Den Rock Park

Groundwork Lawrence has partnered with the City of Lawrence to manage the design and construction of phased improvements to Den Rock Park, the City’s only large wooded area. This 120-acre park is the only one of its kind in an otherwise densely developed and historically industrial city. Den Rock Park is replete with woodlands, wetlands, and granite outcroppings (for which the park was named) that have become a regional destination for rock climbers all over New England.

In addition to enhancing the park’s natural habitat for flora and fauna, the recent improvements at Den Rock Park have begun to raise awareness about Den Rock’s recreational offerings among Lawrence residents, many of whom never knew the park was part of the municipal parks system due to its remote location in the southeastern corner of the city.

In 2004, Groundwork Lawrence partnered with the City of Lawrence and Steve Cosmos of Cosmos Associates to manage the design and construction of the new visitor parking area and signage based on an earlier design completed by ICON Architects. These improvements have made Den Rock Park more accessible to visitors and improved the views into the park from adjacent Route 114. Precision Group was the general contractor for this project. In 2005, Groundwork partnered again with the same team to complete comprehensive trail improvements at the park. This work was done in collaboration with the Groundwork Lawrence Summer Green Team program, which employs Lawrence youth to assist with environmental improvement projects around the city.