Oct 18, 2017 | Press Releases

Springfield, MA

Springfield, MA – On Wednesday, U.S. Representative Richard E. Neal joined Springfield Mayor Domenic Sarno and members of the Springfield Redevelopment Authority to formally accept the 2017 Paul and Niki Tsongas Award to Union Station in Springfield during a press conference at the train station.

“The restoration and reopening of Union Station has been a much anticipated moment in Springfield’s history,” said Preservation Massachusetts President Jim Igoe.  “On behalf of Preservation Massachusetts I am honored to not only celebrate the incredible work that went into bringing this landmark back to life, but also the dedication and determination of the Congressman, the city and its citizens. We are proud to award this project as one that shows the power and impact historic preservation can have in our communities.”

“I am thrilled to accept this award on behalf of Springfield Union Station,” said Representative Neal. “I vowed to rehabilitate this dormant station when I first ran for political office in 1977. Now, forty years later, that vision has become a reality and the Union Station we see today is a bustling transportation hub once again. Thank you to Preservation Massachusetts for this acknowledgement and for the great work they do to ensure that historic structures like this one are conserved for future generations to come.”

“We’re thrilled and humbled to receive such a prestigious award. This is a reflection of the stick-to-itiveness of Congressman Neal and my administration’s continued efforts to weave together respect and historic preservation into economic and transportation development. It’s ‘back to the future’!” said Mayor Domenic J. Sarno.

Christopher Moskal, Executive Director of the Springfield Redevelopment Authority said, “The SRA is eternally grateful to Congressman Neal and Mayor Sarno for their unwavering support in bringing the Springfield Union Station back to its original grandeur.  Making the old new and relevant again and breathing life back into the neighborhood were driving forces behind this historic project and it could never have been accomplished without their efforts.”

Preservation Massachusetts was founded in 1989 as a statewide nonprofit historic preservation agency focused on preserving the Commonwealth’s historic and cultural heritage. This award was presented on May 10, 2017 during an awards dinner at the Fairmont Copley Plaza in Boston.  

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