Last updated: October 2021
The Barr Foundation started the cross-cutting program called Waterfront Initiative to support the sustainable planning and accessibility of the waterfront area while also increasing residents awareness and environmental stewardship of the waterfront. The Waterfront Initiative initially supported organizations in harbour planning, designing waterfront parks, and climate resilience efforts along the Boston waterfront. In 2018, it has also strengthened its focus on social equity and public engagement across more vulnerable neighbourhoods around waterfront issues (1,2)
Source: https://www.facebook.com/ArtistsForHumanity/
Overview
Nature-based solution
- Blue infrastructure
- Coastlines
Key challenges
- Climate action for adaptation, resilience and mitigation (SDG 13)
- Climate change adaptation
- Coastal resilience and marine protection (SDG 14)
- Coastal protection / hazard mitigation
- Green space, habitats and biodiversity (SDG 15)
- Green space creation and/or management
- Inclusive and effective governance (SDG 16)
- Inclusive governance
- Social justice, cohesion and equity (SDG 10)
- Social cohesion
- Social justice and equity
- Cultural heritage and cultural diversity
- Protection of historic and cultural landscape/infrastructure
- Promotion of cultural diversity
Focus
Creation of new green areas, Coastal landscape management or protection, Knowledge creation and awareness raising, Strategy, plan or policy development
Project objectives
"- Complement public and private waterfront planning efforts in the Boston harbour area (1)
- Support local stakeholder organisations working for increased accessibility of the waterfront area for all and increased sense of environmental stewardship in residents for the waterfront (1)
- Support the sustainable development of the area with a special focus on resiliency and adaptation to climate change-related disasters such as coastal storms and flooding (1)
- Encourage the participation of community-based organisations and affected residents group in the decision-making process regarding the waterfront development who were previously excluded from the conversation (1)
- Increase the accountability and transparency of decision-making on waterfront development issues (1)
- Explore opportunities for new and improved parks and design at the waterfront (2)
Implementation activities
"Example activities from the granted organisations:
- Organisation of a series of community-based collaborative art experiences centred around Boston Harbor - Artists for Humanity (1)
- Creation of a greenway to facilitate access to the waterfront in Charlestown district that lacks such a gateway to the waterfront - Mystic River Watershed Association (1)
- Preparation of a shared waterfront vision with other grantee organisation to advance the waterfront planning process - Trustees of Reservations (1)
- Preparation of the vision and feasibility phase of the waterfront planning process - Boston Redevelopment Authority (1)"
Climate-focused activities
Climate change adaptation:
- Restore wetlands and/or coastal ecosystems to dissipate the effects of flooding and/or storms
- Renaturalization of rivers and other water bodies
Main beneficiaries
- Local government/Municipality
- Non-government organisation/Civil Society
- Citizens or community groups
- Marginalized groups: Socio-economically disadvantaged populations (e.g. low-income households, unemployed)
Governance
Management set-up
- Led by non-government actors
Type of initiating organisation
- Private foundation/trust
Participatory approaches/ community involvement
- Other
Details on the roles of the organisations involved in the project
"The Barr Foundation is governed by a five-member board of trustees and employs 29 full-time staff members. The Barr Foundation founded funds and operates the Waterfront Initiative. One staff member runs the Waterfront Initiative, along with Barr’s other special cross-cutting initiatives" (1 p18). Each of the funded organisations and initiatives is governed individually, according to the given organisation's guidelines and policy.
Project implemented in response to ...
... an EU policy or strategy?
No
... a national policy or strategy?
No
... a local policy or strategy?
Yes
(The state law called Massachusetts General Law Chapter 91 has been created in 1866 to protect and promote the public’s right to the waterfront. This Massachusetts Public Waterfront Act states that all waterfront (re)development should serve a public purpose. (1, 3))
Financing
Total cost
Not applicable
Source(s) of funding
- Private Foundation/Trust
Type of funding
- Direct funding (grants, subsidies, or self-financed projects by private entities)
Non-financial contribution
Unknown
Impacts and Monitoring
Environmental impacts
- Climate change
- Increased protection against sea level rise
- Water management and blue areas
- Increased protection against flooding
- Green space and habitat
- Promotion of naturalistic styles of landscape design for urban development
- Increased green space area
Economic impacts
- Unknown
Socio-cultural impacts
- Social justice and cohesion
- Improved social cohesion
- Improved liveability
- Increased visibility and opportunity for marginalised groups or indigenous peoples
- Increased involvement of locals in the management of green spaces
- Health and wellbeing
- Gain in activities for recreation and exercise
Type of reported impacts
Expected impacts
Presence of formal monitoring system
Unknown
Presence of indicators used in reporting
No evidence in public records
Presence of monitoring/ evaluation reports
No evidence in public records
Availability of a web-based monitoring tool
No evidence in public records
References
1) Kim, E., 2018, NATURVATION - Case Study Working Paper: Boston, Massachusetts, USA
2) Barr Foundation, (n.a.), Boston Waterfront Initiative Goals, Accessed on 28th February, 2021, Source link
3) Barr Foundation, (n.a.), Creating a Boston Waterfront for All, Accessed on 28th February, 2021, Source link
4) Boston Waterfront Partners, (n.a.), Who We Are, Accessed on 28th February, 2021, Source link
5) Boston Waterfront Partners, (n.a.), Our Work, Accessed on 28th February, 2021, Source link
2) Barr Foundation, (n.a.), Boston Waterfront Initiative Goals, Accessed on 28th February, 2021, Source link
3) Barr Foundation, (n.a.), Creating a Boston Waterfront for All, Accessed on 28th February, 2021, Source link
4) Boston Waterfront Partners, (n.a.), Who We Are, Accessed on 28th February, 2021, Source link
5) Boston Waterfront Partners, (n.a.), Our Work, Accessed on 28th February, 2021, Source link
Source: https://www.bostonharborwalk.org
Source: https://www.facebook.com/ArtistsForHumanity/