CPA Projects Database

The Billerica Public Library is the repository for documents integral to maintaining the history of the town of Billerica. Many of these paper documents are old and sometimes in dire need of restoration and preservation. The Billerica Public Library is seeking funds to perform a Preservation Assessment (risks, policies, storage, equipment, and handling) of the current situation. Billerica’s Master Plan identifies the objective of enhancing Billerica’s civic education programs and instills pride in the town’s rich heritage; a goal this project helps achieve.

The Town of Billerica seeking CPA funds for the Howe School. These funds will be used for the 100% design and construction cost estimation to make the building habitable and accessible to the public. This is a necessary first step to prepare the Town to go out to bid for the construction improvements, and offers the opportunity to work towards Billerica’s goal of developing programming and key projects to promote opportunities for everyday interactions with the town’s history and resources.

The Town of Billerica has been moving ahead on the design for the Yankee Doodle Bike Path. The Town is currently at the 25% design stage and is seeking to advance to 75% design stage. The CPA funds will be used to advance the recreational initiatives laid out in Billerica’s Open Space and Recreational Plan to “Improve, expand, and increase access to active and passive recreational opportunities.”

The Billerica Historical Society is seeking CPA funding for the restoration and preservation of the Clara Sexton Memorial Museum located at 36 Concord Road. The funds will help the Society replace windows and repaint the property. This is an important initiative as the project demonstrates a public benefit that is significant in the history, archeology, architecture or culture of the town, which is one of the criteria for the CPC.

Preservation and restoration of a 1926 Maxim Ladder Fire Truck.

Steeple rehabilitation. Railings and moldings on the belfry and lantern sections will be removed and replaced. The roofing shingles on the spire section will be replaced. The weathervane and clock will be restored.

The Town through its Conservation Commission owns multiple parcels located at the end of Sheridan Street, and these parcels can offer access to the Shawsheen River. Access in this location requires the design and construction of a boardwalk, small parking area and educational signage for the public and residents using either canoes or kayak can put-in their at the correct location to maintain and preserve Conservation land supporting wetland resource areas including forested riparian/Riverfront Area, floodplain and Buffer Zone. Providing additional river access to the Shawsheen River encourages educational opportunities and a higher quality of life for residents. This project will use CPA funding to maximize the land already owned by the Town and aligns well with the goals outlined in the CPC Plan.

The Billerica Public Library’s local history collection is quite extensive containing many rare and historical items including documents, maps, pamphlets, works of art and other artifacts, and books. The collection has overflowed the Local History Room at the Library and many items are stored in locations that are not archivally optimal. Based on the Preservation Needs Assessment done by Northeast Document Conservation Center and funded by the CPC, the Library is asking for funds to purchase archival and preservation supplies and furniture. The supplies and furniture will aid in the preservation of the library collection by appropriately housing or rehousing the collection in protective enclosures and then storing them in proper archival furniture making these items safely available to the public.

In Fall of 2018, Town Meeting authorized $100,000 to help fund, restore and rehabilitate a former Talbot warehouse in the Historic Mill District for adaptive reuse as the Middlesex Canal Museum. The MCA requests funding for continued and on-going restoration and rehabilitation of the Middlesex Canal Museum building at 2 Old Elm Street. The funds will be used primarily for plumbing and electrical work.

The Town of Billerica voted at Spring 2018 Town Meeting to purchase 8 Carter Avenue and an adjoining parcel located on the Concord River in the care and custody of the Conservation Commission. Those parcels were for preservation, restoration and passive recreation purposes. In the Spring of 2020, Town Meeting authorized $75,000 for a multi-use project with various site improvements, including picnic tables, access drive and parking lot and a memorial area and pollinator garden honoring Katie Durand, the former Land Use Assistant in the Conservation Department who passed away in 2018. Since that time, a more detailed design plan and cost estimate for permitting has been prepared. The estimate exceeds the original requested amount, and therefore, additional funds are needed.

Monitoring the growth of Invasive Species throughout the Town of Billerica.

To contract a design team to help develop an appropriate layout for the Skate Park to include safe and proper surfacing and ramps/obstacles.

Use of CPC funds for restoration of the historic Howe School for community use. Addition to the Howe School provided by Billerica Access Television (BATV) and the Town. On May 8, 2022 $500k was appropriated for the completion of the Howe School.

The PHR Basketball Courts are showing significant signs of wear and cracking. Similar to what we were able to accomplish with the Tennis/Pickleball Courts, we are now looking to have the PHR Basketball Courts completely repaired/resurfaced/repainted. Additionally, we are looking to address broken fences, and install new backboards on each hoop. The current backboards are significantly weathered/aged, and are in need of replacement to match the rest of the recent complex improvements.

The front façade of Masonic Hall is very deteriorated and out of compliance with current ADA code therefore it must be updated to be included in the design plans. Without this update access to the second may be difficult to accomplish because the front of the building won’t be able to support such a structure.

The upgrades would consist of all new teepads constructed of pressure treated lumber, stone dust and concrete paver blocks to provide a safe stable permanent pad that will require much less maintenance in the future. We will also be installing benches at each teepad for those waiting. Upgrades to the basket areas will include landscape wall bricks and rocks around the base of the baskets. We would also like to purchase maintance tools to keep at the course for volunteer use.