Peabody
Photo Credit: City of Salem
Setting the Stage for Actions – Peabody
As one of Salem Sound’s inland communities, the City of Peabody’s Municipal Vulnerability Preparedness (MVP) Action Plan focuses on inland flooding, extreme heat and cold, drought, and emergency preparedness. Salem Sound Coastwatch was a participant in their MVP workshop and continues to work with Peabody primarily on North River projects. The North River, the largest contributor of fresh water to Salem Sound, has a long history of flooding downtown Peabody during intense rain storms. Since it is a tidal river, extreme high tides combined with storm surge exacerbate flooding during precipitation events.
Peabody Coastal Resilience Projects:
Slowing the Flow
Working across the upper sections of the North River watershed, Peabody has improved stormwater retention and infiltration in multiple locations – Centennial Drive, Scouting Woods, and the Higgins Middle School, to reduce flooding downstream where the brooks converge on Peabody Square. Scouting Woods is a 12–acre detention basin next to a business office park off Summit Ave and home to the Peabody Disc Golf. A great example of infiltration is at the new Higgins Middle School. The Police Station used to be flooded from school property runoff. With the green stormwater practices used at the new school, the Police Station no longer floods, and most of the rain that falls is absorbed on site. Watch this video that explains what was built on the school grounds.
Making the North River an Asset
Because of its industrial past, residents and businesses turned their backs to the river. In 2012, the City began to change this with the purchase of a vacant brownfield at 45 Walnut Street. The site was remediated, and the East End Peabody Veterans Memorial Park was created. Bordering the North River Canal, it serves as an open green space for passive and active recreation and flood storage.
Current Coastal Resilience Projects:
Peabody is in full swing to complete its Riverwalk from Wallis Street to Howley Street. They recently purchased the Former Clark Steel Drum, Inc. site at 24 Caller Street. Upon remediation, this will become another recreational open space park along the North River multi-use path. In addition, the river’s south bank will be stabilized to increase the stormwater and riverine flood storage capacity.
Peabody-Salem Resilient North River Corridor and Riverwalk Project
This project, funded by an MVP Action grant, is proceeding with the goal to improve multimodal transportation between downtown Peabody to the Salem Depot (MBTA commuter station). Salem Sound Coastwatch is working on this project with Peabody and Salem Planning Departments. As the pedestrian and bike path is designed along Salem’s Harmony Grove Road, the project is evaluating the area’s vulnerability to climate change impacts, which includes flooding and erosion. Bank stabilization using nature-based solutions is a priority for Salem Sound Coastwatch.
These North River projects along the Independence Greenway meet the state’s goal to fill trail gaps along the Border to Boston Trail, a 70-mile shared use path that links approximately 20 communities from Boston to Newburyport.
Connelly Park Underground Storage
During flooding analysis studies, it was realized that Lawrence Brook was a contributor to Walnut Street flooding. Salem Sound Coastwatch and Dr. Lindley Hanson first called the City’s attention to this buried North River tributary that discharges behind 45 Walnut Street. In 2018, the Lawrence Brook Watershed Assessment Project evaluated low impact development (LID) and green stormwater infrastructure approaches to reduce flooding. The construction of this underground storage unit under the park will reduce the level of flooding on Walnut Street.