2024 in events, arts, and culture

This year brought exciting events, cultural initiatives, and of course, public art! 

From WinterFest’s return to downtown, to the installation of mini galleries on the Riverwalk, 2024 was a year of culture, arts, and festivals in Lowell. Annual favorites such as Greater Lowell Pride & 4th of July saw new locations and programming, and City of Lights boasted the largest parade in five years! 

In February, WinterFest returned to downtown Lowell after two successful years at the Lowell Memorial Auditorium. On Palmer Street, live ice carving and fire sculptures engaged attendees of all ages. Performances in the Enterprise Bank Music Tent and the Derby Park Tent drew excited crowds, and the Experience Lowell Arts Market showcased the talents of artists across the region.  

Building on the success of the 2023 Busker Series, in 2024 CASE programmed 18 different musical acts, 10 visual artists, and 1 poet to perform throughout the spring and fall, adding ambiance to downtown Lowell every week.  

Responding to community request, Mosaic Lowell and CASE teamed up to produce the first Volunteer Fair in October. The event was hosted at St. Anne’s Edson Hall, and 20-plus organizations participated, highlighting a variety of opportunities to get involved.  

2024 saw the addition of seven public art projects in Lowell, some of which included multiple locations. As a part of the Let’s Dance, Lowell project, artist Kit Collins created a network of eight murals in each of Lowell’s neighborhoods. The murals depict diagrams of culturally significant dances – each of which was choreographed by members of the community. ARPA grant funding contributed to Let’s Dance, Lowell, along with six other projects installed in 2024.  

On a smaller scale, in October five mini galleries were built and installed by YouthBuild on the Riverwalk. The galleries displayed small works by 15 Lowell artists through mid-December. The project was funded through a grant from the Lowell Cultural Council.  

 The Art in City Hall series continued in 2024, with eight different galleries or community members curating shows. Each show included an opening reception, as a chance to celebrate the contributing artists.  

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Whether you attended your favorite festival, submitted artwork for a call, volunteered at an event, or partnered with the Office of Cultural Affairs and Special Events on a program, we’d like to thank you for your participation and support in 2024. We’re excited for all 2025 will bring – stay tuned for everything we have in store.

Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and X to keep up to date on 2025 happenings!

Lowla's Favorite Things

Your Guide to WinterFest 2024

Lowla Bear has been attending WinterFest for a long time, so she’s an expert on the event.

As the festival returns to Downtown Lowell, Lowla has decided to release her “favorite things” guide so you can experience WinterFest like she does! From classic, longstanding activities to new programs, there is something at WinterFest for everyone (even polar bears)!

WinterFest is February 16th & 17th on Middle & Palmer Street in Downtown Lowell.

1. The Music

The Enterprise Bank Music Tent and Derby Park Tent are the “anchors” of WinterFest, and a trip to the festival would not be complete without stopping by to hear some local musicians. 14 different acts will perform throughout Friday and Saturday, with special programming for kids in the Enterprise Bank Music Tent early on Saturday.

Check out the set times here: Schedule — Lowell Winterfest

2. The Experience Lowell Arts Market

Produced by Mosaic Lowell, the Arts Market has quickly become a WinterFest staple! Since 2022, the Arts Market has showcased vendors from all artistic disciplines. For unique wares, stop by the Enterprise Bank Arts Tent from 6-8:45pm on Friday and 12-8:45pm on Saturday. You can preview the vendors here: Art Market — Lowell Winterfest

3. The Soup Bowl Competition

Restaurants and organizations prepare soups to compete for the judges’ choice, as well as a people’s choice award! This year, the Soup Bowl Competition is moving to a new home- St. Anne’s Church in Edson Hall. It’s only $5 per person to try all the soups and tickets can be purchased at the door. Be sure to stop by from 12-2:30 PM on Saturday! Check out the list of competitor and judges here.

4. Axe Throwing

Welcome our newest addition to WinterFest- Axe Throwing with the Axe Shack!

