COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS
MASSACHUSETTS SENATE
STATE HOUSE, BOSTON 02133-1053
Senator Joan B. Lovely
State Senator
2nd Essex District
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
June 22, 2015
Capital Spending Plan Includes Funding for Peabody’s Crystal Lake
(Boston) – Today Senator Joan Lovely, Representative Leah Cole, and Representative Theodore Speliotis announced that the Baker Administration’s five year capital investment plan included $400,000 in funding for the Crystal Lake and Elginwood Pond improvement project.
“The funding in the capital plan for Crystal Lake and Elginwood Pond was the direct result of collaboration,” said Senator Lovely. “I want to thank the Governor’s Administration, my colleagues in the Legislature, and the City of Peabody for being great partners and advocates. This will help secure the project’s financing and bring the residents of Peabody one step closer to enjoying more outdoor recreation opportunities in the community.”
“This is really exciting news for the city. In such a tight fiscal time, it is great to see the Baker Administration recognizing the value in the Crystal Lake project,” said Representative Cole. “I was happy to work with my colleagues to bring this to the attention of the administration”.
“This is a wonderful example of what we can accomplish by working together”, said Representative Speliotis. “An opportunity to assist a project like this through a bond bill only comes through every five to seven years. To be able to coordinate our efforts from the Governor’s Office to City Hall is impressive and I look forward to continuing to work with everyone to remake and restore Crystal Lake and Elginwood Pond to the jewels they can be.”
“I am very pleased that this funding is included in Governor Baker’s capital plan,” said Peabody Mayor Edward Bettencourt. “I am grateful to Senator Lovely and Representatives Speliotis and Cole for their continued advocacy on behalf of this project. The design and permitting phase of the project is well underway and soon we will begin the vital dredging and restoration work necessary to transform the area into a true natural treasure of which our entire community can be proud.”
According to details from the capital plan, the funding is designated for improvements at Crystal Lake and Elginwood Pond in Peabody by removing accumulated sediment, restoring surrounding areas and promoting recreation. A description of the project from the City of Peabody explains that the project will dredge approximately 50,000 cubic yards of Crystal Lake and Elginwood Pond, create new pond access points, and integrate walking trails off the existing bikeway.
The Legislature authorized funding for the local project through “An Act providing for the preservation and improvement of land, parks and clean energy in the Commonwealth,” an environmental bond bill that the House and Senate enacted on August 1, 2014. The Governor signed the bill into law on August 13, 2014 as Chapter 286 of the Acts of 2014.
This is Governor Baker’s first capital investment plan. The plan sets a fiscal year 2016 bond cap of $2.125 billion, which equals the fiscal year 2015 cap.
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