Senator Thomas Norton City Pier in Fall River to open this weekend

FALL RIVER, Mass. – Mayor Paul Coogan will join the Fall River Redevelopment Authority and the family of State Senator Thomas Norton for a public dedication ceremony at the City Pier on Davol Street this weekend.

The pier, which will be opened for public use as of Saturday, will be named in Senator Norton’s honor at a ceremony Saturday morning at 10:00 a.m.

Congressman Jim McGovern, Mayor Paul Coogan, former State Senator Thomas Norton, Fall River Development Authority and local elected officials will be in attendance.

Earlier this year, the Redevelopment Authority unanimously approved to name the pier after Norton.

Born and raised in Fall River, Norton served in the Massachusetts House of Representatives from 1972-84 and in the Massachusetts Senate, Bristol 1st, from 1985-1999 where he also became majority leader.

In August of 2021, Mayor Paul Coogan, Lieutenant Governor Karyn Polito, and other dignitaries attended the groundbreaking at the Pier.

Mayor Coogan stated back in August of 2021 that “the EPA and the DEP required the RDA to do an extensive environmental clean-up on the City Pier. A large amount of contaminated soil had been removed from the site. There has been significant clean fill brought on to the pier to cap the site. This will allow us to finish the surface with either asphalt, concrete or grass. “If we were to go any deeper into the soil on the pier, it would require a much more extensive clean-up and an additional tens of millions of dollars to complete. The approved site plan presented this week will allow the city to host community events, fairs, boat dockage (additional work required) and concerts. It will also allow all residents a waterfront walking path.”

The creation and development of the pier is part of an extensive plan to develop the waterfront.

A Public Hearing in October 2021 was hosted by MassDOT to present the design for the proposed Corridor Improvements on Route 79 and Davol Street.