Civil Municipal - April 2024

We are focusing our primary efforts on business development downtown, whether that’s infrastructure improvements that we’re going to be making for utilities and transportation, or recreational amenities, the code development, facade improvement, our parking program, or our outdoor dining.” with the inclusion of bike lanes, sidewalks, and trails. On the subject of connectivity, Gove says Merrimack Valley Regional Transit Authority (MeVa), is a valued partner to the city as it continues to attract new residents and businesses.“We can’t do it on our own as a municipality. Having a regional transit authority that’s a great partner is just so important. MeVa is really on the cutting edge of things. They are setting the standard for regional transit.” A VISION FOR THE FUTURE Looking ahead, the city of Amesbury is continuing on a path of transformation, honoring the history of the community through a combination of preservation and innovation. The next steps will be guided by the launch of a new master plan, which Donohue says has been the result of three years of hard work. He conveys, “We’re just about ready to get this launched and put out to the public. It establishes a guide for the city of where we want to see ourselves and how we’re going to get to that point.” Cracknel says a priority is the continued work towards Photo Credit: Kate Donovan Photography 36 CIVIL AND MUNICIPAL VOLUME 5, ISSUE 04