1. 2017 Massachusetts Smart Growth Conference Greening the City
Kurt Gaertner, Exec. Office of Energy & Environmental Affairs

2. Green

3. VMT and the Built Environment
Average daily household VMT –
Massachusetts Community Types
The built environment is strongly related to driving behavior. This relationship is clearly visible when comparing a map showing daily household VMT, with one showing the Massachusetts Community Types, developed by MAPC. The higher VMT areas in the map on the left, shown in orange, correspond with the Rural Towns and Developing Suburbs in the map on the right, shown in green. Similarly, the low VMT areas, shown in green in the map on the left, are concentrated in the Inner Core and in Regional Urban Centers, shown in orange in the map on the right.
Per Capita the same is true of:
Land Consumption
Energy Use
Impervious Surface & Runoff
Air Pollution

4. Good parks are essential to good neighborhoods and to good quality of Life in our cities

5. The PARC Program (Parkland Acquisitions and Renovations for Communities)
Established in 1977 to assist cities and towns in acquiring and developing land for park and outdoor recreation purposes.
Any town with a population of 35,000 or more year-round residents, or any city regardless of size that has an authorized park/recreation commission and conservation commission, and a current Open Space & Recreation Plan, is eligible to participate .
Communities that do not meet the population criteria listed above may still qualify under the "small town," "regional," or "statewide" project provisions of the program.
Grants are available for the acquisition of land and the construction, restoration, or rehabilitation of land for park and outdoor recreation purposes, such as community gardens, tot lots, playfields, and game courts. Access by the general public is required.
PARC Grants are for reimbursement of eligible project costs approved by EEA. Grant funding ranges from 52-70% of the approved total project cost, with a maximum grant award of $400,000.
DEADLINE: Applications are due July 12, 2017 with awards made in October

6. Gateway City Parks
Gateway City Parks Program Communities: Twenty-six communities meet demographic criteria included in Chapter 240 of the Acts of 2010:
Population > 35,000;
Median annual household income < state average; and
Educational attainment < state average. 

7. Background on the Gateway City Parks Program:
Created in 2009 to help create & restore urban parks.
Recognizes that public parks are essential to the health and economic wellbeing of urban areas, but that cities often lack the resources to plan & develop them.
Partners with cities to restore or create clean safe open spaces where residents have few options.
The program has been acquiring, designing, and building urban parks and greenways thanks to flexible funding that can accommodate all phases of park development
Leominster, Monoosnoc Brook River Walk

8. Gateway City Parks Program
Provides about $6.5 million in annual funding with the flexibility to support all phases of the creation and restoration of parks and recreational facilities in 26 “Gateway Cities”
Often selects difficult park and trail projects with the potential to help transform neighborhoods and revitalize communities
Environmental Justice neighborhoods and projects that support EOHED efforts are a priority

9. Gateway Parks Selection Priorities:
Ineligible for other funding;
Addresses a critical park need;
Strong support from city leaders;
Local businesses, neighbors, etc. engaged in park financing, programming & stewardship;
Advances broader urban revitalization efforts; and
Benefits an environmental justice neighborhoods.
Haverhill - The Bradford Rail Trail Project

10. Mill River Park - Taunton
Stormwater treatment, recreation, and resilience

14. Mill River Park - Taunton
Stormwater treatment, recreation, and resilience

15. Veteran’s Park - Holyoke

16. Gateway Park - Fitchburg

22. Lawrence – Spicket River Greenway

24. Contact Information
Melissa Cryan PARC Program Manager 100 Cambridge Street, 9th Floor Boston, MA (617) Kurt Gaertner Gateway City Parks Program Manager (617)