Whether you're a spectator or a participant, Lowell's vibrant recreational scene will provide you with myriad choices.

The Paul Tsongas Arena opened in 1997, and seats 6,000+ for sporting events and concerts.  The primary tenant is the Lowell Devils, an American Hockey League affiliate of the NHL's New Jersey Devils; they play an 80 game schedule, including 40 home games. The Lowell Spinners, a single A affiliate of the Boston Red Sox, display their talents in the new 5,100-seat Edward A. LeLacheur Park.  Both of these minor league teams offer residents inexpensive family entertainment and, in fact, make Lowell only the third city in New England to field at least two professional sports teams.

The University of Massachusetts Lowell offers 22 men's and women's sports, including the top ranked River Hawks hockey team, which will also call the new Paul Tsongas Arena home. For those who prefer to follow the budding athletes of tomorrow, an active high school sports program fits the bill.

For the participant, Lowell offers countless recreational opportunities. The Merrimack and Concord Rivers furnish most of the water based variety: canoeing, sailing, fishing, water skiing, and some of the country's best white water rafting. Neighborhood youth groups organize seasonal and year-round sports programs in hockey, baseball, softball, soccer, and basketball. In addition, Lowell's Parks and Recreation Department sponsors a diverse array of youth sports and other activities.

If tennis and golf are your passions, you're in the right place. Forty-two tennis courts and six area golf courses ­ three public and three private ­ provide sufficient resources for polishing your games.

Should you require a temporary escape from the urban bustle, the Lowell-Dracut-Tyngsboro State Forest invites Lowellians to its 1,000 acres, where six miles of trails provide ample room for jogging, walking, backpacking, horseback riding and cross-country skiing. New England's seacoast and mountains are within an hour's drive, creating the opportunity for fishing, beach combing, skiing, and mountain climbing.

While Lowell is known for its working heritage, the opportunities for exercise and recreation are virtually without limits.