Funding will help with Walkers Brook Drive corridor project
BOSTON – The Town of Reading has been awarded a $500,000 MassWorks FY2025 grant to help with the Walkers Brook Drive corridor project through the Community One Stop for Growth portal, which is administered by both the Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities (HLC) and the Executive Office of Economic Development (EOED).
State Representative Richard M. Haggerty (D-Woburn), State Representative Bradley H. Jones, Jr. (R-North Reading), and State Senator Jason M. Lewis (D-Winchester) congratulate the Town of Reading for successfully securing this grant award. Reading was one of 171 communities across the Commonwealth to be awarded in this round of funding, with a combined total of $161 million awarded in 313 grant awards.
The Community One Stop for Growth portal provides a streamlined process that allows towns and cities easier access and opportunities to apply for community development grants. Through a single portal, applicants can access 12 different grant programs offered by the Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities (HLC), the Executive Office of Economic Development (EOED), and the quasi-public agency MassDevelopment. The programs in the One Stop portal offer direct support and funding for various economic development initiatives related to community capacity building, planning and zoning, site preparation, building construction, infrastructure, and housing development.
“I want to congratulate the Town of Reading for its efforts in securing this grant award,” said Representative Haggerty. “This funding will enable us to advance the Walkers Brook Drive corridor project, helping create new opportunities for economic growth and enhancing public safety. It’s great to see the Community One Stop for Growth program helping local initiatives in communities like ours.”
“The Town of Reading has been working to develop a comprehensive plan for the Walkers Brook Drive corridor to promote economic development, support local businesses, expand access to Lake Quannapowitt and other recreational areas, and enhance public safety,” said Representative Jones. “Through this MassWorks grant, the state will be working in partnership with the Town to help advance this important project further along the design stage. With continued community input, the end result promises to be something all Reading residents can be proud of.”
“I’m thrilled that Reading is receiving this competitive MassWorks grant to continue work on the Walkers Brook Drive corridor project,” said State Senator Jason Lewis. “These improvements to Walkers Brook Drive will energize the neighborhood and make it safer for pedestrians, cyclists, and drivers.”
The funding will help the Town move forward with the Walkers Brook Drive corridor project from conceptual plans to a 50-75% design level, including necessary permitting. This advancement is crucial for securing additional funding for the project’s full construction phase. The advanced design plans will also allow for more direct public and stakeholder engagement and feedback to support the full construction design that would follow.
The Walkers Brook Drive corridor is a primary gateway between the towns of Reading, Wakefield, and Lake Quannapowitt. The project offers the community, through a collaborative process, the opportunity to develop a long-term vision for the neighborhood. The initiative aims to create a more accessible, safer and vibrant connection between residents, business centers, recreational areas, and dining and shopping destinations. Plans envision adding dedicated bicycle lanes, new pedestrian walkways, and traffic-calming measures along the four-lane thoroughfare that currently handles around 23,340 vehicles per day and serves as one of Reading’s major economic centers outside of Route 28 and Reading Center.
