About Groundwork Lawrence
Local impact. Visible results. Sustainable change.
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Groundwork Lawrence, Inc. (GWL) a 501(c)3 non-profit organization, has been making change happen in Lawrence, Massachusetts since 2001. Through its environmental and open space improvements, community food programs, youth education and employment initiatives, and community programming and events, GWL creates the building blocks of a healthy community, and empowers Lawrence residents to improve their quality of life. GWL achieves results by engaging the whole community – residents, youth, non-profits, city government and businesses – in the planning and realization of its projects. With this collaborative approach, GWL ensures that all stakeholders are mutually invested in its outcomes, the key to stable neighborhoods and sustainable change.
GWL’s mission and operations are premised on the understanding that environmental conditions are inextricably linked to the economic and social health of a neighborhood. As a consequence, GWL is committed to “changing places and changing lives” through on-the-ground projects that help to transform local communities. To accomplish this, GWL leads and supports a variety of partnership-driven efforts that bring together the public, private and non-profit sectors to solve complex environmental problems and sustain a long-term vision for neighborhood change and renewal.
The formal mission of the organization is “to bring about the sustained regeneration, improvement and management of the physical environment by developing community-based partnerships which empower people, businesses and organizations to promote environmental, economic and social well-being.”
Our projects and programs are designed to:
- Prepare young people to be positive role models and leaders in their community;
- Increase Opportunities for Physical Activity through the development of parks, trails, walkable streets, and recreational facilities that are safe, welcoming and accessible to all;
- Increase Access to Healthy Food by creating a citywide network of community and schoolyard gardens, managing the Lawrence Farmers Market Network, and expanding access to community-supported agriculture (CSA);
- Support economic development through redevelopment of underutilized spaces and creating job training opportunities to meet the needs of the local job sector;
- Improve the Quality of Our Air, Water and Land through brownfield redevelopment, volunteer cleanups, tree planting, and integration of low-impact development techniques;
- Support Biodiversity by implementing habitat enhancement and restoration projects;
- Reduce Energy Consumption through the development of pedestrian-friendly neighborhoods and the use of locally-sourced and recycled materials for project construction.
See photos of Groundwork Lawrence in action on Flickr!
Accomplishments
Physical Improvements:
In partnership with the City of Lawrence, GWL has provided design and construction management services for $9 million of capital improvements to parks and public spaces, with over $3 million in new projects in the pipeline. To date, GWL has helped to improve more than 375 acres of public parkland with new signage, play equipment, amenities and plantings, representing approximately 75 percent of the City’s total inventory of green space. GWL has also built six parks, created 7new community gardens, cleaned up and improved more than five miles of wooded trails, and planted 590 trees, 492 shrubs, and 3,250 bulbs and perennials in public spaces throughout the city.
Community Involvement and Education:
Over the past 10 years, GWL volunteers have contributed over 55,000 hours to community projects, including river and park cleanups, tree planting, and beautification efforts. To accomplish this, GWL regularly partners with more than 25 local schools and community groups and 30 local businesses. Since its inception in 1999, GWL educational programs and volunteer events have engaged more than 6,000 youth and 6,000 adults in hands-on learning and community service.
Integrating the Economy and Environment:
As part of our commitment to community rejuvenation, GWL provides vocational training and seasonal employment opportunities for local residents. GWL also manages the Lawrence Farmers Market Network, which provides over $80,000 of fresh, locally-grown produce to low-income families each year and brings an average of 1,000 people into the downtown each week throughout the market season.
Leveraging Resources:
To date, GWL has leveraged more than $9 million of public funding for environmental projects and programs and generated $5 million in private sector support, including grant funding and donations of in-kind materials and services. Read more about our funders and partners
Staff & Board
GWL is a dynamic and growing organization consisting of six staff members with expertise in urban and environmental planning and design, community outreach, education, arboriculture, and urban gardening and is supported by three full-time AmeriCorps positions. GWL also retains the services of a variety of consultants with expertise in landscape architecture, urban forestry, brownfield site assessment and cleanup, environmental education, and real estate development. Our eleven-member Board of Directors represents a variety of professions and interests closely aligned with GWL’s mission.
Staff Listing | Board Listing
Groundwork USA
Groundwork Lawrence is an affiliate of Groundwork USA. The Groundwork USA network is built on partnership and linked together by the Groundwork USA national office, with support from the Environmental Protection Agency Brownfields Program and the National Park Service Rivers, Trails and Conservation Assistance Program.
Visit GWUSA's website
