Photo: Kyle Bray/WBZ NewsRadio
MALDEN, Mass. (WBZ NewsRadio) — After years of dumping and neglect, the Malden River is getting a much-needed overhaul.
Several gathered along the Malden River on Thursday to see the progress come along for the brand-new riverfront park that is set to be completed by Summer 2026.
The City of Malden was able to secure around $4 million in federal funding for the new park, complete with hundreds of freshly planted trees and a massive dock for boating.
Massachusetts Senator and Malden native Ed Markey spoke on his experiences growing up near the Malden River, and said times have changed.
“My mother would say to me as a boy when I was 10 years old, ‘Eddie, whatever you do, don’t swim in the Malden River,’” said Markey.
However, with the new developments planned, many people, including City Council President Amanda Linehan, are looking forward to the new park.
“It’s really a gamechanger. I think it’s going to be something that, for the first time, people can go and enjoy the river,” said Linehan. “It will be a place you can go walking, boating, it will be something where you can really enjoy that public amenity.”
Malden Mayor Gary Christensen said he’s looking forward to giving residents a place to relax and enjoy.
“It’s going to be another place for our community to come together. Prior to this, there were a lot of people in our community who said, ‘We have a river?’” said Christensen. “Now, they’re going to be a part of it, thanks to this great project.”
The plans also feature several costal resiliency features to help with flooding in the area.
More information on the riverfront park can be found on the Malden River Works website here.
WBZ NewsRadio’s Kyle Bray (@KyleBrayWBZ) reports.