Submit/Find An Event ll Table of Contents ll Shops/Dining ll Explore the Valley ll Home
Heritage Corridor Partnership Projects Announced
The John H. Chafee Blackstone River Valley National Heritage Corridor Commission announced support for dozens of projects throughout the Blackstone River Valley through its 2004 Heritage Partnership Program. A total of $750,000 was awarded to the Blackstone Corridor Commission this year through the National Park Service’s federal appropriations.
Commission Vice-Chairman, State Senator Richard Moore, congratulated all of this year’s recipients. The Commission received nearly 100 applications requesting $2,500,000 for heritage preservation and development projects. “This was probably the most competitive grant program we have ever seen. The Commission spent hours evaluating projects for their ability to leverage additional funds, implement the goals set forth in the Heritage Corridor Plan, and the partner’s ability to move quickly on implementation. These Federal funds are critical to telling the national story of the Blackstone. Our Congressional delegation can see the power of this movement and are 100% behind the Corridor,” stated Moore. "The Blackstone Valley has done an incredible job in leveraging these funds to preserve precious historical and natural assets, and enhance tourism throughout the region," said Senator Edward Kennedy. "We are going to keep at it, and keep working together."
The nearly one hundred applications received were requests to fund projects that help to support the Corridor's goals of historic preservation, community revitalization, ecological restoration, land use planning, riverway development and educating people about the Valley’s heritage. Of those requests, over forty partnership projects are being funded this year. All 24 Corridor communities from Providence, RI to Worcester, MA will benefit from the funds provided to enhance the Blackstone Valley. Region-wide projects such as tourism marketing and development, special events and festivals, Riverway restoration and development and educational programming reach everyone.
"I had the great opportunity to canoe down the Blackstone River and see first-hand the improvements that are taking place. The partnership, which is growing, has made tremendous progress toward preserving this nationally significant region, and I applaud its efforts," stated Senator John Kerry.
“The large number of project requests speaks volumes about the importance of the National Heritage Corridor in the revitalization of Worcester and the Blackstone Valley,” said Representative James McGovern. “These funds, as well as other federal funds that I am working to acquire, are critical to the completing the Northern Gateway Visitor Center, the Blackstone Bikeway and improving the environmental quality of the Blackstone Watershed.”
“In the Blackstone Valley, you need only to open your door and look around to see how our Nation’s industrial legacy began,” stated Representative Richard Neal. “What is being accomplished by the many organizations that have received these funds is of great value to understanding our heritage and rejuvenating Blackstone Valley communities.” The following projects were approved by the John H. Chafee Blackstone River Valley National Heritage Corridor Commission on May 20, 2004:
Blackstone Valley Education Network, “Graduate Course on the Blackstone Valley,” $6,000: to prepare educators to use the heritage sites available in the Valley as teaching tools. Grafton Land Trust, MA “Hassanamesit Woods Cultural Landscape Study,” $15,000: to undertake historical and archeological site work at an early Native American “Praying Village.” BV Chamber of Commerce and Blackstone Valley Tourism Council, “Blackstone Valley National Heritage Corridor Visitor Services Program,” $90,000: to support bi-state tourism marketing and promotion of the Heritage Corridor. Volunteers-in-Parks, “Expedition 2005,” $45,000: coordinate a riverway discovery journey to explore the recent successes and ongoing challenges of the River. Blackstone River Theatre, “Sustainability & Expansion of the Theatre Programming,” $20,000: support for programming in music, dance and folk arts traditions. ZAP the Blackstone to support four projects in the amount of $75,000: “Watershed Education and Clean Water Festival” by the Blackstone River Coalition, “Implementing the Fishable/Swimmable Campaign” by the Blackstone River Coalition, “Subwatershed Hydrologic Flow Study of the Blackstone River” by Nichols College, and “Balancing Water Availability & Land Development in the BV” by the RI Economic Policy Council. Town of Sutton, MA “Tricentennial Park,” $35,000: Riverway park along the Blackstone River and Canal, celebrating the 300th anniversary of the Town. Bay State Trail Riders Association, “Southern New England Trunkline Trail Connections,” $10,000: support for trail construction on this east-west trail link. City of Pawtucket, RI “Festival Pier and Town Landing Master Plan,” $5,000. Metacomet Land Trust, “Blackstone River Conservation Alliance,” $15,000: to develop land conservation capacity. Glocester Heritage Society, RI “Restoration of the Reuben Mason House,” $10,000. Town of Grafton, MA “A Plan for Preservation, Conservation & Land Use Development in 3 South Grafton Villages,” $15,000. Alternatives Unlimited, Inc., “Whitinsville Old Brick Mill & Forge Historical Structures Report,” $17,860. RI Department of Environmental Management, “Marketing materials for Canal and Transportation Museum at the Kelly House,” $1,500. Blackstone Valley Education Network, “Blackstone River Valley Education Program Packages,” $12,900: to organize curriculum-based educational experiences at multiple Valley heritage sites. Worcester Historical Museum, “The Blackstone: America’s Hardest Working River,” $60,000: to produce a comprehensive historical book on the Blackstone Valley that will coincide with the 20th anniversary of the Heritage Corridor in 2006. The Old Slater Mill Association, “Slater Mill - Technology in Transition/Valley Voices Summer Series,” $20,000: to support educational programming and restoration of the historic waterwheel gearing. The Rhode Island Historical Society, “Stabilization & Enhancement of Museum of Work and Culture,” $19,740: develop exhibitry that focuses on Woonsocket's diverse communities. Waters Farm Preservation, Inc., “Whispers of the Past,” $15,000: to develop on-site and curriculum-based educational programs with Sutton Schools. Town of Lincoln, RI “Lonsdale Bleachery Redevelopment Plan,” $12,000: creation of a redevelopment plan within historic mill complex. MA Riverways Program, “Cold Water Fisheries Awareness Campaign,” to identify cold water fishery streams and build support for protection. Blackstone River Coalition, “Volunteer Water Quality Monitoring Program,” $20,000: supports building a volunteer organization to monitor the health of the rivers, streams, lakes and ponds within the watershed. Douglas, Northbridge, Sutton, Uxbridge, MA “Opportunities through Cooperation,” support for collaborative planning and land use. Blackstone Corridor Coalition, “2004 Greenway Challenge,” $25,000. Heritage Corridor “Special Events,” $10,000: to support community and non-profit organization events that promotes Corridor’s goals. Blackstone Valley “Paddle Club,” $5,000: to provide training opportunities for the public to learn how to canoe and kayak and participate in river trips. Heritage Corridor “Volunteer in Parks Program,” $10,000: supports the volunteer program efforts in recruitment and programming. “Environmental Education Programming,” $5,000: ranger program materials for watershed education. Heritage Corridor Annual Report, Revolutions Newsletter and Web Pages, $55,000 “Blackstone Valley Bikeway Brochure,” $2,000. Blackstone Valley Tourism Council, Blackstone Valley, “Calendar of Events,” $18,000. Special Project Reports,” $10,000. “National Park Service Map and Brochure,” $1,000. “Walking Tour Brochures,” $3,000: printing of Corridor interpretive brochures. 2006 Heritage Corridor Sustainability Report, $52,000: Commission to undertake study to evaluate the Corridor’s progress to date, define compelling reasons for the Commission to continue in the future and assess management framework. Hot Spot Planning to Communities, $25,000: funding reserved for communities or organizations that have immediate threats to significant resources or opportunities that require taking immediate action.