[CPEO-BIF] Manchester Street Park, Lawrence, Massachusetts

[Lenny Siegel <lennysiegel@gmail.com>]

Lawrence, Mass., Transforms Underutilized Industrial Land into a  
Vibrant Community Park with CDBG

by Luke Lindberg
National League of Citiies
May 09, 2011

Lawrence, Mass., a city of more than 70,000 in northern  
Massachusetts, is utilizing Community Development Block Grant (CDBG)  
funds to expand from its roots as an industrial and manufacturing  
city to become a diverse and vibrant community. Because of direct  
federal CDBG dollars to local governments for community development,  
cities like Lawrence have been able to complete projects that once  
seemed unimaginable. The success of the program lies in its flexibility.


Allowing local governments to create projects that fit their cityâs  
needs enables them to leverage private sector capital to complete  
projects with a public purpose.



The five-acre Manchester Street Park is situated on the banks of  
Stevenâs Pond in Lawrence. The site was originally used as a rail  
yard for the Greater Lawrence Industrial Park. Later, the park was  
home to a large incinerator that was considered an eyesore to members  
of the local community. Today, thanks to CDBG funds and other  
federal, state and private contributions, the park boasts ample green  
space, permeable pavement, playground equipment and a community garden.

...

For the entire article, see
http://www.nlc.org/news-center/nations-cities-weekly/articles/2011/ 
may/lawrence-mass--transforms-underutilized-industrial-land-into-a- 
vibrant-community-park-with-cdbg

--

Lenny Siegel
Executive Director, Center for Public Environmental Oversight
a project of the Pacific Studies Center
278-A Hope Street, Mountain View, CA 94041
Voice: 650-961-8918 or 650-969-1545
Fax: 650-961-8918
<lsiegel@cpeo.org>
http://www.cpeo.org

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