Northshore magazine showcases the best that the North Shore of Boston, MA has to offer.
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109 the city is in the beginning stages of an Eco- Recreational Campus Connectivity Plan for the neighborhood that aims to "encourage an increased usage of the bikeways, walk- ways, and trail networks as well as improv- ing access to the recreational amenities," according to city's plan. It's all intended to increase options PEABODY'S EMERSON PARK NEIGHBORHOOD IS one that Chris Ryder, chief of staff for Peabody mayor Ted Bettencourt, describes as being "right out of a Norman Rockwell painting," with its friendly neighbors and outside spaces for gathering and playing, including a skate park and ball fields. e neighborhood, which centers on Emerson Park, has also had a "renaissance" in recent years, Ryder says. ere's the new Higgins Middle School, which opened in 2016; Coach Bob Driscoll's Old Time Skating Rink, an outdoor rink that opened in 2017; the Peabody Dog Park, which opened in 2018; and a Peabody Public Safety Memorial, which was dedicated in 2017. In addition, the city received nearly $400,000 in state funding in the form of a Complete Streets grant, which allowed it to build a multi-use path that runs from the mid- dle school to Emerson Park, as well as recon- struct sidewalks, add new wheelchair ramps, install new crosswalks, and add signage. "e finishing touches are being added now," Ryder says. And the renaissance continues. Ryder says Emerson Park, Peabody PHOTOGRAPHS BY ELISE SINAGRA and access to the kinds of outdoor activities that Ryder sees all the time in this neighborhood: kids playing basketball and skateboarding, friends chatting on the benches, and people doing yoga in Emerson Park. "This particular area brings a cross section of our city together," he says. "There's something for everybody." Emerson Park is located near Downtown Peabody and offer recreation spots for all ages. WALKABILITY AND CONNECTIVITY N O R T H S H O R E N E I G H B O R H O O D S