A Vision for a Changing Waterfront
LOWER MYSTIC WATERFRONT VISION
The lower Mystic should be climate resilient, connected, inclusive, active, and thrive as a working waterfront.
While the region has overcome past challenges through collective and bold action—such as the Boston Harbor cleanup and the Big Dig—it now faces mounting challenges as demand grows for waterfront access, local jobs, affordable housing, and climate protection. To meet these needs, communities across the region are advancing bold plans for resilience, housing, and transportation.
See the Executive Summary here.
Theme 1: RESILIENT AND CLIMATE READY COMMUNITIES
We face serious risks along the waterfront, but there are ways to adapt to the risk that actually improve everyday quality of life. Elevated paths and parks provide great views, and protect neighborhoods and workplaces during coastal floods. Pocket parks give people places to enjoy on nice days, and soak up the rain during storms. Splash pads and trees are fun and beautiful, and provide a cool escape during hot summer days. The waterfront should serve the dual purpose of providing enjoyment and protecting the community and its businesses, institutions, and infrastructure from climate stressors.
Theme 2: CONNECTED AND CONTINUOUS WATER ACCESS
Imagine being able to walk or bike along the water to get to your job, school, family gathering, or doctor’s appointment; from Charlestown to Somerville and across the Mystic River, from Medford to Malden and from Everett into Chelsea, onward to Revere and East Boston; on a warm summer night, spring blossom morning, or a crisp fall day.
Cities and community groups in the lower Mystic have been working on pieces of this vision for decades, and there are many projects underway now to build safe and accessible routes for walking, biking, and rolling that connect people to places, nature, and each other. This vision supports existing waterfront access projects and advances new ones.
Image Credit: Daria Clark
Theme 3: INCLUSIVE AND ACTIVE OPEN SPACE
The lower Mystic waterfront should become known for its welcoming, safe, comfortable, outdoor spaces where people from every walk of life can enjoy and benefit from this incredible natural resource.
We envision a variety of gathering spaces, connected by a path network, that feel welcoming and accessible to all - places where families can picnic under shaded structures, cyclists can safely park their bikes, and everyone can easily find restrooms and water fountains. Thoughtfully designed infrastructure will make the lower Mystic Waterfront inviting, with well-lit pathways, public seating, and clear signage ensuring that all visitors, regardless of age or ability, can comfortably enjoy these open spaces.
Image credit: David Mussina
Theme 4: THRIVING WORKING WATERFRONT
The lower Mystic working waterfront will be revitalized by using regional planning as a tool to unlock its economic development potential and leverage state investment to support maritime uses.
We believe the future of the lower Mystic waterfront can improve recreation, access, resilience and maritime uses. We believe that when these outcomes are planned for simultaneously, across municipal boundaries, these activities can not only co-exist, but reinforce, and sustain one another.
