Tag: Winthrop

WalkMassachusetts Announces New Executive Directors Althea Wong-Achorn, Brendan Kearney

WalkMassachusetts Announces New Executive Directors Althea Wong-Achorn, Brendan Kearney

The new leadership, an expanded Board, and a rebrand to WalkMassachusetts, previously WalkBoston, reflect an organizational vision to make walking safer and easier statewide.

BOSTON (August 2, 2023)WalkMassachusetts, a statewide pedestrian advocacy organization, today announced Althea Wong-Achorn and Brendan Kearney as the organization’s Executive Directors. The announcement comes on the heels of WalkBoston rebranding as WalkMassachusetts to represent an expansion of the organization’s vision and work, also demonstrated by the appointment of new board members and staff representing cities and towns from Springfield to East Boston to Brockton.

“This is an exciting next chapter for the organization. We are implementing our newly developed strategic plan, expanding our reach statewide, and continuing our advocacy work in support of safe pedestrian infrastructure and public policy,” said Board President Betsy Johnson. “It’s a huge task, and Brendan and Althea have proven over the past year that they are equal to the challenge. They are committed to making WalkMassachusetts’ vision – a Massachusetts where people walking – no matter their race, identity, age, ability, or lived experience – feel safe, connected, and valued on our streets and sidewalks a reality.”

While they are new to the Co-Executive Director roles, Althea and Brendan have collectively spent over a decade at WalkBoston, now WalkMassachusetts, in different roles. Brendan began as the organization’s Communications and Development Coordinator in 2013 and became the Deputy Director in 2019. In 2020, Althea joined as WalkMassachusetts’ Development Director and became Deputy Director of Operations in 2022. 

“The need for equitable streets that promote safer and easier walking for all is ever critical in Massachusetts and the nation,” said Executive Director Brendan Kearney. “I am thrilled to work with Althea to lead WalkMassachusetts’ efforts to promote and advocate for that while encouraging better health, a cleaner environment, and more vibrant communities.”

“People across Massachusetts are stepping up to advocate and work towards solutions for better street designs that promote equitable walking and save lives,” said Executive Director Althea Wong-Achorn. “This is an exciting time for the work towards safer streets, and I am honored to lead and work with Brendan, WalkMassachusetts, other advocacy groups, and communities across the state to provide access and tools to make Massachusetts safer.” 

Brendan is WalkMassachusetts’ advocacy and communications lead. He is a founding member of the City of Boston’s Vision Zero Task Force, and is an appointed member of the Massachusetts Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Board (MABPAB) which serves in an advisory role on advancing bicycle and pedestrian transportation for MassDOT and other State Agencies. Brendan is a graduate of the College of the Holy Cross. He lives in Framingham with his wife Hannah and their dog Mavis. 

Althea is WalkMassachusetts’ head fundraiser and administrator. Prior to joining the organization, Althea oversaw fundraising and events for both the USS Constitution Museum, where she led a record setting gala, and Boston Children’s Museum, where she created new and innovative events while earning a Best of Boston® award from Boston Magazine. Althea lives in Winthrop with her husband Joe and their dog Daphne, and is a graduate of Colby College.

In recent years, WalkMassachusetts has strengthened its footprint in the region and positioned itself as the state’s primary pedestrian advocacy group, working with over 130 cities and towns across the state to promote equitable and safer streets for people walking. In 2022, the organization launched its annual Fatal Pedestrian Crashes in Massachusetts report, shedding new light on when and why pedestrian crashes are happening across the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and how we can reduce or even eliminate pedestrian deaths.

This year’s report showed fatal pedestrian crashes in Massachusetts were up 35%, and more than 70% (72 of 101) occurred in Environmental Justice Neighborhoods. The report is now a tool for auditing regions impacted by traffic crashes and, ultimately, calls upon MassDOT, the legislature, and local municipalities to take immediate actions to create safer streets. WalkMassachusetts also created and leads the WalkMassachusetts Network, a statewide network of advocacy and municipal walking organizations that meets monthly and works to achieve mobility equity across Massachusetts. 

