham should not be able to approach the SAC for similar financial aid.

Proposed improvements to the area include renovating the bathhouse to include a snack bar, the installation of a boardwalk to streamline beach access, work on the seawalls and a pedestrian crossover for easier access. Public safety and parking availability for the beach remains a concern with the Committee already conducting studies into the traffic flow on Route 3A to identify where changes could be made.

Pena called the proposed submission to the SAC a “dream list”. “This project may not be a reality at the moment,” he said, “but shows what could be possible.”