The town will receive funding from the state to design and permit a boardwalk linking George Lane and Wessagusset beaches in North Weymouth, an idea that officials first floated three decades ago.

WEYMOUTH The town will receive funding from the state to design and permit a boardwalk linking George Lane and Wessagusset beaches in North Weymouth, an idea that officials first floated three decades ago.

The town will receive an $184,000 grant from the Seaport Economic Council for the feasibility phase of the project. The council, chaired by chaired by Lt. Gov. Karyn Politio, approved nearly $5 million in awards to 13 coastal communities last week.

Upon entering office last year, Mayor Robert Hedlund revived the towns dormant waterfront committee to identity and revive opportunities for waterfront enhancements.

This idea to create access between the two beaches goes back 30 year, Hedlund said. I told the committee to identify viable capital projects and they came back with this.

Prepared in 1988, the towns waterfront plan proposed adding a pedestrian boardwalk between Wessagusset, referred to as the old beach, and George Lane, or the new beach. The two areas are separated by approximately 2,000 feet of coastline that is inaccessible at high tide and difficult to walk on at low tide because of boulders, cobble and concrete debris in the intertidal area.

The funding will allow the town to design and permit a boardwalk stretching the coastline that provides passive recreation, such as viewing vistas, seating areas, a fishing pier, and signs that highlight Weymouths history as a coastal community. The design will also improve access from the overlook shelf at Wessagusset Road to the shoreline below, and address erosion on a section of coast that backs up to Regatta Road.

This project goes along with the focus on North Weymouth, with Route 3A and the rezoning, to create positive activity down there, Hedlund said.

The town will fund the feasibility phase with the grant and a private donation, requiring no public investment. Hedlund said the town could split the project into two phases, depending on the cost of construction.

The towns waterfront committee will oversee the project with support from the planning department. Officials will present initial design concepts in public meetings, take public comment and look to build consensus on a vision for the boardwalk.

This grant is a big step forward for Weymouths vision to connect our two beaches with a waterfront resource for all to enjoy, waterfront committee Chairman George Mutch said. Most residents are not even aware of this coastal area due to its current condition.

Jessica Trufant may be reached at jtrufant@ledger.com.

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Weymouth to design boardwalk linking beaches with state grant - The Patriot Ledger