The Concord River Greenway Park (also know as the CRG or Greenway) is a multi-use trail through the green heart of Lowell.  Parts of it run along an old railroad bed, while it contours the scenic, tree-lined, north-flowing Concord River.  The Greenway is an excellent place to enjoy being outdoors, recreate, exercise and enjoy observing a biodiversity of wildlife from otters and foxes to hawks and mergansers.  We hope to eventually link the Greenway to the Bruce Freeman Rail Trail.  To learn more about the history and science of the Concord River Greenway, visit the Greenway Classroom pages.

Directions to the Concord River Greenway Park (PDF) 

CRG Update - Winter 2010: Greenway construction is moving ahead! The City of Lowell is overseeing construction of two sections of the Greenway this year, including the northern-most end at the Davison Street parking lot (nearly complete) and at the southern-most end near Lawrence Street and the Lowell Cemetery.  Completion of much of this early stage of work by this fall has occurred and certain areas are open for public use.  Much of the work off Davidson Street and Lawrence Street has visibly made significant progress, with only small items yet to be completed.  We are currently planning the next phase, which is anticipated to fill the remaining link between Lawrence Street and downtown areas.  Timelines for advanced construction phases are not currently available. 

More News and Updates

Special Note- December 2007, Secretary of Energy and Environment Ian Bowles, came to Lowell to announce a $500,000 Urban Self Help grant to the City of Lowell for design and construction of the Concord River Greenway.

River Voices	A Closer Look	Get Involved

Read the recent article by Jane Calvin,
Protecting Open Spaces: Challenges & Opportunities in Urban Watersheds (PDF)

Take a closer look at the Concord River Greenway

Click any item below to learn more about the Concord River Greenway Park in Lowell:

Landscape Design of the Davidson Lot (Phase-1) (PDF)

Article: Construction Begun, Film Nearly Complete

Local artist, Jay W. Huntgate works on CRG piece

Article: Greenway Multi-lingual Signage (PDF)

Historic Wayside Signage for Greenway (PDF)

Greenway Signage Update

Article: The Greenway as an Outdoor Classroom

Greenway Checklist of Birds (PDF)

"This program is supported in part by a grant from the Lowell Cultural Council, a local agency which is supported by the Massachusetts Cultural Council, a state agency"

Above: CRG artist, Wopo Holup will be integrating the natural aesthetics of the river into CRG displays, benches and bridges. Here we see a sketch of the river-bird bollards design that will be included in the artwork at the Davidson Street Lot. (Middlesex Community College in background.)

Volunteers play a critical role in helping us care for and monitor our properties. If you would like more information about any of the properties or would like to VOLUNTEER AS A LAND STEWARD please let us know (978)934-0030. Action projects, in addition to regular site monitoring, on this property could include: 

• Litter Collection
• Invasive Plant Management

CRG route, marked in green.	Concord River Greenway Project A long-range goal of the Lowell Parks & Conservation Trust is to create a greenway park along the Concord River. The park will link the city’s largest park area, Shedd Park and Rogers Fort Hill Park, to the center of the city and a network of walkways that have been developed by the Lowell National Historic Park. The Concord River Greenway way is also an integral part of the Bay Circuit Trail, which is a network of trails around greater Boston, from Duxbury on the South Shore to Ipswich on the North Shore. Development of the trail is being spearheaded by the Bay Circuit Alliance. The Concord River is a scenic, natural, cultural, and historical resource of national importance. Its natural beauty amid the city of Lowell is like a hidden jewel providing serenity and retreat from our modern lives. This linear park will have the main feature of a multi-purpose trail constructed primarily on an abandoned railroad right-of-way paralleling the river. The project seeks to: Preserve the natural beauty and character of the Concord River Preserve the historic corridor that includes mills, dams, an arch bridge, and is the famed section of the river that Henry David Thoreau portaged due to its rapids. Provide a safe, viable transportation alternative between Lowell's neighborhoods and downtown. Provide a missing link in the Bay Circuit Trail, a 200-mile trail from Newburyport to Kingston, and connect to the Friends of the Bruce Freeman Rail Trail from Lowell to Framingham. Friends of the Bruce Freeman Rail Trail from Lowell to Framingham. Connect Lowell's largest open spaces, including Rogers Fort Hill Park and Shedd Park with Lowell Cemetery and the city's cemeteries. We invite and encourage your support as we build the Concord River Greenway.
Cooperating partners in the effort to create the Concord River Greenway Park include: Back Central Neighborhood Association Bay Circuit Alliance Belvidere Neighborhood Association Bradford Industries Centennial Island Hydroelectric City of Lowell LDFC/Lowell Plan Lowell Heritage Partnership Lowell Heritage State Park Lowell National Historical Park Lowell: The Flowering City MA DCR Recreational Trails Program Massachusetts Riverways Program Northern Middlesex Council of Governments Rails-to-Trails Conservancy Northern Middlesex Council of Governments Rails-to-Trails Conservancy Rivers, Trails and Conservation Assistance/NPS Riverside Community Council, Sacred Heart Neighborhood Improvement Group Trust for Public Land U.S. EPA New England
See an aerial map of the Greenway route here (PDF)
With support from the EPA Healthy Communities grant program, we have made tremendous progress on the Concord River Greenway. Our final report to the EPA is available upon request.