Belle isle marsh

Green worked extensively with the Town of Winthrop in preparing a Seaport Economic Council Program Grant application to fund the construction of a pier supported wooden walkway with recycled plastic lumber decking, a marine ecology park, an observation platform, and trails which connect to the perimeter of the Belle Isle Marsh along the northern edge of the Town. Once the grant was awarded, we provided comprehensive engineering and design, landscape architectural, and permitting services to the Town for the new Belle Isle Marsh Marine Ecology Park. The Belle Isle Marsh is one of the State’s largest urban salt marshes and is also designated as an Area of Critical Environmental Concern (ACEC); therefore, the permitting for the project was extensive.

As a small coastal peninsula and urban community, Winthrop has little land area that can be developed for economic growth. However, the community does have an abundance of coastal and wetlands open space that is protected as natural resource. The Town’s objective with this project was to develop the natural resources for passive recreation, education and eco-tourism, to appeal to residents of the surrounding region and nature lovers everywhere who wish to explore the natural marsh environment that Belle Isle Marsh provides close to the City of Boston.

The Belle Isle Marsh Marine Ecology Park was a highly anticipated project for the Town and many prominent figures in the community attended the ribbon cutting ceremony including Massachusetts Lieutenant Governor Karyn Polito and Speaker of the House Robert DeLeo. Belle Isle is now a very popular location for members of the surrounding areas to venture to for recreational and educational purposes.