Eco-totem bike-counter

Idea:

DIY electronic bike counters can be built cheaply and placed in locations and feed data to a public display. The display can be placed in a public location to show how many bicyclists there really are in Lowell. Maybe pay a young artist to paint a wooden display with a counter in the middle. Work [Read more…]

Benefit:

Anyone, whether they're driving a car, riding a bike or walking, can see the daily bike count. It's an invaluable tool for city planners, advocacy groups and others to track usage, cycling patterns/trending. Its symbolic presence would show commitment to bicycling and make more realize bicycling is a viable option [Read more…]

Location:

Don't Know, 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.

Edible Gardens

Idea:

Use underutilized open space–such as by the canals, by the river, a “Victory Garden” in front of City Hall, or any other space determined by the group–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 [Read more…]

Benefit:

Beautiful, edible

Location:

Don't Know, OldIdea.

Enhancing Visitor Experience in the Downtown

Idea:

Coordinate with the City, Businesses, Museums and the School Administration at the High School, MCC and/or UML to develop an application that would provide visitors with WiFi access to a menu-driven insight to attractions in the downtown, including directions to selected places of interest. It would be a real-time alternate to brochures, which are costly [Read more…]

Benefit:

Visitors (and many residents) would have instant access to the location of places of interest, including hours of operation and links to business websites for more detailed information, such as menus for restaurants.

Location:

Downtown / JAM, OldIdea.

Expand Bike Share

Idea:

UML has a great bike share program for their students at each of their campuses. Group would work with UML to expand the bike share program to downtown, JAM, other areas. Perhaps a pilot that has a bikeshare location at each end of a bikeable street. Could eventually partner with Hubway or another provider?

Benefit:

More access to bikes, for a healthier, happier city!

Location:

Citywide, OldIdea.

Family Activity/Game Area

Idea:

Find an area to make into an activity and game area that families could go to add to the restaurants and shops downtown.

Benefit:

More people flow into downtown area.

Location:

Downtown / JAM, OldIdea.

Faneuil Hall Market on the Riverwalk

Idea:

For a day or a week, turn the Riverwalk from Boott Mills to LeLaucher Park into a “Faneuil Hall Market” with music, busk stops, vendors, en plein air artists, etc.

Benefit:

Bring attention to the Riverwalk and tourists to Lowell. Identify great places along the Riverwalk for these types of vendors. If it’s successful, inspire year-round buskers and vendors.

Location:

Downtown / JAM, OldIdea.

Father/Daughter/Mother/Son Dance

Idea:

Fathers, mothers, and guardians dance with their kids for fun.

Benefit:

Get people together, and could inspire a once-a-year event.

Location:

Don't Know, OldIdea.

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, OldIdea.