We’ve partnered with the Axe Shack to bring a totally new experience to WinterFest. Stop by the axe booths on Middle Street, in front of Derby Park, where axe-throwing experts will talk you through the best techniques. Players must be ages 10+ and wearing close toed shoes.

Stop by on Friday and Saturday to test your skills! More info here.

5. Fire and Ice Sculptures on Palmer Street

As a polar bear, Lowla obviously loves ice. She’s even been depicted as an ice sculpture at previous WinterFests.

This year, ice sculptures are coming back to WinterFest- and fire sculptures are joining the party!

In addition to sculptures, fire performances will delight audiences of all ages. Throughout the festival, you can watch as artists carve ice into intricate sculptures.

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You can experience all of Lowla’s faves and more at WinterFest on February 16th and 17th in Downtown Lowell!

See everything in store for WinterFest weekend at LowellWinterFest.com.

Year in Review

2023 has been a remarkable year for events and cultural happenings in Lowell!

From mainstay events like WinterFest and Fourth of July, to new favorites like Lowell Busker Series and the Culinary Celebration, we’re thankful to the community members who showed their support by attending and volunteering. This year, we added a parade to Greater Lowell Pride, and an open air concert to City of Lights. New additions to the event calendar include:

• Lowell’s 1st Annual Lunar New Year Festival

• Lowell Youth Baseball and Softball League (LYBSL) Opening Day Parade and Earth Day Cleanup

• Lowell Busker Series

• Culinary Celebration

• Series of Health and Wellness Classes at Boarding House Park

• The first community Menorah Lighting on the first night of Chanukah

The Bicentennial Committee was formed to begin planning Lowell’s Bicentennial Celebration in 2026. 20-plus community members from different organizations make up the committee.

In order to make planning events more accessible for the public, we partnered with Lowell Telemedia Center to produce a video tutorial on the special event permit application process.

ARPA Cultural Sector Grantees with City Council members and CASE staff

2023 also saw the introduction of the ARPA Cultural Sector Recovery Grants. The program funded a total of nearly $1 million in grant funds to Lowell cultural organizations, festivals, and public art.

The MythMakers installing the Night Watchwoman. Photo by Marte Media.

Upon completing the NEFA Making it Public training program, CASE launched a call for Public Art on the Riverwalk extension by Lowell Memorial Auditorium. The MythMakers were selected to install the Night Watchwoman, a bamboo sculpture of an owl, on the Riverwalk extension. Night Watchwoman was unveiled in April.

In March, DIY Lowell gifted the scuplture Black Joy by Kamil Peters to the City of Lowell. The sculpture came to fruition after a community meeting guided by the artist and DIY Lowell. Black Joy was unveiled in July.

To add to the City’s public art, a call for art in two parking garages was launched in June. Local artists were invited to submit existing work to the call, and the selected pieces were printed on boards. A total of four pieces are in the Roy Garage and Downes Garage.

Throughout the year, art from local galleries and artists were displayed in City Hall in an effort to highlight artists in the community.

Thank you to everyone who participated in an event or program coordinated by CASE this year whether it be by attending an event, volunteering your time, or partnering with us on a program. We are grateful for a vibrant community to serve.

CCD Gets a Makeover

By Mariella Mendez

This week, the City of Lowell received four new Canalway Cultural District signs that will be installed at various locations within the district boundaries. The signs will help bring attention to the state-designated Cultural District, a walkable compact area that celebrates the rich history, creativity and artistic endeavors that make Lowell so unique.

Renewed for a second, 5 year designation in 2017, the Canalway Cultural District of Lowell is one one of 43 Cultural Districts in the Commonwealth, all of which were designated through the Mass Cultural Council’s Cultural Districts Initiative.

Canalway Cultural District Map.

Monthly Outdoor Art Market at Western Ave Studios

By Mariella Mendez

Photo by Henry Marte

Western Ave Studios will be hosting its monthly art market outdoors this upcoming Saturday, November 7. The market will feature a total of 50 vendors and will debut many new artists as well as returning ones. Each artist will have a space to showcase and sell their art to the public.

