The Boston Harbor Islands National and State Park Area is made up of 34 islands and peninsulas and is the largest recreational space in Eastern Massachusetts. In 2022, Boston Harbor Now engaged GEI on behalf of the Boston Harbor Islands Partnership to perform above and underwater inspections of marine assets on several Boston Harbor Islands, including those that are accessible via public ferries from May to October. These full facility inspections were a follow-up to inspections that GEI performed in 2015-2016. The purpose of the inspections was to:
- Document current conditions at each island
- Identify any immediate safety or structural concerns
- Identify any operational constraints
- Identify the needs for each respective island to maintain the safety of the public and the ability to maintain ADA access to site, including landing of boats and public ferries
- Evaluate the impacts of sea level rise and develop mitigation strategies as part of a resiliency review
- Develop recommended repairs and operational improvements, with estimated repair costs
GEI’s engineer-divers inspected at eight of the Boston Harbor Islands and one shore-side facility:
- Georges Island (GEOR)
- Spectacle Island (SPEC)
- Peddocks Island (PEDD)
- Bumpkin Island (BUMP)
- Lovells Island (LOVE)
- Grape Island (GRAP)
- Gallops Island (GALL)
- Little Brewster Island (BREW)
- Pier 1 Charlestown (PIER)
Seven facilities are managed by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR). Little Brewster Island is managed by the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG). Pier 1 is managed by the National Park Service (NPS). The completed assessments will serve as resource for the ongoing DCR Resource Management Plan, DCR’s capital planning initiatives, and NPS project submissions as a joint 5-10-year project prioritization list.
GEI provided condition assessment reports, Class C cost estimates, and pre-design work for all sites and schematic design for two locations (Georges and Spectacle Islands). Waterfront infrastructure inspected throughout the islands included piers, floating docks, pilings, barges, gangways, bulkheads, and wave screen structures. Conditions of these structures varied. Some structural deficiencies required operational improvements to improve safety, improve ADA and MAAB accessibility compliance, and increase user capacity and experience getting to and from the islands.
