Haverhill Mayor James Fiorentini announced the opening of the new commercial docks downtown. These docks will give boaters an opportunity to dock their vessels in the heart of Haverhill’s downtown restaurant, cultural and shopping district. This expanded dock system can support commercial tour boats and will help enhance the commerce throughout downtown, while promoting downtown Haverhill as a boating destination.
The docks are the culmination of a project to add a new boardwalk, a new dock system and new gangway.
Most of the program was paid for with various State and Federal grants which the city obtained over the years. The city also invested money from its waterways funds which is a special fund set up by the city several years ago with the express purpose of upgrading its dock system.
The dock system is federally permitted and features an ADA accessible ramp that is permanently affixed to the floodwall with a new aluminum gangway that extends into the river, and a number of wooden docks that float on the surface off the river. The system was funded through a combination of resources, the PARC Grant, Community Development Block Grant Funds and the city’s Waterways and Dock fee accounts. The federal permit allows the city to extend the dock capacity in the future if funding and permitting is approved.
“Our new commercial dock system opens up our city to commercial boaters from Amesbury and Newburyport to come to Haverhill,” . It will also allow boaters to come downtown, dine at a local restaurant as part of their destination. It is all part of our vision to re-orient Haverhill to make the Merrimack River our focal point.
“This grant would not have happened without a partnership with state and federal officials. We appreciate the continued support of State Representative Brian Dempsey, Secretary Richard Sullivan and state PARC Grant Officials, as well as our Harbor Commission for their advocacy and implementation of the dock system.”