Bicentennial Field Irrigation Project – Summer 2023

The Town of Tyngsborough and the Tyngsborough Public Schools have been researching watering alternatives for Bicentennial Field which is located at Tyngsborough Elementary School. Due to the size of the fields and the amount of use, watering these fields by relying solely on municipal water has become expensive and challenging. In May of 2022, the Town of Tyngsborough awarded a design contract to an irrigation firm that will design a new irrigation system that will reduce or eliminate the Town’s reliance on municipal water for these fields and shift the irrigation source to existing streams and brooks adjacent to the field. This will allow the Town to dramatically reduce watering costs, water the fields in a far more sustainable manner, and avoid installing wells that may impact abutting neighborhoods. The design work is slated to wrap up by mid-summer. Once the design work is complete, work will begin to identify funding sources for the construction of the system. The goal is to commence work sometime in the fall of 2022.

Veteran’s Grave Markers Revitalization -TBD

The Tyngsborough Veterans Services in conjunction with Town Administration is currently looking at cataloging, replacing, and refurbishing the Town’s Revolutionary and Civil War gravesites and markers.

The Town of Tyngsborough has deep roots in the history of this country. This initiative will help preserve that history for future generations to appreciate.

At this time, the Town is actively exploring grants to assist in this effort and potential assistance from the Veterans Administration. This project would aim to replace or repair Veteran markers, install new markers, clean, and if necessary, re-set the headstones.

Tyngsborough Elementary School Lighting Upgrade and Transformer Replacement – Completed April 2023

The Town was awarded a Green Communities Competitive Grant for roughly $91,000 (with $35,000 in local funding) for the Tyngsborough Elementary School Lighting Upgrade and Transformer Replacement project in June of 2022. The Town contracted Guardian Energy to replace 191 light fixtures with LED lights throughout 80 rooms, and 9 older transformers with 9 new energy effecient ones. Work commenced in December of 2022 despite setbacks primarly due to suppy chain delays, and concluded in April of 2023. Overall, this project will allow the Town to save money in the long run and reduce energy usage overall to help us achieve our energy efficiency goals.

Coburn Road Sidewalk Extension – Completed October 2022

Through funding awarded to the Town by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts “Shared Streets & Spaces Grant Program”, the Town has put together a roughly $135,000 project that will see the installation of sidewalks from Beech Street to Lakeview Ave along Coburn Road. Additionally, the Town will shift the roadway in the area of the intersection of Coburn & Lakeview to improve sight lines, especially for traffic exiting Maplewood onto Coburn. This sidewalk extension project will connect the remaining residential neighborhoods of Coburn Road to the existing sidewalk network allowing safe pedestrian access to the Town Beach, the Lakeview Ave Softball Fields, and the fishing park along Lake Mascuppic on Parham Road. Additionally, the funding will allow for the installation of a bus shelter at the intersection for the LRTA Route 10 bus stop and the installation of a bike rack to promote biking & access to public transit. Bids for this project will be open in July and work is expected to commence in August with a fall completion date.

Scarlett Brook Culvert Rehabilitation Project – Completed Winter 2022

The Fiscal Year 2023 Capital Plan included $200,000 for the rehabiliation of the Scarlett Brook Culvert. Scarlett Brook runs on the east side of Town along Sherburne Ave. The culvert in question runs under Sherburne Ave just past the rear entrance to Greater Lowell Technical High School. In the last few years, the culvert has begun rapidly deteriorating which has caused sinkholes to form. This project saw the “slip-lining” of the existing culvert which involves placing a slightly smaller, rubber pipe into the existing culvert to allow for continued water flow and prevent further degredation of the culvert. The project also included some asphalt improvement in areas where the road had washed away and repointing of the headwall. The project is organized by our Engineering Department as a part of our compliance with the federally-mandated EPA MS4 permit.

Town Center Parking Lot & Trail Project – Completed November 2022

Thanks to a state-grant and matching funds from the Community Preservation Committee, the Town of Tyngsborough awarded a contract to Sunshine Paving for the construction of a 50-space parking lot and adjacent walking trails in the Town Center. The parking lot sits on Town-owned land behind the Evangelical Church on what used to be a tennis court when the Winslow School was still in use. The trails meander from the parking lot through a parcel of land behind the Farwell House and pass in front of the historic crypt of Ovid Houston. The trails end at Winslow Road connecting to the sidewalk that allows for accessible access to our new Veteran’s Memorial. The parking lot dramatically enhances parking in the Town Center which has seen an increase in traffic with the opening of the First Parish Meeting House and increased rentals of the Old Town Hall. The project, including restoration of the crypt was completed in November of 2022.

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Tyngsborough Elementary School Playground Project – Completed Summer 2022

At the Annual Town Meeting in May of 2022, the FY 2023 Capital Plan was approved. That plan included $468,000 for the removal of the existing playgrounds at Tyngsborough Elementary School and the installation of two new playgrounds. Each playground caters to a specific age group to ensure equipment furnished in each playground is age appropriate. Additionally, while the previous playgrounds were not ADA compliant, the new playgrounds adhere to all relevant ADA codes & regulations. The new playgrounds have been designed with assistance of the Tyngsborough Elementary School Administration. A contract was awarded to UltiPlay Parks & Playgrounds and the contract was completed in September of 2022.

