LOWELL, MA:Join Representative Niki Tsongas, representatives from the City of Lowell, Lowell Parks and Conservation Trust, and Lowell National Historical Park to open the "River Reach" to Lowell's newest greenspace on Thursday, September 29th at 10:00 am at the Spalding House, located at 383 Pawtucket Street, Lowell, MA
The project, designed by Cosmos Associates, and completed though a partnership between the City of Lowell, Lowell National Historical Park, and Lowell Parks and Conservation Trust is part of the city's urban greenway system along Lowell's 5.6-mile historic power canal system and the Merrimack and Concord Rivers. This project converted an overgrown lot into a small park which opens access to and views of the historic Pawtucket Dam. Landscape improvements were designed to be sympathetic with the natural and historical setting of the gate house complex, and include a stone seating wall and a paved pathway, as well as the removal of invasive plants and installation of low maintenance plant material. Upon completion of the staircase from the park to the Pawtucket Gatehouse on the river next spring, the park will serve as a link between the Canalway at the Upper Pawtucket and Northern Canals. A new boat dock at the site is currently being designed by the Park for Summer 2012 installation.
Implementation of plans for public access along the canals and river has been a goal of Lowell National Historical Park since the Secretary of the Interior approved a master plan for the system in 1980.The Park, City, and community partners have sought for over three decades to provide public access to Lowell's 5.6-mile historic power canal system and its riverfront.City, state, and federal agencies have invested more than $43 million toward this goal.The public investment in the Canalway and Riverwalk has generated over $464 million in private funding in the preservation and enhancement of adjacent economic development projects.
The project was funded through a Public Lands Highway Discretionary Program, a program of the Federal Highway Administration to the Lowell National Historical Park.Total project cost including land acquisition, design and construction is $841,000. The City of Lowell acquired the site and provided project oversight through a cooperative agreement with the Lowell National Historical Park.Since 1995 the Lowell National Historical Park has received over $17M in Public Lands Highway Discretionary Program funding for Canalway and Riverwalk development.
Source: U.S. Department of the Interior, National Park Service
