Coonamessett River Gateway Park
Falmouth, MA

The Comprehensive Plan for Coonamessett River Gateway Park establishes new forms of public engagement with the restored Coonamessett River. We shaped the park as both an origin point for experiencing the river and a gathering place for the community and students, reconnecting the corridor to Coonamessett Pond. The river carries a layered history. It was once a site of fishing by Indigenous peoples, later dammed for wool and grain production, and more recently transformed into cranberry bogs. Because the river restoration was completed in advance of our work, we approached the landscape with a light touch, carefully implementing paths, crossings, and planting using small-scale equipment to protect the recovering ecosystem.

Our scope focuses on the essential frameworks for access and use, including arrival and parking, fully accessible routes, and planting that stabilizes and defines the edges of movement through the site. A gently elevated, curving pedestrian walkway and a series of river crossings guide visitors into close contact with the water while maintaining ecological sensitivity. Moments of gathering are embedded along this path. An amphitheater and overlook are carved into the hillside using salvaged stone from the former dam, transforming the material legacy of the site into new places for rest, learning, and community life.

Collaborators
Inter-Fluve
Falmouth Conservation Commission

Photography
Charles Mayer