Malden Legislators Secure $150,000 for Malden River Works

Malden state legislators Senator Jason Lewis and Representatives Steven Ultrino, Paul Donato, and Kate Lipper-Garabedian are pleased to announce that they successfully secured $150,000 for the Malden River Works Project, as a part of the COVID pandemic recovery bill recently passed by the state legislature and signed into law by Governor Baker.

The funds will be used to support this exciting project, including environmental remediation and climate resilience efforts along the Malden river bank.

“I’m thrilled that the Malden legislative delegation was able to work closely together to secure this funding for such a worthy project in the city,” said Senator Jason Lewis. “Malden River Works promises to deliver significant environmental and recreational benefits to the community. I want to thank Friends of the Malden River for their leadership and hard work in advancing this project.”

“I am both pleased and excited to see ARPA funding going to the Malden River Works project,” said Representative Steven Ultrino. “The investment will help create a more accessible and climate resilient community space along Malden’s waterfront, encouraging future community-oriented developments. I would like to thank the rest of the Malden delegation for their support and efforts throughout this process.”

“The ARPA Bill will provide valuable funding to advance the Malden River Works Project, an initiative being spearheaded by community leaders of color, members of government, and environmental advocates to build the first climate-resilient public park along the Malden River. The park will be a valuable addition to the community that will make this space open to all. It is vital we invest in our planet, and I look forward to seeing this project progress,” said Representative Paul Donato.

“I’m pleased that the Malden legislative delegation continues to secure critical state investments for the Malden River Works project,” said Representative Kate Lipper-Garabedian. “The project has had an enormous positive impact on the community, both socially and environmentally. I am pleased that this state funding will support the riverfront cleanup efforts and continued environmental restoration.”

“Malden River Works Equitable Resilient Waterfront Park is a brilliant example of a collaborative project for the health of a community, its urban river, and climate resiliency for a municipality,” said Karen Buck, Environmental Advocate with the Malden River Works. “This park serves the needs of the public for additional green space with proper stormwater management and will protect an urban river surrounded by Environmental Justice communities. The state-of-the-art design will work to educate the public on the importance of equitable climate resilience and stormwater management for their future. Malden River Works will be an example of how green infrastructure projects can convert wasteland into productive climate resiliency spaces that will be utilized by the public.”

The bill, known as An Act relative to immediate COVID-19 recovery needs, uses federal monies received from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) as well as the state’s Fiscal Year 2021 budget surplus.