School and Branch Flowers

Idea:

There’s a small pocket park with a corner cut-through at the corner of School Street and Branch Street near CMAA in Lower Highlands. This could be a good spot for a flower planting or community garden.

Benefit:

It would make the walk to Branch Street businesses more pleasant. There are benches on the lot. Sometimes the area becomes unkempt and this would give more positive attention to the lot.

Location:

Lower Highlands, OldIdea.

Seating Area Near Cafes with Park Map

Idea:

The public areas in Lowell for sitting are far away from restaurants and cafes and often don’t have tables that promote eating outdoors. A DIY Lowell team could create a defined seating area in a safe location with benches and chairs for people to sit at that is near a cluster of businesses. In addition [Read more…]

Benefit:

Tourists came in asking us if we knew of a spot and none of us could think of one. This could support tourism in the city, as well as provide a place to seek some comfort or quiet while admiring the city.

Location:

Don't Know, OldIdea.

Sell stuff for $1.00

Idea:

Have a community tag sale or businesses have clearance promotions during a downtown or acre market event where everything is one dollar.

Benefit:

Kids don't have much money and could go to buy things. People also can get rid of their extra stuff.

Location:

Downtown / JAM, OldIdea.

Set up giant board games and walk-in lawn games!

Idea:

Games such as Giant Jenga, Scrabble, Human Checkers, Bean Bag Toss, Frisbee Golf….. Anything that could accommodate lots of people and drop-in players who can stay for any length of time without commitment. Could play in grassy or open locations like Francis Gate State Park, Lucy Larcom Park, along the River Walk downtown or by [Read more…]

Benefit:

Fun and surprising, fun for families and spontaneous play.

Location:

Don't Know, OldIdea.

Sidewalk Poetry

Idea:

The Public Works departments of Cambridge, MA and St. Paul, MN have a Sidewalk Poetry Program that annually requests residents to submit original pieces of poetry to be stamped into fresh cement. A group of individuals then reviews the poems and select a few to be used. The cost of this program is minimal: the [Read more…]

Benefit:

This would serve a dual purpose: engaging pedestrians —including visitors– with art and inspiring Lowellians to submit their original work. Furthermore, the poetry/ public art will have a lasting impression since the sidewalks could exist for decades.

Location:

Citywide, OldIdea.

Skateboard Art at Rotary Park

Idea:

Skateboarders will create artistic designs and will work with local artists when painting their designs on the skatepark ramps. This painting project will be a collaboration between the skateboarders at Rotary Park, local artists, and community gardeners. The boarders and gardeners have already painted a base coat on the ramps and the boarders are eager [Read more…]

Benefit:

This activity will demonstrate community support for the recreational needs of our youth. Boarders, artists, and gardeners will work together and foster a sense of ownership and pride for all that use Rotary Park. By working with local artists on this creative project the skateboarders will find value in their [Read more…]

Location:

Back Central, OldIdea.

Small Barrels

Idea:

Add small barrels to downtown locations for recycling.

Benefit:

Let people recycle

Location:

Citywide, OldIdea.

Police Officer Soft Skills Event

Idea:

A community-designed and facilitated outdoor event in which community members and police officers discuss the topic of “the way our kids behave and talk,” to help the officers better understand our community and our children as a way to reduce negative encounters with police.

Benefit:

This would help our police force to be more understanding through many culturally-focused lenses, and in turn make our community feel safer and hopefully allow us to be less worried about our children. Perhaps this event could lead to long-term training series/professional development.

Location:

Citywide, OldIdea.

Spillway Swimming Hole

Idea:

Return the spillway into a local swimming hole. This was a historical area that was a swimming hole.

Benefit:

Giving people a safe, clean place to swim right downtown.

Location:

Downtown / JAM, OldIdea.

Start a campaign to promote recycling

Idea:

Start a campaign to require recycling in residential apartments and/or local businesses. Also work on getting more recycling bins downtown to support the foot traffic of Lowell music festivals.

Benefit:

Cleaner Lowell and raised awareness for benefits of citywide recycling.

Location:

Citywide, OldIdea.