Public Safety Building Study Committee

The Select Board formally appointed members to the Public Safety Building Study Committee in early 2021.

The Committee is tasked with reviewing the Public Safety Building conceptual designs and cost estimates prepared by Tecton Architects. The Committee will review the operations and conditions of the existing Police and Fire Department facilities and analyze projected space needs based on population increases and operational increases for the next 30 years. You can learn more by visiting the PSBSC page on the Town’s website.

First Parish Meeting House Steeple Repair – Completed August 2022

Renovations on the First Parish Meeting House were nearly complete in August of 2019 when lightning struck the steeple causing damage to the exterior and interior of the Bell Tower. The building was covered by insurance at the time of the strike and Town Meeting appropriated the insurance proceeds to fund the repair work. Following a competitive procurement, the project was awarded to the American Steeple and Tower Co. which has extensive history working on historical steeples like this. Work on this project commenced in Fall of 2021 and involved painstakenly replacing damaged timber as well as signficant work on the siding, the bell cradle, and the copper roof. Progress pictures below as well as images of the steeple in restored condition.

2021 Roadway Improvement Project- Completed July 2022

Each year, the Engineering Department puts together a comprehensive plan for roadway improvements. These projects are funded largely from Chapter 90 funding which is direct funding from the   Commonwealth to cities and towns for road projects. In the last four years, the Town of Tyngsborough has begun increasingly adding municipal dollars into the mix to increase the impact of these projects.

The most financially prudent approach to roadway management is to focus on strategies that stretch the Town’s available resources and provide the best overall benefit to the entire roadway network.  In   order to create an optimal treatment plan, industry standards recommend concentrating more of the funding towards performing preventative maintenance or minor rehabilitation than major roadway   reconstruction. This approach does not mean that roadways that are in poor condition are neglected. This strategy focuses on trying to maintain “good condition” roadways while repairing “poor condition”   roadways overtime as funding is available.

Last year, the Town focused its efforts on the Beverlee Road neighborhood which fell into the fair condition category. As a part of the 2021 Roadway Improvement Project, the Town focused on Jacques Road which is a seriously poor condition roadway. The Town was also able to utilize available funding to pave Roberge and Bishop Drive which are located in that neighborhood and are falling into disrepair. The Town spent nearly $1 million on this project, nearly half of which is funded by local money. The local funds include nearly $300,000 from the revenue the Town receives from Marijuana Excise Taxes. Town Meeting previously allocated 75% of that funding be reserved for spending only on roads projects. This will dramatically increase the impact of our annual projects.

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Danforth Road – Full Depth Reclamation & Paving – Completed June 2022

Danforth Road is a narrow stretch of road that is only accesible by leaving Tyngsborough and going through Dunstable. It is a residential neighborhood with roughly 15 houses. The road is narrow and was never intended to be a heavily trafficked road when it was originally built. In the late 1980s, a new development was built off of the original road which saw a dramatic increase in traffic. The road sits between wetlands and had signficant drainage issues making temporary repairs useless. After years of attempting to make short-term repairs, the Engineering Department was able to utilize savings in the 2021 Roadway Improvements Project as well as available local funding to completely re-do the worst stretch of the road. This work was completed in June of 2022.

Town Center Veterans’ Memorial Project- Completed May 2022

The Town of Tyngsborough was awarded a grant from the Commonwealth of Massachusetts for $25,000 and additional funds from the AARP Community Challenge to develop a centralized Veterans’ Memorial in the Town Center. This project saw the installation of ADA compliant walkways, landscaping features, installation of a new flagpole, and the creation of a centralized memorial on the parcel of land between Winslow Road and Middlesex Road. It featured the relocation of existing monuments into one location and effort will be made to restore some of the oldest monuments. The various grants are in addition to a match from the Community Preservation Committee. Additionally, the Town collected names of individuals who were not included on the original Vietnam Memorial but are eligible. Work has commenced to get those names added and a grand-rededication ceremony is planned for Veteran’s Day.

2022 Patch Project – Completed April 2022

As a part of the Town’s larger strategic plan for road maintenance, the Town endeavors each year to put out smaller “patch” projects to address trouble sections of roads in order to help extend the life of the roadway. These projects are typically done on moderate condition roads and are considered a “preservation” project. 2022 marked the third year that a similar project was completed in Tyngsborough. This year’s project focused on sections of Coburn Road, Parham Road, Locust Ave, Cummings Road, Althea Ave, and Louis Ave. This project is in addition to our annual road improvements project.

Tyngsborough Public Library & Community Room Carpet Replacement Project- Completed October 2021

Using funds appropriated at a 2018 Annual Town Meeting, the Town of Tyngsborough awarded a contract to Atkinson Carpet for the replacement of the current carpeting in the Tyngsborough Public Library and the adjacent Community Room. Library staff have worked closely with the contractor and relevant stakeholders to pick a new carpet that matches the fresh coat of paint and modernizes the feel of the library. The project was completed on schedule and under budget in October of 2021.

