Role: Project Manager

Client: Metropolitan Area Planning Council

Year: 2018-2019

Creative placemaking and report writing to catalyze the implementation of plans for new parks and paths along the Malden River.

 PROBLEM

After 150 years of industrial development that obscured access to the Malden River, city leaders identified the need to "develop the Malden River as new open space" as a top priority in the city's 2017 Open Space and Recreation Plan. From the 1990s to the present, the City of Malden, the neighboring municipalities of Medford and Everett, community-based advocacy organizations, and private developers have created projects and plans that address the different conditions that impact the river. Recognizing the need to synthesize these individual efforts into a comprehensive strategy and engage the public in shaping the results, the City engaged MAPC in 2019 to provide technical assistance for a creative placemaking project.

SOLUTION

The project developed a temporary placemaking installation to bring people to the river, experience the public space that already exist, and help them imagine a future where the entire riverfront landscape could become accessible to the public. All events were free, and invitations were translated into the languages of their target audiences. The project culminated with a public boating event at the Malden Department of Public Works and the installation of a semi-permanent outdoor exhibit with visioning graphics and text that is translated into five commonly-spoken languages in the city. The project aimed to spark interest among elected and appointed officials and build public support for changes to zoning and other policies that will help create an improved, activated, welcoming waterfront.

OUTCOME

• Report outlined recommendations to: revisit zoning bylaws for industrial uses abutting the river, improve the health of the river, and continue to expand public-private partnerships. All three recommendations were enacted within one year.

• The City passed new zoning regulations requiring that new buildings along the river be set back from the water's edge by 100 feet.

• A new trash collector was installed along the river that will be maintained by Friends of the Malden River and the City.

• Malden River Works, a project to design a new park along the River to foster equitable resilience, won the Leventhal City Prize at MIT, obtained funding from the Community Preservation Committee.

• The Planning 101 training that was offered to people who speak commonly spoken languages in Malden as part of the creative placemaking projects Half of the advisors of color on the Malden River Works team received Planning 101 training from the creative placemaking project, which established a standard of providing a seat at the table and stipends for their participation.

• View the report here