Located on a .72-acre site adjacent to Millers River, Riverfront Park was designed to improve access to the local river, while reclaiming a former brownfield site. The new park includes walking trails, benches, parking areas, a scenic overlook and a dock area that supports boating and fishing. Future phases of the project will include the construction of a boathouse that will offer canoe and bike rentals. Eventually, the park will also serve as the trailhead for a proposed bike path between the communities of Orange and Athol.
Elements of BSC’s design include:
- Meeting Specific Design Criteria – BSC’s design considered site constraints and community needs. As a remediated brownfield site, the park area had a portion of land to be covered by impervious surface to prevent the access to contaminated soil. It was also necessary to leave a large area available for the storage of canoes as part of the annual River Rats canoe race. Finally, the town desired that all improvements coordinate with the community’s historic character.
- Implementing Low Impact Development Principles - An important element of BSC's design was the incorporation of Low Impact Development (LID) techniques to treat stormwater and reduce pollutant loading into the Millers River. The design includes rain gardens, bioretention swales, permeable pavers, soil amendments and rain barrels. The Town plans to use the park as an outdoor classroom to teach local students about LID techniques and environmental preservation measures.
- Accessing Grant Funding - The Town had previously identified the Urban Self-Help Program as a potential funding source for construction. BSC assisted in preparing effective grant applications that included a description of the proposed park design, contract documents, and graphics.
