Nature

Duration:

4 minutes, 30 seconds

Did you know that wildlife is present in urban settings, and not just remote forests? Join Ranger Haillie and learn why urban environments can be beneficial for the survival of some species as well as some of the challenges they face along the way.

 

For the audio described version of the "Urban Wildlife in Lowell" video, click the information icon in the lower right corner of the video player.

 

Exploring Nature in an Urban Park

Lowell National Historical Park is a proud division of the Naitonal Park Service, whose goal is and always has been "...conserving unimpaired the natural and cultural resources and values of the National Park System for the enjoyment, education, and inspiration of this and future generations." Because of its location in an urban downtown, Lowell has traditionally focused on its cultural connections and resources. However, even urban settings house a variety of complex ecosystems filled with interesting flora and fauna, and it is our duty and pleasure as a National Park to share these with you - in person and here, online.

People do not often think of cities and nature as being able to coexist, but in fact there are a variety of ways in which plants, animals, and humans have learned to adapt to the urban lifestyle. Exploring the walkways and waterways of Lowell, you can find all kinds of plants unique to the Northeast!

Lowell's history is inextricably linked to U.S. environmental history - and not always in very flattering ways. You can also explore how the same mills which drove the Industrial Revolution also began centuries of water and air pollution, and established trends that put nature last and human enterprise first. But just as Lowell has had its economic ups and downs, so too has Lowell's environment rebounded, such that its Natural Features and Ecosystems have started to return though the work is far from over.