Peter Aucella, Assistant Superintendent at Lowell National Historical Park recently received the Department of the Interior’s Superior Service Award for his 24 years of vision, planning, and efforts associated with the Lowell Summer Music Series and the development of Boarding House Park. Each year, the series draws some 30,000 people to concerts by major stars such as Joan Baez and Ziggy Marley, as well as to a daytime series for young people that is offered free. Peter is the former executive director of the Lowell Historic Preservation Commission, U. S. Dept of the Interior, the federal agency that transformed a low-grade parking lot at John and French streets into an award-winning performance park with its signature pavilion stage.The summer of 2014 will mark the 25th anniversary of the outdoor music shows at Boarding House Park.

Mr. Aucella received the award from the National Park Service Northeast Regional Director Dennis Reidenbach at an awards ceremony in Boston on December 11, 2013.