LAND Cover Letter FY20CITY OF NORTHAMPTON
Mayor David J. Narkewicz
City Hall, 210 Main Street Room 12
Northampton, MA 01060-3199
(413) 587-1249
mayor@northamptonma.gov
July 1, 2019
Melissa Cryan
RE: ENV 20 DCS 01
Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs
100 Cambridge Street – Suite 900
Boston, MA 02114
Dear Ms. Cryan:
The City of Northampton is pleased to apply for LAND funds for a proposed acquisition project to permanently protect 104 acres to expand the existing Rocky Hill Greenway. The Nasshawannuck
Riparian Restoration is an unprecedented opportunity to permanently protect and restore a former golf course. The project will allow us to expand an active wildlife corridor, improve
the Nashawannuck Brook riparian corridor and its surrounding wetlands and natural communities, and create a new local resource for passive outdoor recreation. The area’s charm is currently
accessible to only a small segment of the population, and we look forward to making its trails and views available to everyone.
If funded with a LAND grant, we will be ready to close almost immediately after receiving a fully executed state contract. We will close on the land acquisition as soon as those steps
are complete. We already have all of the City Council authorizations necessary to purchase the property and borrow for 100% of the project, since we understand that this is a reimbursement
grant program.
Wayne Feiden, FAICP, Director of Planning & Sustainability, is designated as the Project Manager for the LAND application and the overall acquisition.
Thank you for your consideration.
Sincerely,
Mayor David J. Narkewicz
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