Blogs

The following four places in Lawrence made the list compiled by the Great Places in Massachusetts Commission, and informed by nominations from the public:

• Den Rock Park, Route 114, across from the North Andover Mall
• It is the city’s largest open space, with 120 acres of woodland trails and a natural rock face used for climbing

• The Great Stone Dam, Merrimack River, off Route 28 between Canal and Merrimack Streets

1st Annual
CONCRETE REGATTA
Saturday July 17, 2010
11 am to 2 pm
at
The LOOP
90 Pleasant Valley Street, Methuen, MA

Thursday July 8th, the City of Lawrence will host the 195th Army Concert Band from Bangor, Maine at the Lawrence Campagnone Common from 7:00 pm to 8:15 pm. This concert is free of charge and open to the public. This family friendly event is coordinated by the Lawrence Department of Recreation and the Lawrence Department of Veterans’ Services. We encourage residents to attend and take part of this wonderful event. Please pass the word and help us make this event a great success!

Join us Saturday August 7th at our 216 Lawrence Street Farmers Market for the Comida Local Festival!
When: 9am-1pm
Where:216 Lawrence Street, Corner of Lawrence and Park
What: A local movement including, local chefs, free food samples, and local entertainment!
Click here for updates and info about this event.

Lawrence, MA, July 7, 2010--- Groundwork Lawrence and the City of Lawrence have been awarded
$2.6M from the Commonwealth of Massachusetts for its Spicket River Revitalization Project. The
funds allow for the realization of a decade-long effort to build the Spicket River Greenway, which will
link the new and existing parks along the River through the lowest-income areas of Lawrence.

The $2.6 million dollar grant for work on the Spicket River Greenway will enable the City and
Groundwork Lawrence to finalize the design and construct about 2.5 miles of paths along the Spicket
River from Manchester Street Park to the outfall of the Spicket River into the Merrimack River.
Envisioned by the community as an “emerald bracelet” the Greenway will connect neighborhoods and
six existing parks – including the recently completed Manchester Street and Dr. Nina Scarito Parks.
This is an exciting opportunity for the Lawrence. The Greenway was first envisioned over a decade
ago as a means of providing access to this distinctive environmental feature of North Lawrence and
achieving a number of other goals including river restoration, neighborhood revitalization, civic
engagement, improved public health, and increased recreational opportunity.

On June 29th, Groundwork Lawrence proudly sponsored the 2010 Massachusetts Gubernatorial Forum on Energy and the Environment. Click here to watch videos of what the Gubernatorial Candidates had to say about their views on important environmental and energy-related issues!

Announcing a presentation at City Council Tuesday July 6 of ideas for the West End of Essex Street. Groundwork Lawrence was approached by Sasaki Associates, an interdisciplinary planning and design firm that finds solutions based on rigorous analysis, economic realism, environmental responsibility, and cultural awareness, to “donate” their summer interns for a 2-week charrette and visioning exercise in Lawrence.

The interns of Sasaki Associates worked with the City of Lawrence and Groundwork Lawrence on this 2-week charrette with a goal is to produce a preliminary land use master plan that offers a new vision for the West End of Essex Street, which can serve as a framework for potential funding opportunities from Massachusetts.

Their Master Plan for the West Essex Street Area focuses on engaging community, enhancing natural
systems, and galvanizing an economic renaissance in the area adjacent to downtown Lawrence.

We hope to see you at the final presentation! Tuesday July 6th at 7 p.m. in City Council Chambers.

About the intern program at Sasaki:
The interns will be worked with direction from Sasaki staff representing all of their disciplines. In previous years, Sasaki has had between 9-14 interns working for them and supervised by staff in landscape architecture, architecture, urban planning/design, civil engineering, and environmental graphics.
During the 2-week period Sasaki Associates works with the host city (in the last 2 years it was Quincy and Newton) to study urban issues related to planning, architecture, landscape design, open space, engineering, and infrastructure. The interns work with direction from Sasaki professional staff while engaging residents and leaders in a study of a small, discrete portion of a community.

Please contact Kathryn with any questions.

The 4th of July is an excellent opportunity for members of the community to have a good time enjoying a family oriented celebration at the stadium. Don't miss out of the City of Lawrence's Fireworks display, the gates open at 1pm and the fireworks start at 9pm! Please read this flyer to learn more.