Multiple Melrose Schools Set To Receive Accessibility Upgrades

MELROSE, MA — The city has received a $171,800 grant from the Massachusetts Office on Disability that will be used for multiple accessibility upgrades at schools throughout Melrose.

Melrose was one of 86 Massachusetts municipalities awarded funds in the competitive process. Mayor Jen Grigoraitis gave credit to the Melrose Disability Commission, Department of Public Works, and public school district for their efforts in securing the grant. Melrose’s award was the 11th largest of this cycle of the Municipal ADA Improvement Grant Program.

Hoover Elementary School at 37 Glendower Road, Horace Mann School at 40 Damon Ave., and the Winthrop School at 162 First St. will be the beneficiaries of accessibility improvements. All of the schools are more than 50 years old, with the Winthrop School being the oldest having been built in 1926. All three schools will receive automatic push-button door openers at entrances. Horace Mann will receive a stage lift and ramp for its all-purpose room, as well as a railing on the school’s exterior ADA ramp. Exclusively for the Hoover School, certain interior doors will get handle replacements to make them easier to open for students with certain abilities.

The improvements were decided in Melrose’s ADA Self-Evaluation and Transition Plan, which was completed in January 2023.

“In addition to the improvements funded by the MOD grant this year, the City of Melrose has allocated additional capital funds made available by the passage of the November 2025 tax override for other accessibility priorities throughout the city,” Grigoraitis said in a statement.

Last year, the city used the same grant source to install automatic door openers at Melrose High School on 360 Lynn Fells Parkway and braille signage throughout the Middle and High School’s connected campuses. Horace Mann also had its interior door-opening system repaired.

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