The historic Revere Beach Reservation includes three miles of Revere Beach (the first U.S. public beach, established in 1896), Revere Beach Boulevard, and an approximately 10-acre linear park between Revere Beach Boulevard and Ocean Avenue. The Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR), which manages the Reservation, sought to develop standards to lead the historic property into a more resilient future that considers development, climate change, and multi-modal circulation through and within the project site.
In the first phase of the project, Nitsch performed an existing site inventory and analysis with respect to stormwater management and pedestrian, bicycle, and vehicular movements. Multiple site visits, interviews with the DCR, and review of available environmental, utility, and traffic data provided the baseline information to identify existing site constraints and possible opportunities for design guidelines and improvements in the project area.
In the second phase of the project, Nitsch developed a series of alternatives and met with DCR to evaluate project priorities and the limitations and benefits of each alternative. Through the development of roadway cross sections, evaluation of pedestrian routes and connectivity, sidewalk widths, and mid-block crossings, and the incorporation of green infrastructure throughout, Nitsch worked with DCR to come to a consensus on a preferred alternative. This effort led to the development of the Design Standards and Guidelines for Revere Beach Boulevard and Ocean Avenue that will be utilized in future reconstruction efforts of Revere Beach Boulevard and Ocean Avenue.
Key Collaborators
Owner: Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation
Landscape Architect: Shadley Associates
