In addition to 5.6 miles of canals, Lowell boasts of an extensive network of paths and
promenades designed for leisure.
For factory laborers who spent up to 14 hours a day working inside, these paths were âa
cool and delightful retreat.â
Promenading was also a way to be social, and to show off clothing bought through hard work.
But the Sunday promenade was not open to everyone.
While wealthier residents and mill operatives sought âa warmer tint from the free sunshine
and fresh airâ canal workers continued their intensive labor.
On the other side of the promenade, they routinely drained and cleaned the canals on Sundays.
As with the rest of the city, it took hard work to make space for play.
More than a century after they were first built, many of these waterways underwent significant
repair and restoration.
Today, these unique urban trails are used for education and even for the occasional
Sunday promenade.