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Lowell Parks Department Cuts Ribbon on Renovated Durkin Park

LOWELL — A universally accessible playground with new slides and equipment, a renovated basketball court, and poured-in-place rubber surfacing are some of the highlights of the renovated Durkin Park adjacent to the Lincoln School on Chelmsford Street.
Two children cut the ribbon to officially reopen Durkin Park off Chelmsford Street next to the Lincoln School on Saturday morning. The park was completely renovated thanks to a $720,000 Community Development Block Grant, and reopened with a new hillside slide, playground equipment, and a brand new basketball court. Helping to hold the ribbon are, from left, City Councilor Wayne Jenness, City Councilor Erik Gitschier, City Councilor Rita Mercier, City Councilor-Elect Sean McDonough, City Councilor Kim Scott, City Councilor Sokhary Chau, State Rep. Tara Hong, City Councilor John Descoteaux, Assistant City Manager Shawn Machado, state Rep. Rodney Elliott, and City Councilor Corey Robinson. (Photo Courtesy City of Lowell)

LOWELL — A universally accessible playground with new slides and equipment, a renovated basketball court, and poured-in-place rubber surfacing are some of the highlights of the renovated Durkin Park adjacent to the Lincoln School on Chelmsford Street.

City leaders cut a ribbon on the newly renovated park on Saturday morning, officially opening it to children of all ages after a months-long, $720,000 renovation funded by a Community Development Block Grant. 

Assistant City Manager Shawn Machado welcomed City Councilors and residents to the ribbon cutting before District 8 City Councilor John Descoteaux spoke of playing at Durkin Park as a child, back when the park didn’t have nearly as many amenities.

“I remember half of the time the basketball hoops were broken off. You couldn’t play. There was glass shattered all over the basketball court, and it just wasn’t a great place to be. But coming here and seeing this, this is very impressive,” Councilor  Descoteaux said while standing in front of the new park.

Also in attendance were Assistant City Manager and Department of Planning and Development Director Yovani Baez-Rose, Department of Public Works Commissioner Paul St. Cyr, City Councilors Sokhary Chau, Erik Gitschier, Wayne Jenness, Rita Mercier, Corey Robinson and Kim Scott, City Councilor-Elect Sean McDonough, and state Representatives Rodney Elliott and Tara Hong. 

Improvements don’t stop at new playground equipment, basketball court and surfacing, though. The renovation project also saw an ADA-accessible ramp added to the existing community garden and outdoor classroom in the park. A small entry plaza with picnic tables was also added, and additional trees are being planted around the park.

Durkin Park is one of 11 parks that the city is transforming in 2025, including eight that are being renovated with more than $7 million in funds from the American Rescue Plan Act. Renovating 11 parks in a single year marks a threefold increase over the city’s historic park renovation pace.

The overall project is one of the most ambitious investments in public space in recent Lowell history, and it will touch parks in neighborhoods across the city. 

“Ninety-two percent of Lowell residents live within a 10-minute walk to a park,” said City Manager Thomas A. Golden, Jr. “This overall project will give tens of thousands of residents access to high-quality outdoor spaces and enrich the lives of children throughout our city. I’m thrilled to see the first of these projects, Durkin Park, reopened. We have many more reopenings to come.”

In addition to creating fun play spaces for children and green spaces for adults, building more durable parks and green spaces also helps Lowell become more climate resilient. The overall park improvement project will see 166 trees and more than 1,600 native shrubs and perennials planted in public spaces. These improvements help rejuvenate neighborhoods and also provide shade that can help reduce urban heat. 

Durkin Park is named after Private First Class John L. Durkin and his family. John L. Durkin died in Europe shortly after World War I while serving in the U.S. Army. The park was named in his honor decades ago and was recently rededicated.

For more information on the park projects and other ongoing open space initiatives, please visit: https://www.lowellma.gov/1653/Open-Space-Projects.

Brand new playground equipment and a rubber surface are features of the new Durkin Park, which was reopened on Saturday following a $720,000 renovation. The project also added a hillside slide, seen at right. (Photo Courtesy City of Lowell)
A brand new full-sized basketball court is among the amenities at the newly renovated Durkin Park. (Photo Courtesy City of Lowell)
The top of a new two-story play tower designed for children ages 5 to 12. The new park includes play areas and activities for children of all ages and abilities. (Photo Courtesy City of Lowell)
Durkin Park is named after Private First Class John L. Durkin and his family. John L. Durkin died in Europe shortly after World War I while serving in the U.S. Army. The park was named in his honor decades ago and was recently rededicated. (Photo Courtesy City of Lowell)
District 8 City Councilor John Descoteaux welcomes people to the new Durkin Park during a ribbon cutting on Saturday. Councilor Descoteaux grew up playing in the park, and remembered days when it was not as amenable to play. (Photo Courtesy City of Lowell)
The playground includes more than just new slides. Numerous activities are meant to engage children of all ages and abilities. (Photo Courtesy City of Lowell)

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