Well, this is a bummer.
Two big projects meant to help protect our neighborhood waterfronts from rising sea levels just got the rug pulled out from under them, due to spending cuts coming from the Trump administration.
Moakley Park in South Boston and Tenean Beach in Dorchester were both on track to get funding for major upgrades as part of a federal program aimed at climate resilience. Think better stormwater drainage, flood barriers, and all the stuff that keeps our neighborhoods from flooding every time it rains sideways or there is a king tide.
But now? That funding’s gone.
The money was coming from a Department of Commerce initiative under the Inflation Reduction Act—federal support to help coastal communities prepare for climate change. Boston was lined up to receive some of the funding. But the federal government decided to trim the budget, and Moakley and Tenean were left off the final list.
Moakley Park, in particular, has been a major focus for the city, especially with Southie’s proximity to the water and the ever-growing risk of coastal flooding. The park was being redesigned not just as a green space but as a kind of sponge—to absorb stormwater and buffer the surrounding neighborhoods. It was supposed to protect everything from the Mary Ellen McCormack development to Old Colony Ave.
Of course, Boston officials are still vowing to move forward with climate resilience plans—because, well, they have to. But losing out on this federal support is a major setback, especially for communities that can’t just foot the bill on their own.
The Boston Globe has an in-depth article you can read here.
Maureen Dahill is the editor of Caught in Southie and a lifelong resident of South Boston sometimes mistaken for a yuppie. Co-host of Caught Up, storyteller, lover of red wine and binge watching TV series. Mrs. Peter G. Follow her @MaureenCaught.
