Mystic River watershed communities receive over $6.5M in federal funding from Mass. congressional delegation earmarks

Everett receiving funds for Gateway Park boardwalk

The Mystic River Watershed Association (MyRWA) was pleased to announce that six Mystic River watershed communities, including Everett, received a total of $6,525,000 in federal Community Project Funding/Congressionally Directed Spending from Fiscal Year 2026 federal spending bills to support projects that will help manage flooding, provide access to green space, improve water quality, expand tree cover and empower youth in the Mystic River watershed.

“MyRWA has long been committed to working toward a watershed free of pollution and full of nature so that all of our community members have access to safe and vibrant outdoor spaces and waterways,” said Executive Director Patrick Herron. “We can’t make this vision a reality without the hard work and ingenuity of our cities, towns, and community-based partners and the support of our state and federal legislators. We are so grateful to Whip Clark, Representative Pressley, Senators Markey and Warren, and the rest of the Massachusetts congressional delegation for their dedication to this important work.”

“Families in Massachusetts deserve a cleaner, healthier, and safer future – this critical funding will help us meet that mark,” said Congresswoman Katherine Clark. “I’m grateful for the partnership of our state and local leaders who helped to identify opportunities to advance our Commonwealth’s climate readiness and construct new, welcoming community gathering spaces for our neighbors. Thanks to their collaboration, we are meeting needs here at home.”

“The Community Project Funding process is a chance to put federal dollars directly to work in our communities, and these ten projects are proof of the impact community-led funding requests can have for communities across the 7th,” said Representative Ayanna Pressley. “The dollars invested and the partnerships forged through the CPF process make a difference in strengthening our climate resilience, creating pathways to careers and generational wealth building, updating critical clean water infrastructure, and more. I’m proud to have secured these critical investments in our most valuable infrastructure—our people—and continue building the more safe, healthy, and equitable district our communities demand and deserve.”

“I’m proud to have worked with the entire Massachusetts delegation to secure over $92 million in funding this year for projects that will make our water cleaner, our environment healthier, our workforce stronger, and expand justice in our communities,” said Senator Ed Markey. “From Provincetown to Williamstown, from Chelsea to Chicopee, it’s critical that we bring federal resources to our communities to make life better for everyone who calls the Bay State home.”

“I fought hard to secure this $30 million in funding because Massachusetts families deserve safer roads and flood infrastructure, cleaner water, a strong fishing economy, and programs that protect our youth. This funding will also preserve Massachusetts’ leadership in cutting edge research. I’m grateful for our Massachusetts leaders’ partnership in securing this funding,” said Senator Elizabeth Warren.

The City of Everett was awarded $850,000 toward the construction of a boardwalk in Gateway Park near the confluence of the Mystic and Malden Rivers. The new boardwalk will bring people closer to the riverbank. It accompanies ongoing efforts to improve the park, including planting more trees, shrubs and perennials to provide habitat for birds, bees and other pollinators, as well as a stream and wetland restoration and stormwater improvements to improve water quality and provide storage during large rainstorms.

MyRWA is excited to work closely with its partners to advance these projects and push for a brighter, cleaner, more resilient future in the Mystic. MyRWA builds shared solutions so that all people, no matter who you are or where you live across the Mystic River watershed, have safe and easy access to nature and a healthy environment. MyRWA believes that understanding the roots of current inequity, access to information and opportunities to learn about the natural world empower us all to work together for a better future in the Mystic.