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Lowell outlines St. Louis Park redesign and $300,000 design grant for wheeled‑recreation plan
Summary
City planning staff described completion of phase one at St. Louis Park and unveiled an "All Wheels Welcome" plan to improve skate parks, expand traffic‑playground programs and study a pump track; the Community Preservation Council voted $300,000 for design and City Council approved the funding.
City of Lowell planning staff told the Board of Parks on June 24 that phase one of the St. Louis Park redesign is wrapping up and that the city has moved a preliminary wheeled‑recreation plan forward with a $300,000 design allocation.
Jess Wilson, a design planner with the City of Lowell Department of Planning and Development, said the St. Louis Park redesign used the state’s Municipal Vulnerability Preparedness (MVP) program and drew more than 2,500 residents into a co‑design process. "This project has been funded through the state's MVP program ... we've been able to do a lot of exciting engagement and get over 2,500 residents involved in the design process so far," Wilson said, and she described finishing touches on a new playground and splash pad.
Wilson also presented the "All Wheels Welcome" initiative, which aims to upgrade three city skate parks (Hadley Park, Cumnock Street Park and Whipple Park) and study adding a pump track or bike‑skills course. She said the Community Preservation Council recommended $300,000 for design and that City Council recently approved the allocation; the project team expects to issue a consultant RFQ this fall to carry out design and community engagement.
Board members asked about safety and motorized wheeled devices; Wilson noted that state legislation recently addressed some vehicle rules and that the city could explore local policy options as part of the design process. "The goal is to provide a safer space for wheeled recreation to hopefully get kids out of the roads," Wilson said, while acknowledging the project is still in the design and feasibility stage.
What happens next: staff expect an RFQ in the fall to hire a consultant for design and engagement; site feasibility and coordination with DPW (including parking‑lot work at Cuesta Park) will guide final location decisions and any future permitting.