The event will take place in the Lofts garden parking lot on the west end of the building. Vehicles can be parked in the main parking lot.

ART

Photo by Henri Marte

Western Ave Studios has created a digital catalog of the artists and their work that can be found on Facebook and Instagram days before the event. This will serve as a preview for the art market as well as an online gift catalog where purchases can be made.

The Loading Dock Gallery will also be open this Saturday for indoor browsing and will feature their Home for the Holidays art show. The gallery will include unique handmade art that celebrates the joy and memories of the holidays.

Some of the artists featured in the Outdoor Art Market:

• Ahern Jewelry Designs

• Mill City Glass Works

• Suzanne Hodge

• EKnits4u

• Eir's Garden

• Tracy Lévesque Fine Arts

• Peter Zimmerman Designs in Glass

• Amy Lopez Art

• Gary Destramp Illustration

• George Middleton Art

• Pop Culture Place

• Two Stylish Sisters

FOOD

Mediterranean food truck Chez Rafiki will be joining the event and serving their authentic Mediterranean cuisine.

Stay for dinner and enjoy Cuban inspired empanadas from Empanada Dada food truck.

COVID GUIDELINES

Marketing Manager of Western Ave Studios, Henry Marte, has met with health officials to ensure the safety and health of the guests. There will be two separate market areas to regulate the flow of visitors. The number of individuals will be accounted for at the entrances and exits to maintain Governor Baker’s new outdoor guidelines. Look for volunteers in yellow vests to assist you upon arrival.

• Face coverings as well as a six-foot distance will be required for the duration of the event.

• Hand sanitation will be located throughout the market area.

• There will be no restrooms available during the event

New Massachusetts Coronavirus Orders

A new set of executive orders and advisories were announced on Monday by Governor Baker in an attempt to reduce the spread of Covid. New guidelines will take effect this Friday at 12:01 a.m. These guidelines will be in place for at least a month to keep from reverting to Phase 1 or 2 of the state’s reopening. Baker said his goal is to reduce “the numbers of opportunities and activities where people gather in groups and get them home with only members of their household."

The stay at home advisory urges residents to stay at home from 10 pm to 5 am except for work, the grocery store, or a walk.

Here is what to do to comply with the advisory:

• Avoid gatherings with people outside of your household

• Communicate remotely via phone or video chat when possible

• Leave your home for essential needs such as grocery shopping, the pharmacy, or picking up take out food.

Restaurant and Venue Restrictions

Restaurants are required to stop table service at 9:30. This includes indoor recreational facilities such as sports and theatres.

Face Covering Order
This order requires everyone over the age of five to wear a mask in public settings. The order does not apply to individuals with hearing impairments or medical and disabling conditions. Governor Baker will soon release information regarding face masks for student-athletes while playing.

Indoor and Outdoor Gatherings

The limit of indoor gatherings will be reduced to 10 people and outdoor gatherings will be reduced to 25. There will be a fine of $500 for anyone above the limit.

Fannie Lou Hamer: Speak on It!

Merrimack Repertory Theatre (MRT) joins theatres across America this month in presenting Cheryl L. West’s electrifying Fannie Lou Hamer: Speak on It!, a new play with music about the civil rights icon and voting rights leader. The digital event will kick off with a performance at 7 p.m. on Friday, October 23, and continue through October 26, according to Courtney Sale, Nancy L. Donahue Artistic Director, and Bonnie J. Butkas, Executive Director.  MRT had hoped to present the work live outdoors, in front of the theatre, but the spike in coronavirus cases in Lowell necessitated a move to video only. 

Yewande Odetoyinbo will play Fannie, and Andrés Amitai Wilson will accompany her on guitar, as well as serve as Music Director and Arranger. Malika Oyetimein will direct. 

To RSVP, visit www.mrt.org/fannie.

