HomeMassachusettsLawrence › O'Connell South Common

O'Connell South Common

4.3 ★★★★☆ 221 Google reviews · Running trail in Lawrence, Massachusetts · Open 24 hours

Runner's snapshot

Surface
Not reported
Distance
Not reported
Shape
Not reported
Shade
Tree cover
Access
Open 24 hours

Confirmed from O'Connell South Common's own listing, the park or land manager's website, and runner reviews. Blank cells mean we could not verify that fact — we would rather say "not reported" than invent one. There is no Easy / Moderate / Hard rating on this page on purpose: a one-word difficulty score tells you nothing about whether a trail suits your run. Surface, distance, shade and hours do.

Open 24hShadedRestroomsTrailhead parking

Park with basketball courts and baseball fields, plus a playground.

What runners say about O'Connell South Common

Pulled from public reviews of this trail (221 of them) — the things people bring up again and again, in their own words. Nothing here is written by us.

well-maintained 6 mentions

“Basketball court good for teens and playarea for kids always clean.”

🌳 shaded & cool 3 mentions

“Baseball + tennis area, kids play area, lots of shade + grass.”

Loooove the S. Common! My dogs love to walk on the pathways here. The big trees provide lots of shade. I can’t wait to see the new playground when it’s completed, but I wish the city would do something with the old unused band shell.

★★★★★ — Ember , Jul 2024

I enjoy this park way more than the North Common. This park is great. New sidewalks, better shade, less traffic. The size is perfect too. 2 laps is a mile unlike the North Common Park.

★★★★★ — Richard , Nov 2021

One of my favorite parks. Love doing my morning walks around the park. And even watch a few softball games during the weekends.

★★★★★ — Henry , Aug 2021

Excerpts from public Google reviews. Read all 221 reviews →

Trail conditions & character

What this trail is actually like underfoot and overhead, taken from its own listing and from reviews. Each one links to every other trail with the same character. Busy or quiet is reported as a plain fact, not a plus or a minus — a runner heading out alone at dawn often wants company on the path, and someone running intervals wants an empty one.

🌳 Shaded / tree cover 3 mentions

“Baseball + tennis area, kids play area, lots of shade + grass.”

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🚻 Restrooms

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🅿️ Trailhead parking

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Plan your run at O'Connell South Common

The practical stuff

  • AccessOpen 24 hours — no gate to beat, so a 5am or a 10pm run both work
  • DistanceNot reported. Trail systems often quote total path mileage rather than a single loop, so measure the route you actually want before you drive out.
  • ShadeRunners describe real tree cover here — it makes a summer afternoon workable
  • At the trailheadparking, restrooms — reported by runners
  • Websitecityoflawrence.com
  • Phone(978) 620-3000
  • Social Instagram · Facebook

Hours

Monday Open 24 hours
Tuesday Open 24 hours
Wednesday Open 24 hours
Thursday Open 24 hours
Friday Open 24 hours
Saturday Open 24 hours
Sunday Open 24 hours

Posted hours for the park or trailhead. Gates and parking lots often close earlier than the trail itself, and seasonal hours change — worth a check before a pre-dawn or after-dark run.

Where to find O'Connell South Common

Lawrence, Massachusetts

Get directions

Running trails near Lawrence

Other trails within easy driving distance — useful when this one is flooded, gated, or just not the run you had in mind today.

Shawsheen River Trail

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Land celebrating local history encompasses mill property, canal, boathouse, parks, visitor center.

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Campagnone Common

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Grassy, family-friendly gathering spot featuring outdoor tables, a fountain, swings and walking paths.

under a mile away

Den Rock Park

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BoardwalkScenicDog-friendly

120-acre nature preserve with wooded walking trails & a granite face for rock climbing.

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Reservoir Park

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City views plus a track for runners, a reservoir and hills for sledding.

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Spicket River Greenway

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Nearby towns

Listing verified July 2026 from public records, the trail's own website and runner reviews. Trail conditions change — paths flood, gates close at dusk, and shaded woods stay muddy for days after rain. Something out of date? Report a correction. Manage this trail? Send us the details — it is free.