Riverwalk
In partnership with the Office of Senator Susan Tucker, the Commonwealth's Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR), and the City of Lawrence, GWL is currently managing the design and development of the Riverwalk, envisioned as a 1.3-mile pedestrian walkway along the southern bank of the Merrimack River. When complete, the Riverwalk will be part of DCR's state park system and will provide a tremendous new amenity for residents, employees, and visitors to the City. Project design and engineering is underway, and the first community meeting, held in November 2006, was very well-attended. In tandem with the ongoing design work, project partners are coordinating legal research and documentation to establish access agreements for public use of the Riverwalk. In partnership with DCR, GWL is also developing a maintenance plan to ensure the Riverwalk's upkeep after construction. Plans include the establishment of a maintenance fund that will support the Lawrence Outdoor Youth Corps, a GWL employment and training program for Lawrence teens, to conduct seasonal maintenance of the Riverwalk, as well as enabling larger capital repairs as needed in the future. The Riverwalk project is a true public-private partnership and demonstrates what can be accomplished through the coordinated efforts of local and state agencies, elected officials, businesses, and non-profit organizations.