Cambridge city council votes to rebuild Riverside Dam

It’s a new direction for a 140 year old mainstay in Cambridge.

In a unanimous 8-0 vote, city council voted to turn down an environmental assessment that recommended ‘naturalization’ — tearing down the Riverside Dam and have no dam at all at the location — and opted instead to send it back and look at ways to rebuild.

The historical dam is way beyond repair at this point and there were eight options brought to the table.

Everything from constructing in-steam rock structures in the Speed River to doing nothing at all were brought forward.

Staff made a compelling case, noting ‘naturalization’ was the “only” logical decision.

But in the end, the people in the Preston community were heard loud and clear.

One by one, residents went up to the podium, telling stories of childhood memories involving the dam and Riverside Park.

“It is part of our lives,” said Allan Hilborn, “If it wasn’t for that dam, there would be no Preston.”

After the vote, Mayor Doug Craig told 570 NEWS he feels good about the decision.

He says from here, staff will look at the referral and come back in about a month to look at their next steps.

As for the cost, Craig says the estimated $8-million dollar figure is “part in parcel what a community dedicates in terms of things that are very important to it.”

“This is a community of Preston that needs to have this rebuilt, and I’m prepared to support the $8-million dollars.”