Environmental and Open Space Improvements
Groundwork Lawrence works to make Lawrence a cleaner, greener place to live. Its environmental improvement projects focus on making the city’s underutilized outdoor spaces safe, accessible and attractive. Groundwork projects transform vacant and often contaminated open spaces into parks, playgrounds, gardens, wooded trails and pathways, promoting healthy pursuits like walking, running, cycling and gardening. Download a case study of our Urban Land Protection projects and programs.
Alleyway and Vacant Land Reclamation
Groundwork Lawrence turns Lawrence’s alleyways into safe, clean and productive spaces using low impact development (LID) methods. Once vacant and hazardous, the Orchard Street and Union/Mechanic Street alleyways are now home to peaceful living habitats and community gardens. Groundwork campaigns for LID on redevelopment projects citywide, including the Union Crossing project now in progress.
- Low Impact Development Alleyway Guide
- North Common Alleyways Inventory
- National Vacant Properties Conference Presentation 2009
- 2009 Open Space Plan and Recreation Plan Renewal
- 2004 Open Space and Recreation Plan Overview
- North Canal Restoration and Enhancement Study
Urban Forestry
Groundwork Lawrence is increasing the beneficial tree canopy in Lawrence by engaging youth, homeowners and concerned citizens in the planting and maintenance of trees throughout the city. Its annual GreenStreets / Calles Verdes initiative provides free trees to new homeowners who agree, in turn, to care for them. With its new Urban Forestry Coalition, Groundwork is expanding its efforts by focusing on community involvement, tree inventorying, strategic planning and resource development, to ensure the long-term viability of Lawrence’s tree canopy.
Park Development and Design
Design Charrette for Scarito ParkIn partnership with the City of Lawrence, Groundwork Lawrence oversees the design, development and restoration of public parks, trails and open spaces, creating green oases on formerly vacant and neglected land. Groundwork involves neighborhood residents throughout the project lifecycle, from design to stewardship, ensuring spaces that reflect the needs of the community and will be enjoyed and cared for beyond their completion.
Spicket River Greenway
Scarito Park in fallThe Spicket River Greenway is a network of green spaces and walking paths linking neighborhoods, schools and parks along Lawrence’s 2.5 mile stretch of the Spicket River. Groundwork Lawrence organizes ongoing development, cleanup, enforcement, education and advocacy activities to foster community support for the development and maintenance of the Greenway.
- Dr. Nina Scarito Park
- Misserville Skate Park
- William Kennedy Community Park (Arlington Neighborhood Park)
- Manchester Street Park (Covanta site)
- Spicket River Cleanup
Mill Redevelopment
GWL is building on its long-standing and successful partnership with Lawrence CommunityWorks to help develop Union Crossing. GWL has been involved with the project since the Master Planning phase, where we assisted with site design and facilitation of community meetings. Since then, GWL has continued to play a key role in the design of the site, including the pedestrian walkway, playground, community gardens, storm water management systems, and river walk, as well as helping to evaluate options for tenant recycling and composting programs. GWL is also working closely with LCW to develop educational programming that ensures these elements can be successfully and affordably maintained over the life of the project. In particular, GWL will focus on integrating and building upon our current healthy communities offerings, including access to fresh, local food, developing healthy habits, and educational curriculum to support sustainable environmental practices.