IPSWICH — The Town of Ipswich is pleased to announce that it has received a grant from the Massachusetts Department of Transportation to help create a year-round outdoor dining and gathering space that will help support downtown businesses.
The $157,850 grant will fund continuation of the Take-Out Terrace program, which seeks to create a permanent, welcoming space along the nationally-designated Essex Coastal Scenic Byway and the Ipswich River.
Plans include crosswalk improvements and additional lighting for safety, bike racks to encourage non-motorized mobility, and way-finding and signage to support downtown commerce.
“Thank you to the state Department of Transportation for helping us help our downtown businesses,” Town Manager Anthony Marino said. “This project will give a great look and feel to the community.”
The Town began Take-Out Terrace in the EBSCO Employee Parking Lot, to assist downtown businesses and restaurants challenged by the COVID-19 pandemic. The pilot proved successful. In addition to dining, the outdoor location soon became a space for other community events and collaborations between businesses and residents.
The Town of Ipswich project was one of 40 funded by the state in April.
The Shared Streets program provides technical and funding assistance to help cities and towns conceive, design, and implement tactical changes to curbs, streets, and parking areas in support of public health, safe mobility, and renewed commerce, with a special focus on the challenges of winter.
MassDOT, via the Baker-Polito Administration’s Shared Winter Streets and Spaces Program, awarded $5,318,845.57 in funding in April. MassDOT is particularly focused on projects that respond to the current public health crisis and provide safe mobility for children, for elders, to public transportation, and to open space and parks.
Information about the Shared Streets and Spaces Municipal Grant Program can be found here.
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