Alderman
at Large Bill White accepted a grant from the Massachusetts
Environmental Trust (MET) on behalf of the City of Somerville on
Friday, October 23rd during a press conference along the banks of the
Mystic River in Medford.

The MET presented five grants,
totaling $505,500, to Mystic River Watershed communities and
organizations, including the cities of Everett, Somerville, and
Medford, the Mystic River Watershed Association and the Mystic Valley
Development Commission.

Somerville's grant award totals
$201,000, for renovations to the Blessing of the Bay Boathouse – for
ADA renovations and reconstruction of the dock – as well as to fund the
construction of the Blue Heron River Route Project. Accepting the
grant, Alderman White noted, "Through this grant funding, we will be
able to make the Mystic River waterfront – at all its access points in
Somerville – a true neighborhood destination, and a highly visible
community gathering spot that can be shared with the entire region. In
the last several years, we've drawn more attention to this area, with
the Assembly on the Mystic development project and celebrations such as
Riverfest, and this grant award will serve to strengthen the character
and increase the visibility of this great community resource."