GWL Greenway 5K on Sunday, August 13! Register Today!

The  fourth annual Greenway 5K Walk/Run & Kids Fun Run is on Sunday, August 13, 2017.  You can register here .  
 
The 3.1 mile course begins at Manchester Street Park, follows the Spicket River Greenway, and ends at Ferrous Park. Trolley rides are available back to the starting line. You can see the course on our website. 

While it's a great run, and one of the courses on the Merrimack Valley S triders' Super Iron Runner series, the Greenway 5K promotes health and active living for all people of all ages and abilities. It's about you exploring the Spicket River Greenway, whether it's by walking, jogging, running, skipping, gallivanting, promenading, grooving, or just having fun! 

The New Balance Foundation is the lead sponsor for the GWL Greenway 5K as part of their leadership support of Groundwork and our shared mission of promoting health and wellness for children and families. We'd also like to thank Lawrence General Hospital and MedExpress for their support.  
Farmers Markets in Full Swing!
 
The Lawrence and Methuen Farmers Markets are open for the 2017 season! 

With 3 convenient locations, it's the right thyme to be a peach, kale your best friend, invite them to market, and lettuce show you the freshest fruits and vegetables this season! 

We'll stop with our corny puns, but you should see for yourself how delicious fresh locally grown fruits and vegetabl es really are. You can visit any market from 10:00 am - 3:00 pm at the following locations.
Summer Youth Program Updates 
 
Our summer youth programs have been very busy this month! Green Team's summer kicked off with a camping and canoeing trip at Harold Parker State Forest, followed by a visit with U.S. Fish and Wildlife to remove invasive water chestnuts in the Assabet River, working with AVIS and AMC on the Merrimack River Trail, farming at Costello Urban Farm and Johnson Highland View Farm, stewarding Bodwell Orchard, clearing trails at Den Rock Park, touring the Merrimack River with the Clean River Project, clearing sumac at Ferrous, and selling produce at the Lawrence and Methuen Farmers Markets.

Our Urban Adventures youth at Lawrence Boys and Girls Club and Lawrence CommunityWorks' Movement City have been exploring topics around urban agriculture, so we have brought them out for tours of Costello Urban Farm and to local bodegas to see the food landscape in Lawrence. The youth are very busy planning their service projects to support increased fresh food access in the city.
AGO & Merck Family Fund Visits GWL
 
Last week, MA Attorney General Maura Healey visited the Lawrence Boys and Girls Club to meet with the recipients of her Healthy Summer Youth Jobs grant. While at the Boys and Girls Club, members of Green Team and Urban Adventures met AG Healey, and shared a few selfies!

G reen Team also met with Ruth Goldman of the Merck Family Fund, which recently awarded Groundwork a grant to support our urban farming and youth leadership efforts. Green Team led Ruth on a tour of Costello Urban Farm and the GWL Wednesday Farmers Market at Campagnone (North) Common. We are grateful for the support from the AGO and Merck Family Fund.  
Ribbon Cutting of Gagnon Park - July 27
 
Today, Groundwork joined Mayor Dan Rivera and the City of Lawrence for a ribbon cutting ceremony for our newest project together at Gagnon Park on Providence St. 

We want to send a huge congratulations to the city for rehabilitating a much loved and used playground, and we hope to see you and your children out there soon!  
Check out our Calendar for upcoming workshops and volunteer opportunities.