Market Landing Park Expansion

Project Background: 

In June 2020 the Massachusetts legislature dissolved the Newburyport Redevelopment Authority (NRA) as requested by vote of the Newburyport City Council. In accordance with the relevant Special Act and associated City Council resolution, all land and assets of the former NRA were transferred to the City of Newburyport for use in creating and maintaining an expanded Market Landing Park in the “East” and “West” lots (currently parking and interim lawn space). Between 2020 and 2022 detailed design plans were developed by Sasaki Associates and approved by the City Council. Final permitting approvals for construction were obtained in late 2022 and early 2023.

Contractor bids for construction of the Market Landing Park Expansion (priority Phase 1 park space only) were received and this contract has been awarded to Onyx Corporation. We are currently awaiting details on the contractor’s anticipated mobilization date. Routine project updates will be provided on this webpage throughout construction, which is expected to extend until late spring 2024. This project will be coordinated with ongoing seasonal central waterfront events, and the Central Waterfront Bulkhead Renovation project, which will happen primarily over the 2023-2024 winter season. A portion of the separate but overlapping Market Square Drainage Culvert Replacement Project will be addressed in conjunction with park construction along the water’s edge, however due to limited funds and some design constraints the remaining section inland to Water Street (between historic buildings) will be installed at a later date.

(Click here for the slide presentation presented to the City Council on June 22, 2023, which includes an update regarding the overall project, costs and funding sources in particular, and illustrative graphics depicting the Phase 1 area improvements currently proposed for construction. Additional funding will be needed to complete Phases 2 and 3 for the purchase of various site amenities.)

Construction Status Updates:

• Mobilization & Site Prep: The contractor (Onyx Corporation) has mobilized construction fencing to establish a perimeter for areas under construction between September 2023 and June 2024. This fencing encompasses the northern end of waterfront parking lots “NRA East” and “NRA West.” For short duration(s) in/around October 2023, there will be temporary disruption(s) to public access within the central lawn and west parking lot to allow for subsurface utility installations. Timing for this work is being coordinated with the Waterfront Trust, the Parking Clerk and other City officials.
• Public Access to be Maintained: During construction access will be maintained to the main “Market Landing Park” lawn space, most existing walkways, the length of the boardwalk, central embayment, and each end of the public boardwalk. There will be a few exceptions to this access where limited boardwalk closures are required to integrate the new path connections with existing conditions, particularly on the west end for a bike path connection and reconfiguration of the existing Sculpture Park (anticipated in Spring 2024).

Please note that a separate Central Waterfront Bulkhead Renovation Project (to be constructed primarily during the fall and winter months, concluding in early spring) will itself require limited closures of the boardwalk to ensure public safety and allow for contractor access as the work progresses from the west end of the boardwalk running in an easterly direction. These closures will be phased accordingly, and limited in duration as required for construction.

• Construction Hours: At this time most construction work is expected to be undertaken on a Monday-Thursday schedule (7am to 5pm).
• Three Week Look Ahead (work expected in the coming days/weeks): As with any construction project, these details (i.e. the precise days/weeks for certain contractor work) may fluctuate slightly over the duration of the project. Please view the sketch plan posted here (image/PDF) for notation of the following areas over an aerial photo of the central waterfront. Solid blue lines indicate primary construction fencing to remain until the project is complete in late spring 2024. Dashed blue lines indicate the location of temporary fencing necessary for a short duration in order to establish new utility connections outside the primary project work site. The following schedule is approximate and may require adjustment based on field conditions, inclement weather, etc.
  • Area A (West End Drainage Connection & Sculpture Park/Plaza): 11/13/23 / 12/15/23
  • Area B (Merrimac Street Water Line Connection): 11/17/23 - 12/8/23
  • Area C (East End Water Line Connection): 12/11/23 - 12/22/23
• Overall Construction Sequence & Phasing:
  • Construction will extend through late spring/early summer 2024 (pausing for a few months due to winter conditions, and to allow access for construction of the Central Waterfront Bulkhead Renovation Project).
  • All subsurface work, infrastructure, and base conditions are planned for completion before winter 2023 (weather permitting).
  • All final surface work (e.g. brick walkways, final paving, plantings, site amenities, etc.) are planned for completion in late spring 2024 (following completion of the overlapping Central Waterfront Bulkhead Renovation Project, which will take place over the 2023-2024 winter season).
  • Once construction is completed in the East Lot a substantial portion of public parking will be restored as the site fencing is taken down. This will be accomplished at the earliest possible date in Spring 2024.
• Questions? Any questions or concerns regarding this project should be directed to Andy Port, Project Manager and Director of Planning & Development, as noted below.