VHB collaborated with the City of Newburyport to deliver the Newburyport Market Landing Park Expansion Plan. Designed to preserve the City’s historic waterfront, the project transformed river-facing parking lots on the east and west sides of the park into new green spaces. It also introduced a shared-use path linking the Clipper City Rail Trail to the Central Waterfront Park. Enhanced social areas were created with added features like trellis swings, Adirondack chairs, hammocks, and benches.
To support the project, VHB formulated a flood resilience strategy for the park, which is built primarily on filled tidelands. The team coordinated with stakeholders to outline a permitting strategy and identify potential obstacles. We led the environmental review under the Massachusetts Environmental Policy Act (MEPA) and secured permits and licenses under the Wetlands Protection Act, the Newburyport Wetlands Ordinance, and the Massachusetts Public Waterfront Act (Chapter 91). Additionally, VHB conducted required land surveying and site investigations, as well as construction documentation and administration.
