Press Release  DCR Celebrates 40 Years of Lawrence Heritage State Park

Lawrence — The Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) joined state and local officials and community members today to celebrate the 40^th anniversary of Lawrence Heritage State Park.

The celebration marked four decades of preserving the city’s history while providing a place for residents and visitors to gather, learn and enjoy the outdoors. 

Lawrence Heritage State Park first opened to the public on September 1, 1986, as part of a statewide effort to preserve the history of the region’s industrial past and create new public spaces in the heart of urban communities. Today, the park brings together ballfields, picnic areas and access to the Merrimack River with historic buildings and exhibits that tell the story of the workers and immigrant communities who shaped Lawrence.  

“Lawrence has always been a city of people who work hard, stand up for one another and make history,” said Governor Maura Healey. “For 40 years, Lawrence Heritage State Park has kept that history alive while giving families a place to play, gather and enjoy the Merrimack. We’re proud to celebrate this milestone and everyone who has made the park so special.” 

“Great parks reflect the communities they serve, and Lawrence Heritage State Park does exactly that,” said Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll. “It honors the millworkers and immigrant families who built this city while giving today’s residents a place to spend time together and create new memories.” 

“Lawrence Heritage State Park represents so many of the core values of DCR. It is a space where the public can connect with nature and enjoy outdoor recreation, but it also serves as a time capsule depicting an age that allowed Massachusetts to grow into the thriving state it is today,” said DCR Commissioner Nicole LaChapelle. “Visitors can enjoy the ballfields, picnic areas, or waterways, and they can also tour the historical sites and exhibits describing what life was life along the Merrimack River over a century ago.”  

Current and former DCR staff were joined by former Massachusetts Governor Michael Dukakis, who established the Massachusetts Heritage State Parks initiative. This program began with the intention of combining urban revitalization, historic preservation, public recreation, and economic development in the development of new parks, starting with Lowell Heritage State Park. Including Lawrence Heritage State Park, another 7 heritage state parks would be opened across Massachusetts, each celebrating a unique area of the state’s history.  

The grounds of Lawrence Heritage State Park are home to features connected to Lawrence’s manufacturing history, including a preserved 1840s boarding house that once housed millworkers. Exhibits and signage throughout the park tell the story of industrial life, including local workers’ involvement in the 1912 Bread and Roses Strike, as well as the role immigrant communities played in the development of the city and its economy. Monday’s celebration continued the story of the park’s history by gathering community members involved in the park’s creation, as well materials and photos from their early efforts.  

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