The recent $5 million donation from the Richard and Susan Smith Family Foundation (SFF) will be used by The Esplanade Association (TEA) to further construction for its Charlesbank Landing project.
The Charlesbank Landing, a year-round visitor center to feature a cafe, community gathering space, sports fields, and public restrooms, is predicted to open on the northern section of the Charles River Esplanade during summer or fall of 2025.
Jim Diverio, TEA’s director of development, said this donation was given “with the description and goal of having the building built” and will keep TEA on track to meet its construction timeline.
The SFF, a multigenerational family organization that awards roughly $17 million a year in grants to improve access to education, healthcare and community engagement opportunities, announced the $5 million gift at TEA’s annual Moondance Gala last month on September 23.
“After years of planning, the Smith Family Foundation has provided what TEA needed to confidently move forward from preparation to execution for Charlesbank Landing on the Esplanade,” said Jen Mergel, TEA’s executive director. “The completion of this project is now very much in sight, and we are thrilled that the commitment by SFF has already inspired others to support what will make the Esplanade a truly welcoming gateway to the Commonwealth’s expansive state park system.”
This year’s gala saw an additional $3,729,000 raised for TEA, which boosted progress on the visitor center’s fundraising goal from 75% to over 81% in all. Diverio said TEA will use private fundraising measures over the next year to get enough money to complete the building.
“We are thrilled with the support we’re getting for this project,” he said, adding that this funding will also go toward construction of the Charlesbank Landing.
Diverio said that TEA hopes to raise enough money for the project to have $2 million remaining as an endowment for the facility’s operations after the building process is completed.
This will include funding for fitness, educational and children’s programming, which will be available year round by utilizing the center’s indoor space.
“The cost of the project is still in flux,” said State Representative Jay Livingstone.
“They can’t start buying construction materials until they have an approved project.”
Diverio said TEA has spent the past year working with the Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) to secure state permits for the Charlesbank Landing.
“We see the light at the end of the tunnel,” he said, estimating that the permitting process will be complete around the start of 2024. “We are already meeting with the project’s architects,” said Diverio, explaining that the next step is to finalize construction drawings that will give TEA a concrete total of fundraising dollars needed going forward.
