Committee backs discontinuing portion of Bay State Road to create riverfront park with Boys & Girls Club

The Ordinance Committee unanimously voted to recommend that the City Council discontinue use of a portion of Bay State Road from McFarland to Jordan Street and schedule a public hearing on the proposal.

Planning staff said the segment has been walled off for decades and is overgrown. The city and Groundwork Lawrence propose converting the area into a public park with basketball courts, volleyball, skate elements and a shared-use riverfront path. Brad Buscher of Groundwork Lawrence described the site as a “Tweener park” aimed at older kids and teens and said the Boys & Girls Club will program activities there; the park would remain public when not in use by organized programs.

Staff said abutters support the plan and that the project team would request rezoning from industrial to recreational and pursue title/transfer actions as required; the Planning Board had already reviewed the request. The committee moved to discontinue the public right-of-way and forward the item to the full council to order a public hearing; the motion passed.

Committee members asked about riverfront safeguards. Groundwork and planning staff said the design will restore a 25-foot riparian corridor, place the shared-use path beyond that buffer, include rain gardens to manage stormwater, and fence courts to limit balls and children from running into the river; the team said lighting and stewardship by the Boys & Girls Club would help reduce illegal camping and nuisance activity.