9 Questions for the Lowell Cultural Council

By Mariella Mendez

The Lowell Cultural Council is an agent of the Massachusetts Cultural Council which receives funding from the legislature and the National Endowment for the arts. The LCC provides grants for programs aimed at education, diversity in arts, humanities, and interpretive sciences that overall improves the quality of life for Lowell residents.

The grants are reimbursement based and open to individual artists, art and community organizations, as well as municipal agencies. All the projects are based in Lowell and benefit its citizens. This year the Lowell Cultural Council’s priorities were determined as a result of the 2021 Community Input Survey emphasizing diversity and advocating for public art projects by LGBTQ(IA+) artists and communities of color. 

I interviewed council member Maxine Farkas and co-chair Joseph Pyne to find out more about changes to this year’s application process.

Q: What are some elements that the LCC will utilize to identify "diverse" applicants?

A: We don't identify diverse applicants, rather the applicants must identify their audiences and are not allowed to discriminate by MCC rules.

Q: How difficult do you think it will be to utilize vacant spaces in Lowell for permanent installations?

A: This is something that applicants should work out with the department of planning and development.  Remember the priorities come from the community, not from the Council, our opinion is immaterial.

Q: Do you think COVID impacted this year's Community Input Survey?

A: Prior to this year we always held an in-person meeting, we actually got a better response from the survey than we did from in-person meetings. I do regret not being able to address some misconceptions help by respondents directly.  

Q: How will COVID impact this year's application and voting process?

A: There is little difference in the application process this year, just a later deadline.  We will have to take into account how applicants plan to deal with any covid related restrictions.

Q: Do you think the application evaluation process will change?

A: The evaluation process has not changed.

Q: What actions will the LCC take to ensure that the applicants have a similar experience to prior years?

A: We have added a restriction that requires applicants to provide us with a plan based on covid directions from the state, but that will not change the process at all.   

Q: How will the remote online application interview procedure differ from prior interviews?

A: This year we will be able to ask questions of  all applicants as a group. Previously if someone did not attend the interview and a council member had a question they would have to contact the applicant directly and the rest of the council might not be privy to the answer.

Q: Are there any major changes to this year's voting meeting?

A: Normally we would deliberate and score the applications one night and then allocate funding the next and vote on the entire package of grants.  This year we will deliberate and score one night and the following night will vote on those applications that will not receive grants, determination of funding will have to wait until the legislature has approved our allocation so that we know how much we have to distribute.  Effectively we will meet three times rather than two.

Q: How often are applicants reconsidered after the denial process?

A: I've been involved in 11 complete grant cycles over an 18-year span and we have never had a successful request for reconsideration.  Remember applicants can only request reconsideration if they can show that we have not followed our stated procedures.  That is why we are so strict and take so much time, we have a lot of rules to follow.

Applications are now open for the 2021 Lowell Cultural Council Grants and the deadline is Monday November 16th at 11:59pm. For more information on how to apply please visit mass-culture.org/Lowell.

Public Art Walk

Outdoor art is all around in Lowell! Whether you're walking downtown or exploring our neighborhoods, you're sure to see a variety of original works that reflect the city's history, ethnic heritage and contemporary life. Our self-guided tour encourages residents and visitors to chart their own course and discover the public sculptures, murals, memorials and historic monuments that make Lowell unique.

Artists have long created art that has become familiar sites for Lowellians over the years. Lowell’s public art collection includes 15 plus pieces throughout downtown.

Examples include, The Kerouac Commemorative, within Eastern Canal Park on Bridge Street, honors hometown author Jack Kerouac and his literary accomplishments.

Visit Lowell Public Art Walk to learn more and discover local treasures near you.

Kerouac: The Buddhist Years

Even though the annual Kerouac Festival will not be hosted on-site in Lowell, you can still take in the annual Moses Greeley Parker lecture by way of the LCK website.

The presenter this year is Mr. Charles Shuttlesworth, a member of the faculty at the Harker School of San Jose, California, and a well accomplished scholar of Kerouac and Beat Literature. His topic is “Kerouac: The Buddhist Years.”
 
