Senator Jason Lewis Announces Over $2 Million in Community Beautification Funds for Malden

The Massachusetts Senate passed an environmental bond bill this week; and, Senator Jason Lewis is pleased to announce his successful advocacy for the inclusion of a number of provisions in the legislation directly benefitting the City of Malden.

Senator Lewis successfully secured in the Senate’s environmental bond bill: $1,200,000 for improvements and remediation to Pine Banks Park in Melrose and Malden; $625,000 for the development and maintenance of community gardens in Malden; and, $250,000 for the clean-up and replanting of the Fellsmere Pond area in Malden.

“These important initiatives will enhance the local environment in Malden and further strengthen Malden’s already robust community spirit,” said Senator Lewis.  “I’m very pleased that we were successful at including these worthwhile investments for the City of Malden in the bill.”

Another noteworthy feature of the environmental bond bill is that it establishes a Climate Change Adaptation Infrastructure Investment Fund for projects related to seawalls, jetties, revetments, retaining walls, and inland flood control, which will allow Massachusetts to better prepare for the impacts of climate change.

Additionally, the bill included a number of provisions to improve the Commonwealth’s energy efficiency and enhance our environment, including: $310 million for the accelerated energy program to improve the energy efficiency of state-owned facilities; $75.4 million for the Department of Environmental Protection for investment in water and air quality protection; $10 million for the Department of Energy and Resources’ Leading by Example Program to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and other environmental impacts; $5 million for recreational trails matching grants; and, $3 million for oil or hazardous waste assessment, containment, cleanup, control, removal, or response.

With the state House of Representatives having passed their version of the environmental bond bill, the Legislature will now form a conference committee to negotiate a compromise between the two bills.

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