Committee Meeting 3
July 27, 2021
Planning a climate-ready future for 2 multi-use piers, nearly 7 acres of park, and more than 1,000 feet of shoreline in the heart of Rockland.
Both need and opportunity.
The City-owned piers, seawall, and support facilities that Rockland and the region depend on for commercial and recreational harbor access are old, and at the point where repairs alone aren't enough.
The infrastructure is also at risk. Water already comes over the seawall in large storms. And when we consider models for expected sea level rise - we realize that some of our infrastructure should be up to 4 feet higher - and that involves redesign.
Redesigning for resilience is also an opportunity to include things the community has talked about for years - such as the extension of the Boardwalk, more green space, terraced seating in the hillside, and better pedestrian connections to the downtown.
And with new federal funding opportunities for infrastructure there may be a once in a lifetime opportunity for grants to help fund the improvements.
Why Now?
Project Status
Conceptual Design and Road Map completed.
The Conceptual Design balances diverse uses, builds in flexibility, and incorporates ideas from the community and various plans - both past and present.
The design approach incorporates the idea of "flexible resilience" - a design that can withstand expected sea levels, and can be adapted if sea level rise turns out to be different than expected.
The Road Map includes potential sources for implementation grants, high level cost estimates, and practical information on when certain improvements need to happen before others.
Preliminary Engineering (30%)
currently underway.
Preliminary engineering for the marine infrastructure components of the conceptual design is nearly complete, thanks to support from a State Community Action Grant.
Preliminary Engineering of the landside infrastructure is also underway thanks to a second Community Action Grant. This work is scheduled for completion in early summer.