You can take in his lecture by going to the LCK website at www.lowellcelebrateskerouac.org.
 
You can also participate in a Q&A with Charles this coming Saturday, October 10th at 2 pm EDT. The Harker School is hosting this conversation via ZOOM, and access information for those who wish to take part is also on the LCK website.

A Virtual Town and City

The Town and The City Festival will be presenting a special online program for 2020, bringing more than a dozen acts together for the third year of the festival.  The eclectic lineup will feature many past festival participants as well as new artists performing Americana, Folk, Rock, Blues, Poetry and Indie music. 

“Under the circumstances of the pandemic, we are not able to bring the festival back to downtown Lowell this year.   However we still want to provide a way to showcase some great artists and draw attention to our annual event as well as the Lowell community,” said Chris Porter, President and CEO of Porter Productions. “This is going to be a great night of music with an all star lineup from across New England and beyond.  We look forward to returning in person in 2021.”

Photos by Coleman Rogers Photography

Debuting in 2018, The Town and The City Festival is produced by Porter Productions in association with the Greater Merrimack Valley Convention and Visitors Bureau.

Named after the novel "The Town and the City", the first major work published by Jack Kerouac, the festival typically spans two-days and takes place in event spaces, bars, cafes, and galleries throughout downtown Lowell.

The Town and the City Festival will stream online Saturday, October 24 at 8pm EST on the festival’s Facebook page, the festival's website (www.thetownandthecityfestival.com) and the ONCE Virtual Venue YouTube channel.  A special Zoom link may also be used to view the program (via oncesomerville.com). 

PLEASE RSVP TO THIS EVENT HERE

Get Out and Get Creative

Looking for a change of scenery and mental recharge during these challenging times?

There are plenty of ways to keep up morale and learn something new along the way. Here are just a few local options for those stuck at home and looking for something to do. 

 When it comes to de-stressing exercise, yoga is a clear winner, and when it's practiced outdoors it reminds you about the importance of being connected with nature. The folks at Sutra Studios have been teaching weekly outdoor yoga classes at multiple locations in Lowell. Sign up and enjoy the fall weather!

Follow the link for more information. 

Photo by Henry Marte

So, you want to learn how to play a ukulele? Come on down to North Common Park Amphitheater Stage on Saturday, October 3rd and 10th from 11 am-12 pm for FREE socially distant group ukulele lessons sponsored by Fresh Beets!

All you'll need to bring is a mask, ukulele, and a blanket/towel to sit on! Lessons will be facilitated by Alexis Csicsek, multi-instrumentalist and graduate student of Music Education at UMass Lowell.

Follow the link for more information.

Performing Virtual Plays

By Mariella Mendez

Lowell’s own Dramatically Incorrect Theatre Group hosted an exciting live video stream of “Noises Off” by Micheal Frayn last weekend!

Described as “the funniest farce ever written”, Noises Off is a play within a play that presents a group of actors trying to rehearse a flop titled, Nothings on.

If you missed it you can purchase the recast here!

Photo Courtesy of Paul Gymziak owner of Dramatically Incorrect

Members of Dramatically Incorrect were very excited about the upcoming performance. Michelle Kelly says, “This was my 5th show with Dramatically Incorrect and one that I felt very connected with”.

Paul Gymziak, founder and director over at Dramatically Incorrect Dance Company and Theatre Group , began to hold live auditions only allowing a few people in his studio at a time. The actors had to check in at the main entrance and had their temperature taken prior to entering the building. All the actors had to wear masks during the rehearsals and were tested before and after recording their play. The actors were instructed to stay 6 feet apart as well as bring their own costumes. 

Don't miss their production of The Green Room October 23rd and 24th.

You can also find out more about the group by visiting here!

Free Soil in Lowell

By Mariella Mendez

The Free Soil Arts Collective is an organization that seeks to amplify the voices of local artists of color in Lowell. They do so by producing creative works, offering educational programming and curating events that promote local artists.