Daisy Lane Drainage Improvements- Completed September 2021

The Engineering Department awarded a contract to Woodall Construction for the installation of new drainage infrastructure along Daisy Lane. Daisy Lane has experienced significant drainage issues in the last few years. Poor drainage can cause rapid deterioration of the roadway. It can also create hazards such as large sheets of ice during the winter.

Construction began on September 20, 2021 and wrapped up just before October. With the new infrastructure in place, residents along Daisy Lane should see significantly less run off, less freeze during the winter, and the road surface will experience less rapid deterioration.

ADA Self-Evaluation & Transition Plan- Completed March 2021

In 2020, the Commission on Disability was awarded a $30,000 grant from the Massachusetts Office on Disability to conduct a Self-Evaluation & Transition Plan for the Town. This included a comprehensive review of all municipal policies, programs, and procedures to ensure compliance with the Americans with Disability Act and enhanced accessibility. It also included a physical assessment of all municipal facilities including schools to identify barriers to accessibility. This project was accomplished with the help of a well-respected leader in the world of accessibility design and review. The final plan was available to the public for over two weeks for public comment and feedback and was reviewed during a public hearing of the Commission on Disability on March 8, 2021. The document was formally adopted by the Board of Selectmen later that evening. Learn more about the Self-Evaluation & Transition here. 

Phase II Sewer Construction Project- Completed February 2021

The Phase 2 Sewer Project was approved at Annual Town Meeting on May 15, 2018. The Phase 2 Sewer Project brought municipal sewer to approximately 64 parcels concentrated in the Town’s largest expanse of commercial/industrial zoned area along northern Middlesex Road to the New Hampshire border.  The project included approximately 5,400 linear feet of new sewer; 2,300 linear feet of new water main, 12,200 linear feet of new force main, 2 wastewater pumping stations, and a force main crossing of the Tyngsborough Bridge (south side of sidewalk), within portions of Northern Middlesex Road, Sherburne Avenue/ Tyngsborough Bridge, Parker Lane, Curtis Road, Curtis Hill Road, Lawndale Road, Park Road, Coburn Road, and Maplewood Avenue. The project reached completion in February of 2021. Visit the Sewer Phase II page to learn more.

Old Town Hall Park Project- Completed May 2021

Thank you to the Commonwealth for this grant and to the Engineering Department for designing and executing this fantastic addition to our Town Center.

 

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Camp Kiwanis Improvements Project- Completed June 2021

The Town of Tyngsborough recently renovated the former Camp Kiwanis Girl Scout Camp on Long Pond using a mix of grant funds and money from the Community Preservation Fund. In October of 2020, the Board of Selectmen formally awarded the contract for the work which included the construction of a new parking lot on Alden Street, installation of an ADA accessible trail that leads from the parking lot to the shores of Long Pond, and the installation of benches and new signage along the property. This property is part of a larger parcel of open space that is home to a trail system that meanders through Dracut, Tyngsborough, Pelham NH, and Hudson NH along the banks of Long Pond. Learn more about other open space parcels by visiting the Town’s Open Space page here.

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Lake Mascuppic Town Beach Project- Completed May 2021

This project included the installation of an ADA compliant walkway, the replacement of existing beach sand, restoration of the existing grass area, the installation of an irrigation system, and the construction of a retaining wall to separate the beach from the grass area. This project was funded largely by Community Preservation funds approved by the Community Preservation Committee and Town Meeting as well as a small amount from the Recreation Committee’s revolving fund. The Town Beach is under the care and control of the Recreation Department.

 

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Littlefield Library Exterior Restoration Project- Completed June 2021

Utilizing grant funding from the Massachusetts Historical Commission and a match from the Community Preservation Committee, the Town of Tyngsborough is recently restored the exterior of the Littlefield Library. The project included work to repair the exterior masonry work, repair the existing roof, and touch up the paint along the exterior of this historic building. Learn more about the Littlefield Library here.

Tyngsborough Public Library & Community Room Paint Project- Completed July 2021

In 2018, Town Meeting appropriated $50,000 for the complete re-painting of the Tyngsborough Public Library and the adjacent Community Room. This project was delayed due to maintenance projects and finally went out to bid in Spring of 2021. The Library hadn’t received a fresh coat of paint since its opening in the early 2000s. Patrons are now greeted with two inviting accent walls and the Children’s Library features warm colors that brighten the room.

Master Plan Development- Completed Summer 2021

The  Master Plan Committee has been working on the ten sections of the plan for the past 2 years, and throughout the pandemic. A compiled a draft of all chapters is available for online viewing and downloading on the Committee’s web page, or it can be downloaded directly using this link.  The Master Plan addresses important issues such as land use, housing, natural and cultural resource preservation, economic development, recreation, services and facilities, and traffic and infrastructure. Learn more here.