- Department Home Page
- Community Planning
- Economic Development
- Environmental and
Transportation Planning - Housing
- Community Development Block Grant
- Lead-Safe Cambridge
- About the Department
- Popular Services
- Community Calendar
- Contact Us
- Demographics
- Forms
- Housing Services
- Maps
- Parks and Open Space
- Planning Board Agenda
- Publications
- Zoning Ordinance and Map
- Site Map
- About This Web Site
Use the Site Map to navigate
the site
Lowell School Park Improvements
What's Happening Now
Lowell School Park is located at the intersection of Mt. Auburn Street and Lowell Street in the West Cambridge nieghborhood. Park renovations were completed in 2004.
The renovated park features an open lawn area, a hard surface area with two basketball backstops, improved pedestrian and vehicular access, extensive plantings, new benches and park furniture, new fencing, a children’s climbing structure and an artwork element with water.
Project Background
There were two public meetings regarding the renovation. The first meeting took place on January 23, 2003. Residents commented on current park use, issues regarding the park, neighborhood open space needs, and the desired future use of the park. At the second meeting, which took place on April 3, 2003, attendees commented on a concept design for the new park.
Project Goals
Key design concepts introduced by Community Development Department (CDD) staff at the second meeting included:
- A reorganized parking lot and safer pedestrian access into the park;
- Creation of a quiet, contemplative space in the park with moveable garden furniture;
- Artwork/ water element;
- Preservation and upgrading of a hard surfaced multi-use play area with basketball hoop;
- A large open lawn area that unifies the different areas of the park; and
- Creation of an interesting, lush, visual landscape along the exterior boundaries of the park including new fencing and plantings
There was broad consensus reached on the design concept, with an agreed upon set of issues to be examined further by CDD staff including:
- Providing a climbing structure instead of a playhouse;
- Examining the possibility of a second backstop on the basketball court; and
- Exploring improvements to the fence along Mount Auburn Street that maintains its visual permeability and openness to light and air.
Final Park Design
After careful consideration of public comments, CDD staff developed the final park design shown.This file is in PDF format and requires use of the free Adobe Acrobat viewer.
Please note that the Half Crown-Marsh Neighborhood Conservation District also approved the planned Lowell School Park renovations.
- Go to the Half Crown-Marsh Neighborhood Conservation District home page
Photo Gallery
Here you will find a collection of photos of the finished park. Select a photo or the caption beneath to view a larger version of the picture.
For More Information
If you have any questions or comments, please contact Taha Jennings by phone 617/349-4603 or by email at tjennings@cambridgema.gov. The Community Development Department TTY line is 617/349-4621.
Return
to Parks and Playgrounds
Return to Community
Planning Division home
Return to Community
Development Department home
