NEW BEDFORD
Cultural Conservation

A Project of WHALE and the Trust for Public Land

New Bedford is a city rich in history. The Waterfront Area Historic League (WHALE), the Trust for Public Land, the Island Foundation, and 1772 Foundation have created an interactive map of the Places that Matter to the people of New Bedford. We have worked with community members to identify noteworthy cultural assets, such as historic buildings, parks, and open space opportunities to preserve and enhance places that matter to city residents. New Bedford also faces threats from climate change, lack of affordable housing, and other important issues. TPL’s work helps identify the most pressing areas of need and the potential parks, cultural spaces, and developments that could help alleviate these issues.

The Decision Support Tool helps stakeholders and community members identify sites and make informed decisions for preservation, conservation and recreation planning. To explore the advanced capabilities of the decision support tool, please click on the Mapping Portal link above. The Story Map is a rich visualization of the results of the project, combining text, photos, and maps to tell the story of some of New Bedford’s places. The PDF result maps show the product of TPL’s analysis in a number of key areas of interest.

This project was generously funded by the 1772 Foundation and the Island Foundation.