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City of Lowell Cuts Ribbon on Renovated and Expanded O’Donnell Park in South Lowell

A brand-new, accessible and inclusive playground, three completely refurbished basketball courts, a tennis court, pickleball courts and a handball court are the among the amenities in a renovated and expanded O’Donnell Park on Gorham Street. 
South Lowell District City Councilor Kim Scott speaks at the opening of a newly renovated and expanded O’Donnell Park on Gorham Street in Lowell Wednesday. The park was renovated and expanded using $1.5 million in funding from the American Rescue Plan Act and the Community Preservation Act. (Photo Courtesy City of Lowell)

LOWELL — A brand-new, accessible and inclusive playground, three completely refurbished basketball courts, a tennis court, pickleball courts and a handball court are the among the amenities in a renovated and expanded O’Donnell Park on Gorham Street. 

City leaders were joined by neighborhood residents on Wednesday as they cut a ribbon to officially open the park at 1170 Gorham St., which was renovated and expanded using $1.5 million of funding from the American Rescue Plan Act and the Community Preservation Act. 

Brianna Martinez, a design planner for the Department of Planning and Development, said the city worked with Weston & Sampson to design a new playground with play features that are both accessible and inclusive for children ages 2 to 12.

The new park features poured-in-place rubber surfacing that is far more accessible than the former wood chips. It includes a two-story play tower with a slide, a large rope climbing structure, a merry-go-round and swings. Additional trees and shrubs were also planted around the area. 

Additionally, the once aged tennis court and basketball courts nearby were paved, covered with heat-resistant, reflective sealcoat, and repainted. The tennis court area now includes a tennis court, four pickleball courts, and a handball wall that is already being used by a local league. 

The area is also now graced by a large mural on the side of the Butler Middle School which includes a color scheme that matches that of the newly repainted courts and park. 

Mayor Erik Gitschier opened the event and acknowledged the family of John J. O’Donnell, who gave his life in World War I. The park was named in his honor in 1923. Mayor Gitschier also acknowledged fellow City Councilors Rita Mercier, Belinda Juran, Sean McDonough, and South Lowell District Councilor Kim Scott, who was key to working with residents to get the park in her district renovated. State Sen. Vanna Howard also attended and spoke briefly. 

O’Donnell Park is one of 11 parks that the city is transforming in 2025 and 2026, including eight that are being renovated with $9 million in funds from the American Rescue Plan Act. Renovating 11 parks in this timeframe 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. 

“We have made a truly major investment in improving the accessibility and inclusiveness of our public open spaces here in Lowell, and this park is just the latest that will engage children of all ages and serve residents well,” said City Manager Thomas A. Golden, Jr. “I encourage everyone to visit and take advantage of the beautiful and well-designed parks that our city provides.”

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. 

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

City Councilors, City staff, residents and state Sen. Vanna Howard stood together to cut a ribbon officially opening the newly renovated and expanded O’Donnell Park. (Photo Courtesy City of Lowell)
City Councilor Belinda Juran pushes a merry-go-round for a boy at the newly renovated and expanded O’Donnell Park on Gorham Street Wednesday. (Photo Courtesy City of Lowell)
A two-story play tower that rises above poured rubber surfacing is one of the new amenities at the inclusive and accessible O’Donnell Park on Gorham Street. (Photo Courtesy City of Lowell)
Three full-sized basketball courts were paved, resurfaced and repainted as part of the renovation and expansion of O’Donnell Park on Gorham Street. (Photo Courtesy City of Lowell)
Four pickleball courts and a handball court were added to an existing tennis court at O’Donnell Park on Gorham Street. (Photo Courtesy City of Lowell)
South Lowell District Councilor Kim Scott made it to the top of a large rope climbing structure that was added to the renovated playground at O’Donnell Park in Lowell. Councilor Scott helped lead the effort to get the park in her district renovated. (Photo Courtesy City of Lowell)

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