Rendering of a new Chelsea park
Transforming an Abandoned Site in Chelsea to a Waterfront Park
Mass Audubon and our partners GreenRoots, a leading environmental justice nonprofit based in Chelsea, and The Neighborhood Developers, a local community development corporation, are working to acquire 18 acres of waterfront property in Chelsea and transform it into a broadly accessible, climate-resilient park, mixed-income housing, and community amenities along the Chelsea Creek waterfront.
About the Property
The land is the former site of the Forbes Lithograph Manufacturing Company at the confluence of Chelsea and Mill Creeks. It has been effectively abandoned and fenced off from the public for almost two decades.
In late 2024, the property was placed in receivership at the request of the City of Chelsea—a legal step that opened a window of opportunity for the partnership to actively pursue the acquisition of the property. Our collective efforts to transform the property received a huge boost recently when the judge overseeing the receivership approved Mass Audubon’s offer to purchase the property.
A Vision for the Future
Rendering of a future park in Chelsea
The three partners will work hand-in-hand with the Chelsea community to shape a waterfront destination that restores the natural landscape, provides much-needed green space in one of the state’s most densely populated cities, increases Chelsea’s climate resiliency in the face of rising sea levels, and delivers up to 225 units of mixed income housing.
When the project moves forward, Chelsea will reclaim a long-overlooked waterfront parcel as a thriving community asset. With a vision for a nature center, outdoor classroom, and accessible green space, the site will offer new opportunities for learning and recreation, while restored wetlands and a living shoreline will help shield the neighborhood from rising seas, and homes will bring life to the former industrial site.
Capturing Media Attention
Even though it's early in the process, the media buzz on this project is already off the charts and shows how important this project is, both locally and regionally. The story has been in the Boston Globe, WBZ-TV, WBUR, and MassLive with even more stories on the way.
Next Steps
The Forbes company had an extensive industrial presence from the mid-1880s through the 1960s, and while some environmental remediation has been performed, additional testing must be conducted. Existing infrastructure needs to be evaluated as well, including the access bridge over the MBTA commuter rail and an existing seawall.
Once testing is complete, the partnership will need to raise critical funds to bring this project to life. If you would like to learn more about how you can support these efforts, please contact Janet Curtis, Associate Director, Principal Gifts, or donate today.
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