Increase boating infrastructure facilities in the city of fall river located on the southcoast of massachusetts that attract and serve transient recreational boaters with vessels at least 26 and…

The Department of the Interior Fish and Wildlife Service Region 5 awarded the Massachusetts Department of Fish and Game Division of Marine Fisheries $374,981 on January 1, 2026, under the Sportfishing and Boating Safety Act (CFDA 15.622) to construct boating infrastructure facilities for transient recreational vessels 26 feet and greater in Fall River, Massachusetts.

The recipient will construct a new dinghy dock and install 15 moorings in a new mooring field on the North and South sides of Senator Thomas Norton City Pier on the Taunton River. The dinghy dock will attach to the existing 475-foot pier dock, utilizing its 80-foot ADA-compliant gangway to eliminate the need for new gangway construction. Design and permitting are being funded separately through the Massachusetts Seaport Economic Council. The Division of Marine Fisheries will manage the construction bid process and award to hire an experienced marine construction company, with construction projected to begin in fall 2025.

Performance extends through December 31, 2028, with all work performed in Fall River, Massachusetts. The facilities will be developed on the Taunton River waterfront as part of broader redevelopment of Norton City Pier as a recreation and event space, designed to serve boaters seeking protected harbor access and proximity to downtown amenities, restaurants, and services.

Increase boating infrastructure facilities in the city of fall river located on the southcoast of massachusetts that attract and serve transient recreational boaters with vessels at least 26 and greater. The fall river redevelopment authority (frra) in partnership with the city of fall river proposes to construct a new dinghy dock and install 15 moorings in a new mooring field reserved for transient recreational vessels 26 feet and greater. Under a separate project funded by the massachusetts seaport economic council, the dinghy dock and the two new mooring fields are being designed and the required permits obtained by an experienced design and engineering firm.with funding from the big program, frra will work with its design and engineering firm on the construction bid process and award to hire an experienced marine construction company. Construction is projected to begin in the fall of 2025.the mooring fields and new dinghy dock will be developed on the north and south sides of senator thomas norton city pier (norton city pier) on the taunton river. Norton city pier is a 3ACRE pier owned and redeveloped by the frra as a waterfront recreation and event space with a 475FOOT dock on its north side. The dinghy dock will be attached to the existing dock enabling use of its 80FOOT ADA compliant gangway thus precluding the need for a new gangway.most of the transient recreational vessels that visit fall river are 26 and greater. Boaters traveling along the eastern seaboard go to fall river for many reasons including: (1) safety from high winds and storms offered by the citys relatively protected harbor, (2) the opportunity to enjoy several attractions, arts venues, and a large variety of restaurants including some wellrenowned for their portuguese food, and (3) access to a wide array of stores, laundromats and other services within a onetotwomile radius of the harbor.development of the new dinghy dock and the addition of fifteen new moorings aligns with the dramatic growth and redevelopment underway on fall rivers waterfront that is attracting increasing numbers of transient boaters to the city.