Town of Groveland Receives Almost $1 Million in State Funding for Key Projects

GROVELAND – The Town of Groveland is pleased to announce that it has been awarded three state grants that will allow the Town to address critical infrastructure needs and improve quality of life.

Taken together, the three grants total almost $1 million in funding. The grants are:

An $850,000 MassWorks grant. This project, funded through the Small Town Road Assistance Program (STRAP), will replace a failing culvert on Uptack Road over Meadow Pond.

Culvert embankments are in poor condition and show signs of cracking and displacement. Guard rails on both sides of the road have deteriorated, posing a potential danger to motorists and pedestrians.

The grant will allow the town to install a new concrete box culvert and guard rails, to meet standards for modern traffic safety devices. The culvert will be designed to withstand peak flooding, and will improve climate change resiliency along a vital transportation route.

An $82,186 Municipal Vulnerability Preparedness (MVP) Action Grant. This grant seeks to improve climate change resiliency in the Johnson Creek Watershed.

There are several areas within the Watershed with a documented flood risk, among them:

• Johnsons Pond at Lakeshore Road
• Johnsons Pond at Washington Street
• Lower Pond at Salem Street
• The Johnson Creek Culvert at Center Street
• The intersection of Main Street and Washington Street

Flooding occurs multiple times per year around Center Street, closing roads for up to several days. Many homes and businesses are located within the current 100-year FEMA floodplain at the lower reaches of the watershed near Main and Washington Streets, and along the mainstream of Johnson Creek.

Flooding has become more frequent and more severe in recent years. A detailed watershed-wide vulnerability study is needed to assess the problem, quantify the potential impact, and develop prioritized recommendations to address flooding vulnerabilities associated with future climate change.

The Town had previously received an MVP Community Designation through a townwide review that identified the future of the Johnson Creek Watershed as a primary concern.

A $59,452.36 Shared Streets grant. This project calls for new sidewalks in Elm Square and the surrounding neighborhoods, improving pedestrian safety in Elm Square, and improving access between Elm Square and the regional trail network and recreational facilities.

The project also proposes introducing a delineated and protected walking area on the southwestern portion of Main Street. This will narrow the wide roadway, and create a buffer between pedestrians on-street parking.

“Once completed, the projects will make the Town of Groveland a better, safer place to live, work, and play,” said Rebecca Oldham, Director of Economic Development, Planning and Conservation. “We are grateful to the Baker-Polito Administration for recognizing these critical needs, and for supplying the funding necessary to take on these projects.”