To learn more about WalkMassachusetts’ mission and vision, leadership, and ways to get involved, visit www.walkboston.org 

About WalkMassachusetts
WalkMassachusetts (founded in 1990 as WalkBoston, a nonprofit 501(c)(3) advocacy organization), makes walking safer and easier in Massachusetts to encourage better health, a cleaner environment and more vibrant communities. We have a vision of a Massachusetts where people walking – no matter their race, identity, age, ability, or lived experience – feel safe, connected, and valued on our streets and sidewalks. Our small, committed staff work as a team to make change: whether it’s getting a crosswalk painted in a neighborhood or influencing Massachusetts state policy to make streets safer for all. Key to our effort is the value we place in Community, Equity, and Partnership. www.walkboston.org 

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Winthrop: Deer Island Map

Winthrop: Deer Island Map

From a high hill on the northern end of Deer Island, you can see dramatic views of Boston’s skyline to the west, Hull’s windmill to the southeast, the harbor’s 29 other islands, lighthouses near and far, and open sea all the way to Europe. At the southern end of the island is the $4 billion wastewater treatment plant, opened in 2001 to end centuries of sewage discharges to the harbor. This island facility, surrounded by parkland, has become the technological jewel in the crown of the Boston Harbor Islands National Park.
The giant treatment plant – especially the 15-story egg-shaped sludge digester installation—form a dramatic backdrop to the 60 acres of park that ring the island.

Click for “Winthrop Deer Island Walking Map” PDF


Click for WalkBoston Winthrop Deer Island Walking Map on Google Maps

Winthrop Harborwalk Comment Letter

Winthrop Harborwalk Comment Letter

May 27, 2014

Richard K. Sullivan, Jr.
Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs
Attn: Nicholas Zavolas
100 Cambridge St., Suite 900
Boston MA 02114

RE: Comments on the Environmental Notification Form for the Winthrop Harborwalk, Winthrop, MA
MEPA# 15202

Dear Secretary Sullivan:

WalkBoston works across Massachusetts advocating for improved and safe pedestrian facilities. We are very enthusiastic about local efforts that enhance the pedestrian environment, and where possible help residents and municipalities implement new walking facilities.

With delight, WalkBoston reviewed the ENF for the Winthrop Harborwalk, which has been designed to connect many of the water-related land uses in the former main harbor area of the town. It proposes recreating some of the original waterfront by reconstructing of a portion of the railroad trestle that once curved through Winthrop Harbor.

It’s very exciting to see a relatively small town take on a major pedestrian improvement that is focused on the waterfront. The Harborwalk will link the many nearby small businesses and local sidewalks to a new facility designed to offer residents a new way of looking at their harbor and at their town. The basic elements of the project include a new walkway designed to encourage walking along the current harborfront in areas that are primarily devoted to car parking and it opens up close views of several boatyards and marinas that are very close to the walkway.

We offer these comments:

Design the trail for extension to other areas

The proposed facility includes a 25-foot wide path – wider than most 10’-12’ wide joint use trails in Massachusetts. The right-of-way for the trail does not take away from existing parking or sidewalks, but instead adds space for walking through a proposed reuse of a former rail trestle in the harbor. Within this generous space, plans recognize the varying needs of the potential users of the path – for example, sitting spaces, strolling routes, and shade for sunny days. Many trails and viewing platforms are not as extensive or inclusive as this one. It suggests that there will be many users of this attractive facility, which is unique for the town and easily accessible to most residents. Given this likely success, it may be useful to think about extension of the trail to other areas along the waterfront, either where there are existing sidewalks that could perhaps be widened to allow more space or other alternative locations for walking and sitting at the harbor’s edge.

Design the trail to include runners
Joint use rail trails are a success in Massachusetts. Concurrent with the growth in use, new paths need to be carefully designed to serve a wide variety of users. In plans for the future (whether within this right-of-way or in trail extensions), it would be well to consider the needs of runners, who are frequent users of the trails. Runners often prefer a softer surface than that favored by cyclists and walkers; stone dust has frequently been used because it is more resilient and provides a more comfortable running surface.

Thank you for the opportunity to comment on this important project.

Sincerely,

Robert Sloane
Senior Planner

Cc  James McKenna, Town Manager