Lynn, MA The city of Lynn and Charter Development celebrated the official opening of Lynn Harbor Park with a ribbon-cutting ceremony attended by lieutenant governor Kim Driscoll, mayor Jared Nicholson, and state and local officials. The 30-acre waterfront park represents the successful transformation of a former landfill and manufactured gas plant (MGP) site into a public green space that provides local residents with meaningful access to clean, safe waterfront recreation for the first time in generations.

The contaminated site had been classified as a brownfield and environmental hazard, with fragmented ownership and complex regulatory challenges that stalled development for decades. The landfill was actively eroding into Lynn Harbor, threatening to cause significant environmental damage while eliminating valuable waterfront land.

The transformation of Lynn Harbor Park began when Charter Development acquired the waterfront parcels in 2019 and advanced a vision for waterfront park space, building on years of community advocacy for positive change along the waterfront. During an initial park enabling phase, Charter completed the remediation of two MGP-impacted parcels, and began a landfill grading, shaping, and capping program.

A novel, January 2023 Environmental Public-Private Partnership (EP3) agreement between Charter, the city, Economic Development and Industrial Corp. of Lynn, the Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs, and MassDevelopment provided for the funding, construction, and long-term ownership and maintenance of the completed park, transforming the environmental liability into a community asset.

Completed in July 2025, ownership of the park has officially been transferred from Charter to the city. The park will strengthen coastal resilience, deliver environmental justice benefits, opportunity for community programming and engagement, and unlock economic development in the footprint. Lynn Harbor Park offers residents and visitors:

• 30 acres of waterfront green space with panoramic views of Lynn Harbor and Boston skyline;

• Multi-use trails for walking, jogging, and cycling;

• Native plantings and landscaping designed to support local wildlife and pollinators;

• Shoreline stabilization that protects against coastal erosion and sea level rise;

• Flexible community programming space for events, festivals, and recreational activities;

• Accessible pathways ensuring the park welcomes users of all abilities;

• Stormwater management systems that improve water quality and reduce flooding; and

• Educational signage highlighting the site’s environmental transformation and local ecology.

Lynn Harbor Park has spurred nearly $1 billion in adjacent private development and serves as the centerpiece of the city’s Waterfront Open Space Master Plan. The park’s completion unlocks significant economic potential while ensuring that development benefits are shared with the community through permanent public waterfront access.

“This project presented a unique opportunity to deliver a result that would be foundational to the next chapter of Lynn. We didn’t just create a park, we created possibility,” said Robert Delhome, founder and CEO of Charter. “Our thanks to partners at the City of Lynn and Commonwealth of Massachusetts who made this possible cannot be understated. Together, we have ensured that Lynn’s residents now have meaningful access to clean, safe waterfront space to enjoy and grow around for decades to come.”

“This park is a product of a strong public-private partnership committed to creating more accessible green space to our residents,” mayor Nicholson said. “The city has been committed to providing better access to our waterfront and the Harbor Park is a place that brings our community together, opens new recreational possibilities, and reconnects the people of Lynn with the harbor that belongs to all of us.”

“So much of the work we’re able to do is a result of partnership, and today’s grand opening of the Lynn Harbor Park is no exception,” said lieutenant governor Driscoll. “With the help of state and local officials, community advocates and private developers, this old landfill has been transformed into a beautiful public park that families, residents, tourists and the community at large will be able to enjoy for generations to come. Congratulations to the city of Lynn!”

The project demonstrates how complex environmental challenges can be addressed through innovative public-private partnerships that prioritize community benefit while achieving environmental remediation and economic development goals.