The collective, which is named after the Free Soil Party, a party that advocated for the freedom of slave Nathaniel Boothe who arrived at Lowell, MA in the late 1800s, was created to cultivate a more diverse community of artists within the Merrimack Valley.

Upcoming Events

The Vital Voices digital series continues with more in-depth discussions featuring local artists of color - Marlene Marmolejo’s co-founder and motion designer of Motion Miami will be featured on October 17.

Christa Brown will be moderating the six-part series live via Youtube, Facebook and Zoom on the third Saturday of each month.

For more information visit: freesoilarts.wordpress.com

Photo Courtesy of Free Soil Arts Collective

The Lineup

Veronica Holmes of V P Holmes Art & Design, a self-taught illustrator and storyteller will appear on September 19.

-Marlene Marmolejo’s co-founder and motion designer of Motion Miami will be featured on October 17.

-Henry Marte, owner of Marte Media will appear on November 21

-Sam Stevquoa Creative Director at Mills City’s Finest will take over December’s Vital Voices series on December 19th.

-January 16 will feature esteemed poet Princess Moon

-Thaddeus Miles, photographer and author is appearing February 20. The featured artist will appear on VItal Voices with Christa Brown at 12 PM EST.

Fall into Local Art

By Mariella Mendez

Who doesn’t like to celebrate Fall? Western Ave studios and Lofts will be hosting their annual  ARToberfest on October 3 and 4 from noon to 4 pm in the lofts garden parking lot, on the west end of the campus. Visitors will be able to park in the main parking lot and walk over to the outdoor market  filled with artwork by local artists.

Photo courtesy of Henry Marte

Western Avenue Studios is an artist collective that offers workspace and a vibrant community to both established artists and new members. Visitors will be able to meet its occupants and see what the residents of Western Avenue Studios have been working on!

Photo courtesy of Henry Marte

Since this is a two-day event, Artoberfest will also have two different food truck vendors on site. Chez Rafiki will serve Mediterranian dishes on Saturday and Lowell staple Gormley’s Cafe will have plenty of delicious food to satisfy your tastes buds. Visitors will be required to wear a mask and sanitizing stations will be set up throughout the venue. With these guidelines in place, the event should be a fun and safe opportunity to view and buy local art.

Visit their facebook page for more information: https://www.facebook.com/events/812080752875822/

Performing in a Pandemic

By Mariella Mendez

The performing arts department at Middlesex Community College has thought of a creative new way for students to perform this fall after the cancellation of their spring musical due to the pandemic. Karen Oster, MCC's Chair of Performing Arts, was inspired by the changes made to Qui Nguyen's play "She Kills Monsters: Virtual Realms” after Nguyen created a virtually friendly version. Oster and the theatre department then built cubicles that allowed students to remain at a reasonable distance from one another.

Photo courtesy of MCC Theater Department

The show is streamed online via web cameras that are given to each student. Shane Bourgeois, MCC's Sound and Media Designer explains that there are 8 cameras that are linked to a “main show computer” in groups of four. The theatre department has figured out a way to control cameras to capture the actors and special effects while the other computer “pulls the show together.”

Oster and the department also came up with the idea of painting the cubicles green in order to add special effects. The video feed is then polished and shown via zoom.

Photo courtesy of MCC Theater Department

MCC began the rehearsal via zoom and had the student’s transfer to the Academic Arts Center upon the completion of the cubicles. Many precautionary measures were taken upon the students’ arrival, as they were instructed to wear masks, have their temperature taken, and remain socially distanced.

Karen Oster has been able to build and establish a safe environment for the students of MCC to unite and continue their performances.

Middlesex Community College will be performing Ngyuen’s play live via zoom on September 25-27 at 7 pm. Visit https://zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_DKRxTaDLS-ilBA50OhVuBw to register to stream the show.

Elements of Art: Earth, Wind, Fire and Metal

By Mariella Mendez

As fall approaches, local galleries kick off a new season of art throughout Lowell.  Regardless of the lockdowns many artists have continued to create art and as galleries slowly reopen we finally find new art on view.

