Press Releases

LOWELL, MA – Today, Congresswoman Lori Trahan (MA-03) joined with Lawrence Mayor Kendrys Vazquez, Senator Barry Finegold (D-2^nd Essex and Middlesex), and Representatives Marcos Devers (D-16^th Essex), Frank A. Moran (D-17^th Essex), and Christina Minicucci (D-14^th Essex) to celebrate a new nonprofit-private partnership between Groundwork Lawrence and New Balance. The project will connect the Merrimack River Trail through New Balance’s Lawrence Distribution Center, connecting downtown Lawrence to the urban mill district all the way to the Andover Town Line.

“When I first took office, I told my team that our role was not just explaining a vote in Washington or bringing money back to the district,” said Congresswoman Trahan. “While both of those are incredibly important, we have a responsibility to be conveners within our community, because when we bring together coalitions like the one between Groundwork Lawrence and New Balance, incredible things happen for everyone who calls our community home. I’m grateful to everyone who made this partnership possible, and I look forward to working with each of them and key stakeholders in our community to see the project through to its completion.”

“We are grateful to Congresswoman Trahan and New Balance for their commitment to making this community vision a reality,” said Heather McMann, Executive Director of Groundwork Lawrence. “A clean river, with accessible trails connecting neighborhoods to jobs, recreation, schools, healthcare, and businesses, supports the economic stability and health of residents and businesses in Lawrence and beyond.”

“New Balance is strongly committed to fostering a healthier planet, starting with local initiatives like the Merrimack River Trail. Our more than 300 associates in Lawrence can now look forward to enjoying the Trail’s new connection. Through New Balance’s community volunteer program, our associates have embraced giving back through service with Groundwork Lawrence.  Keeping this trail clean and accessible will be a priority for our associate volunteers. I want to thank Congresswoman Trahan, Mayor Vasquez and the team at Groundwork Lawrence for working with New Balance to get the Merrimack River Trail connection to the finish line and providing greater accessibility and opportunity for area residents and visitors to stay active and healthy and enjoy our great outdoors,” said Amy Dow, Director of Public Relations and Government Affairs at New Balance.

The partnership announced today between Groundwork Lawrence and New Balance today will extend Lawrence’s portion of the Merrimack River Trail through New Balance’s riverfront property, connecting the previously disjointed trail and ensuring Lawrence residents’ access from downtown to the industrial park home to New Balance and other companies. Congresswoman Trahan is committed to supporting the expansion of this partnership to include other businesses along the river to ensure the completion of the trail. The project is 30 years in the making, first envisioned in the National Park Service’s 1988 Pennacook Trail Report and brought to fruition by this new nonprofit-private partnership.

“We are excited for this project to happen for our residents and thankful for all involved,” said Mayor Vazquez. “Lawrence has a wealth of open spaces, each with their own individual highlights - having scenic options such as this trail will be great not only for adding means of access for pedestrian commutes, but also for adding opportunities for residents to take care of their mental health while enjoying the local ecosystem.”

“The extension of the Merrimack River Trail will provide residents with beautiful riverfront views of Lawrence’s historic mills, bridges, and surrounding wildlife,” said Senator Barry Finegold. “I am proud that the state’s MassTrails program has provided funding for this important project, and I look forward to continuing to support public-private partnerships to create more accessible outdoor space. I want to thank Congresswoman Trahan, New Balance, Groundwork Lawrence, and other community leaders for their tireless work to make the Merrimack River Trail even better.”  

“As a civil engineer, I know that a strategic and well-designed recreational trail can not only have a significant impact on public health and wellness by providing people of all ages with an attractive, safe, accessible and low- or no-cost place for people of all ages to cycle, walk, jog or skate, but also an opportunity to incorporate similar paths into our transit plans to ‘feed’ people in to and out of transit stations in a safe and efficient manner. This recreational trail will surely create the backbone of a continuous, non-motorized, on- and off-road trail system in the City of Lawrence. This important project will allow people to contemplate our historic mills along Lawrence’s riverfront, which is a source of our community collective efforts, identity and pride,” said Representative Devers.

“This important project will not only bolster the City of Lawrence’s lush outdoor spaces, but will provide all residents with increased and convenient access to economic opportunities, employment, education services, healthcare, and outdoor recreation,” said Representative Moran. “Projects such as this exemplify the incredible cooperation that our city has to offer, and I would like to thank Congresswoman Trahan and her team for their leadership in making this project a reality.”

“Like everyone who grew up here in the Merrimack Valley, the Merrimack River has always been part of my life. I’ve had the pleasure of sharing this natural treasure with my children and now, as a Representative and an environmentalist, I have the honor of working to preserve and strengthen it for my children’s children,” said Representative Minicucci. “Partnerships like this one between Groundwork Lawrence and New Balance are key to doing that, and I’m so proud to be a part of the group led by Congresswoman Trahan that made it possible.”

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