Foursquare Courts and Hopscotch around Town on Pavement

Idea:

Use temporary spray chalk, tape, or other means to create hopscotch courts in unexpected places like sidewalks or paths. We could also add foursquare courts, which is a ball game with on-court drawn “field” (a square divided into four) played with a kickball. (Photo Instagram @koalisipejalankaki)

Benefit:

Exercise, fun, bring kids together

Location:

Don't Know.

Early Bird Walking Series

Idea:

An early bird walking series for exercise that starts at City Hall and does tours in different sections of the City and along the Riverwalk, past places to shop, or other interesting tours.

Benefit:

Provide a fun way for senior citizens, folks with disabilities, and the community at large to meet and explore Lowell.

Location:

Downtown / JAM.

Rainbow Crosswalks and Sidewalks

Idea:

Work with the City to find a place that it is legal and welcome to paint rainbow colors between the white crosswalk lines for a more welcoming appeal. If we can’t find a crosswalk, we could also paint a key sidewalk!

Benefit:

Inclusivity!

Location:

Don't Know.

Envisioning a Better Transit App

Idea:

Riders of the Lowell Regional Transit Authority (LRTA) are often frustrated by the limitations of existing transit apps. This project would provide pop-up tabling, focus groups, surveys, or other methods to reach LRTA riders to identify “bugs” or desired features. The result would be a mock-up or framework of an improved app that could recommend [Read more…]

Benefit:

This could inspire LRTA to invest in a new app or perhaps be a bridge to working with UML or other agencies to create the app. This would also draw attention to public transportation options.

Location:

Downtown / JAM.

Fire & Water: Feasibility Campaign

Idea:

Providence, RI, has a large “WaterFire” festival that includes lighting torches in their canal. A working group would make a plan and then share the plan at an event utilizing fire pits (perhaps for toasting marshmallows!) beside a canal, coordinated with the City of Lowell and other groups.

Benefit:

Build toward a permanent installation that could be lit annually. Draw income, good press.

Location:

Acre.

Pop-Up Clean-Up Stations

Idea:

Put up pop-up signs and bins at key locations. These would have bags, gloves, and bins for any citizen, on their own, to do continuous ongoing cleanup.

Benefit:

Beautification of Lowell!! And momentum and reminder not to litter

Location:

Citywide.

Flower Boxes for Lowell

Idea:

Tall, grey buildings need more color – add more flower boxes to dark areas of the city.

Benefit:

Adds life to city

Location:

Don't Know.

More Buskers!

Idea:

Encourage more local musicians on the street by hiring musicians to set a relaxing mood with synthesizer, guitar, or other instruments in parks or at “Busk Stops” – 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 [Read more…]

Benefit:

Fill the air with beautiful sounds from our locals. People would feel more comfortable downtown and it would create atmosphere. It may draw more people downtown. Musician could potentially collect donations for local organizations.

Location:

Citywide.

Welcome to Spaghettiville Sign Restoration

Idea:

Restore the “Welcome to Spaghettiville” Sign (train bridge intersection Gorham & Moore St.) Paint sign on both sides. At the same time, since the bridge is very low and notorious for accidents, mark for “low clearance” but in a more aesthetically fitting way. For example, black & white reflective stripe at bottom of bridge. (or [Read more…]

Benefit:

Revive/ preserve unique Lowell neighborhood icon. Add traffic safety to hazardous bridge in a fun and unique way!!

Location:

Sacred Heart / South Lowell.

Free Creative Workshops

Idea:

Volunteers could offer to teach their special skills in workshops held in an underutilized space donated by the City or by a property owner. They could teach pottery, quilting, crocheting, painting, music, gardening, photography, etc. and it would be free to the public. The DIY Lowell project would be a pilot series of these classes.

Benefit:

There are many people that have wanted to learn a craft but never had the opportunity or the resources to do so. This would encourage people to be creative, to enjoy socializing with others with similar likes, to feel useful and to maybe set up a small home business. A [Read more…]

Location:

Don't Know.