The Arts League of Lowell (ALL) will be showcasing a new sculpture show titled “Elements.” The pieces in the exhibit will demonstrate the elements of Earth, Wood, Water, Fire, and Metal which is considered to be the Tao principles of the essential properties of life.

Photos courtesy of Arts League of Lowell

Sixteen artists have been chosen by juror Joyce Audy Zarins, a well-known sculptor and member of the New England Sculptors Association. The sculptures will reflect each individual artist’s story and journey.

You can view these works at the Arts League of Lowell ALL Gallery, located in downtown Lowell, Massachusetts – now open with reduced hours of 1 to 4 pm Wednesday through Sunday. All Covid guidelines will be followed – visitors must wear masks and entry to the galleries is limited to avoid crowding.

Photo courtesy of Arts League of Lowell

More information about local galleries and studios, including location, hours and contact info can be found here.

Lowell Makes a move

By Mariella Mendez

Lowell Makes, a non-profit organized group that provides tools in their labs and workshops for thinkers, makers, and artists, has recently moved into a new building on 150 Western Ave #3 adjacent to the Western Ave Studios and Lofts. 

Science, technology, and art are promoted via individual and community collaborations. Lowell Makes encourages collaboration as an effective way of learning and host unique events to showcase their tools and workshops.

Lowell Makes officially opened last week and if you are looking to visit the shops, they are now located on the second floor of Western Ave. There is a white building to the right of the garage bays with their logo on it which can direct you to the entrance. 

Photo courtesy of Lowell Makes

The group hopes to be able to move the remaining shops including cosplay, rapid prototyping, pottery, bike repair, metal, and at the beginning of November as construction is currently underway. 

Masks and proper social distancing guidelines are required to be followed in order to enter the building.  

Making your Way Through Lowell

By Mariella Mendez

The City of Lowell is working with Lowell National Historic Park (LNHP) to develop a Wayfinding Master Plan with a focus on pedestrians. 

Wayfinding is a system that uses signs to guide individuals and improves their understanding of their surroundings. This includes buildings, campuses, neighborhoods, and landmarks. 

The goal of the project is to create new wayfinding signs that identify walking routes so that they are clear, understandable, and easy to use.

The signs will help to locate parking near specific areas as well as assist people who are on foot. This new plan will ensure that visitors and residents can find new places to visit and feel welcomed in the city as well.

 The City has launched a survey to gather input from the public as the plan continues to be finalized.

Follow the link to take the survey: Here

The project website has also been translated into several languages, you can find those links below:

• Spanish

• Khmer

• Portuguese

Pandemic Practices

By Mariella Mendez

Looking to do fun things in Lowell and stay safe at the same time? Here are the best practices for staying safe and healthy during a pandemic.

• The City of Lowell advises all residents and visitors to wear a mask in public settings where distance can’t be maintained. Although it is tempting to get out and enjoy all the great things the city has to offer, it is best to stay home and rest if you are feeling sick. Most importantly, it is crucial to keep a fair distance of 6 ft or more when out in public areas. It is also best not to come in contact with individuals nor gather in large groups. 

• “Germ keys” or “door openers” are new and popular tools that serve as a keychain. They consist of a hook for opening doors and a stylus to press elevator buttons or write your signature on a keypad. These convenient tools can now be found at any local pharmacy and are sold online. These ensure that people are touching fewer objects with their hands, hindering the spread of germs. 

Photo courtesy of Mariella Mendez

• Of course, it is important to constantly wash our hands for up to 20 seconds. A helpful way to keep track of sufficient hand washing is singing twinkle twinkle little star twice! Store sanitizers in various locations so that they are ready at your convenience. 

• Don’t forget to disinfect cell phones and other devices, as well as doorknobs and the inside of your vehicle to ensure that your surfaces remain germ-free! 

It is important that we practice and pass on valuable information so that everyone can remain as healthy as possible! 

SOURCE: WWW.LOWELLMA.GOV/1401/CORONAVIRUS-COVID-19