Photo: John Phelan, CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Fishing, boating, bike and walking trails, public programs such as sailing lessons and concerts.
Lawrence Heritage State Park is a history-themed public recreation area dedicated to preserving the industrial heritage of Lawrence, Massachusetts. The state park comprises three separate units on or near the Merrimack River. It is managed by the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation.
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Built for use by the old Lawrence mills and factories. While it is no longer used today and portions of it have become contaminated with waste, the canal itself still has historic value. In addition, the canal is home to several beautiful historic bridges that once carried access roads to the factories. The canal is immune to filling in due to its heritage.
The bridge is an historic through truss bridge carrying South Union Street over the Merrimack River in the middle of downtown Lawrence. The bridge, built by Boston Bridge Works in 1888, is one of the oldest surviving bridges on the Merrimack, despite being rehabilitated several times. The current structure has been closed to all traffic indefinitely due to safety concerns. However, the bridge could be re-opened after another rehab project, which has been delayed for about two years due to funding concerns.