Opening Awareness Day: Event to Come Together for Homelessness, Veterans, Cleanups, and More

Idea:

At Boarding House Park hold a community gathering with roundtables and representatives from different organizations so people can learn more about important causes/issues in Lowell. Some examples: trash awareness, homelessness. Activities like games and making care packages for the homeless, veterans, active duty military, or just families who need it. We can do a treasure [Read more…]

Benefit:

This idea would provide a way to get people who may not usually go to town hall meetings to learn about issues in Lowell while surrounded with fellow neighbors. Encourages intergenerational participation.

Location:

Downtown / JAM, OldIdea.

opera for all the ages

Idea:

There is a need for Classical music in Lowell Small opera companies from greater Boston should perform here for all the ages. You name it: Orchestras, musicians, concerts of varied music, instrumentalists. I may be unaware, but I do not see it anywhere in the Lowell Area. We could coordinate with Lowell Philharmonic or other [Read more…]

Benefit:

Young children or elderly hearing Classical music, could be inspirational.

Location:

Citywide, OldIdea.

Outdoor Community Flea Market

Idea:

An outdoor flea market/vendor fair, with fun events like a car show, pet show, art, theatre or outdoor yoga.

Benefit:

This will help to attract members from outside the community to generate income as well as promoting local residents to engage in the community.

Location:

Don't Know, OldIdea.

Outdoor home theater

Idea:

Create an outdoor home theater cinema that people can enjoy. This could somehow be open for use in theft-proof boxes.

Benefit:

Improve the sense of community

Location:

Citywide, OldIdea.

Outdoor Movies Expansion

Idea:

A DIY Lowell team began to catalogue outdoor movie opportunities that happen in Lowell. They also showed two downtown movies “on the bricks” although they were rained out. This would continue their work and add a series of outdoor movie events where families can sit on the grass together and watch family-friendly movies with open [Read more…]

Benefit:

This would benefit the community by providing a great activity for kids and families to participate in socially-distanced fun while still maintaining a sense of community. It would also help support small businesses like food trucks and local vendors.

Location:

Don't Know, OldIdea.

Paint concrete barricades!

Idea:

Those concrete jersey barrier things always look crummy, and Lowell has a bunch of them on bridges and whatnot. Painting them in fun ways is a simple fix.

Benefit:

Painted infrastructure makes the city look more lively.

Location:

Citywide, OldIdea.

Paint concrete barricades!

Idea:

There are so many ugly concrete barricades along the canals and bridges. We could work with the owners of these temporary “jersey barriers” and paint them! Maybe with chalkboard paint. Or historical scenes!

Benefit:

Eyesore reduction.

Location:

Citywide, OldIdea.

Temporary Canalwalk Art Brick Trail

Idea:

Working with Lowell National Historical Park and other partners, place 300 bricks or stones painted by 300 community members every few feet along the side of the Canalway walking path behind the Leo Roy garage as a temporary, pop-up art installation. Diverse folks and artists would be invited to paint at various events or pop-up [Read more…]

Benefit:

This Canalwalk is underutilized, and the bricks might pique interest for residents to take the path and discover the beauty of the “Industrial Canyon.” They may come downtown just to see the special path and stop in shops at either end of it. It might inspire a permanent artistic intervention [Read more…]

Location:

Downtown / JAM, OldIdea.

Painted Crosswalk at Dutton and Market Sts, Merrimack St, or Other

Idea:

Commission artists to paint bright designs between the reflective white bars of one or more crosswalks in the City. If it is possible, the ideal crosswalk is Market crossing Dutton. This intersection is an important link between both sides of Market Street. It’s a dangerous crossing for pedestrians, and a brightly colored crosswalk would alert [Read more…]

Benefit:

Highlight our artist community, make the connection between both sides of Market St arts sites, employ artists, pedestrian safety…

Location:

Downtown / JAM, OldIdea.

Painted Junction Boxes (or whatever those electrical things are)

Idea:

Hire artists to paint those ugly grey and beige electrical boxes at curbside with colorful, amazing images. Materials needed: paint, dropcloths. Hold an exhibit with ideas, choose the best, pay artists for time and materials.

Benefit:

Beautify our cityscape. Add visual interest, plus its a way for artists to show their work in a nontraditional setting. We could hold a tour of the boxes when the project is completed. Makes Lowell look like the artistic place it is.

Location:

Downtown / JAM, OldIdea.