Food Cart or concessions stand at Ecummenical Plaza

Idea:

Ecumenenical plaza is a beautiful and spacious court at the confluence of St. Patricks church and Holy Trinity church. Having a food cart that sells affordable, healthy, and delicious food to patrons exploring and working in the historic Acre neighborhood. This cart can be versatile, serving everything from ice-cream to cultural foods. We can also [Read more…]

Benefit:

This plaza would open up a vibrant space, that will allow the public to enjoy the historic acre neighborhood. What better way to draw people to the Acre than with delicious food.

Location:

Acre, OldIdea.

Lowell Softball League Game Nights

Idea:

6 teams from Downtown Lowell play at the North Common Field every Sunday from 6pm to 10pm. We want to expand the events to add live music and djs to play during the games and cookout.

Benefit:

Another public space opened up to celebration and gatherings. Live music!

Location:

Acre, OldIdea.

Coffee House and Open Mic to Promote Diversity

Idea:

Support diverse narratives, music, dance, performance and oral history by inviting people in the Acre to share their short performance pieces. Possible venue: Western Avenue, maybe in the Onyx Room or the Loading Dock. I’m including a link to another open mic which is called Café Cultura Xpress Yourself which is located in Denver because [Read more…]

Benefit:

The Acre is a very diverse area with a multicultural history. Supporting an open mic in this area would help by promoting awareness of diversity — whether it is cultural, racial or ethnic diversity, LGBT diversity, disability awareness and issues affecting those with HIV and AIDS (and many other important [Read more…]

Location:

Acre, OldIdea.

Edible Gardens

Idea:

Use space along the canals for access by those in need without cost other than volunteering to take care of maintenance. Use plants that require low or no maintenance (permaculture concepts). Excess produce can be used for a free farmers’ market.

Benefit:

Beautiful, edible

Location:

Acre, Downtown / JAM, Lower Highlands, OldIdea.

How are U cooking food?

Idea:

Friends and neighbors have a potluck and demonstration to help cook food for CBA and CMAA neighborhoods, like fried chicken and farm vegetables.

Benefit:

More friendship, learning how to cook food, and learning about farm vegetables and animals.

Location:

Acre, Lower Highlands, OldIdea.

Fruit trees

Idea:

Many people in Lowell crave tropical fruits, but they are not easy to grow here. Also, there is a shortage of fruit of all types for people or wildlife. I propose planting fruit trees such as apple, apricot, mulberry, and hardy Meader persimmons in out-of-the-way areas that could benefit all for free. Maybe the canal [Read more…]

Benefit:

Fruit is nutritious and expensive. Low-income people in particular don't get enough because of cost. Growing some locally would help these people as well as pollinators, helping to form a reserve of pollinators for gardens. It would be good for the environment because fruit bought at supermarkets is sprayed and [Read more…]

Location:

Acre, OldIdea.

Architecture of Worship

Idea:

There are some incredibly beautiful houses of worship in Lowell, as a pilot project why not document the magnificient houses of worship in the Acre and the Highlands through photographs and do a brochure and perhaps a tour?

Benefit:

There are some incredibly beautiful houses of worship in Lowell, but few outside of individual congregations know what is hiding behind the walls of those institutions. Better understanding grows out of familiarity . . .

Location:

Acre, OldIdea.

Park Musicians to Set a Mood

Idea:

Hire a musician to set a relaxing mood with synthesizer, guitar, or other musicians in parks – maybe Lucy Larcom, Mack Plaza, or other downtown parks. Could also be Cambodian or other music from the many cultures of Lowell. Look for soothing melodies. Musician could be hired to play once a week for a month [Read more…]

Benefit:

People would feel more comfortable downtown and it would create atmosphere. It may draw more people downtown. Musician could collect donations for local organizations, but would not have to worry about working for tips.

Location:

Acre, Downtown / JAM, OldIdea.

White Walls for Artists

Idea:

White walls for artists to paint on and display for determined amount of time. These could be constructed for the commons or other public areas.

Benefit:

Dress up Lowell, show pride of "Art is the handmaid of human good" (Bowery Wall image provided by DIY Lowell as example)

Location:

Acre, Back Central, Don't Know, OldIdea.

Food History Trail

Idea:

A pop-up trail similar to the Downtown History Pop-Up Trail, but this one could go by local restaurants and talk about their history. For example, Bishops’ has an interesting history about how it started in Lawrence but is now in Lowell. The trail could go between UMass Lowell and Middlesex Community College, and it could [Read more…]

Benefit:

Draw students into the town to different restaurants and teach locals about the history of restaurants. New students may be disoriented because the schools are mixed into the City rather than having discrete campuses. Economic development and culture.

Location:

Acre, Downtown / JAM, OldIdea.