Tomorrow, on Wednesday, April 20, at 2pm the Cambridge Finance Committee will meet to discuss ARPA (American Rescue Plan Act) funding proposals. The City has received $65m Federal dollars and $23m Sate and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds—a total of $88m. About $33m of this has been dispersed. These funds are/were to provide COVID-19 relief, bring back jobs, address economic fallout, and lay the foundation for a strong and equitable recovery.
Magazine Beach Partners (MBP) has requested $1.8m of these funds to improve the park, which, during COVID, provided a refuge for people to gather safely and relax outdoors. The 17-acre park became more of a safe haven for connection and personal renewal than ever before. As the City becomes more populated, green open spaces like Magazine Beach will only become more important.
MBP proposes that these funds be used to implement Phase II-2 improvements: to turn the derelict area between the swimming pool and the river and its sunken parking lot into a grassy beach and add a dock and outlook that will increase engagement with the river. (See rendering above and image of current conditions below.) DCR has shovel ready plans for this! This is an opportunity to make a permanent, positive change at the park and remove its last eyesore.
The ARPA funds will match $2.7 million that DCR is investing now and next winter in bathhouse and pool renovations. We hope that DCR can fold these improvements into the pool work and restore this half acre of parkland while the site is already disturbed.
If you have a moment, please either email the Council a quick message TODAY or TOMORROW morning, supporting that the City invest ARPA funds at Magazine Beach.
To reach all Councilors, email: council@CambridgeMA.Gov.
Or give public testimony. Sign up now to give testimony, either virtually or in person, at Public Comment Sign Up Form – City of Cambridge, MA (cambridgema.gov).
To attend the meeting virtually, go to The Finance Committee – City of Cambridge, MA (cambridgema.gov).
To attend the meeting in person, go to the 2nd Floor Sullivan Chamber at City Hall.
If you have questions, email or call me at czusy@magazinebeach.org or 617.868.0489.
Thank you for all of your support. It would be SO WONDERFUL if ARPA funds can advance this project.
Magazine Beach 
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