2006 Thursday Night Walkabouts

The Park Rangers and volunteers of the John H. Chafee Blackstone River Valley National Heritage Corridor will once again be offering their Thursday Night Walkabouts this summer.  Each week you will have a chance to explore a new community or head down an unknown trail and discover some of the people and places that make the Blackstone Valley such a fascinating place. 

According to Ranger Chuck Arning, “the Walkabout series is a great opportunity for us as Rangers to share some of the tales of the Blackstone River Valley.  People who join us each week really get a sense about the diversity of the region.  While the beginning of the American Industrial Revolution and the transformation from Farm to Factory is our core theme, there so many branches from that story that we can discuss.  From canals and transportation, to the Underground Railroad and even our colonial past, the breadth of the Heritage Corridor gives us a wide range of latitude for topics.”

This year will feature a number of new tours that are being created by some of the Heritage Corridor Rangers and volunteers as well as some old favorites

All Walkabouts are free to the public and start at 6:30 PM.  For more information about the Walkabouts, please contact the Heritage Corridor at (401) 762-0440.

July 6
Kelly House Transportation Museum, Blackstone River Bikeway Lincoln, RI.  Tour the Kelly House with a RI DEM Ranger to discover the role that evolution of transportation played in the expansion of the Industrial Revolution.  Then take a few minutes to stroll along the banks of the Blackstone Canal.

July 13
Daniels Farm, 286 Mendon Street, Blackstone, MA.  The Daniels Farm is a local treasure preserving over two centuries of farming activity.  Join us to learn more about the preservation of this historic agricultural landscape.

July 20
South Grafton: Meet at the Fisherville Mill Site, Main Street, Grafton, MA.  In 1999, a fire obliterated the Fisherville Mill.  Join us to see how this site is being redeveloped, and discover the historic artifacts uncovered during recent archeological research.

July 27
Slater Mill: 67 Roosevelt Avenue, Pawtucket, RI.  The Slater Mill in Pawtucket was the Birthplace of the American Industrial Revolution.  Come visit to see what is new at the mill, and learn a bit about what life was like two centuries ago.

Aug. 3
Lincoln Woods:  Most people see Lincoln Woods as a place for recreation, but the park houses a vibrant variety of plants and wildflowers.  Join a NPS volunteer to learn more.

Aug. 10
Harris Pond and Social Village: Meet at Menard Field, Privilege Street, Woonsocket, RI
In August 1955, the rains of Hurricane Diane breached open the dam at Harris Pond, sending torrents of water through Woonsocket.  Learn more about this event, and tour Social Village to hear about its past and its rebuilding after the flood.

Aug. 17
East Douglas, MA:  Meet at Jenckes Store Museum, 283 Main St. (Rt. 16) East Douglas has rich heritage that highlights the farm to factory transformation that took place here in the Blackstone Valley. 
Aug. 24 Blackstone Canal: Meet at St. John’s Church, Temple Street, Worcester, MA
The opening of the Blackstone Canal in 1828 allowed Worcester to grow into an industrial powerhouse. Join a NPS Ranger to learn about this story and the current efforts to restore the Canal in Worcester today,

Aug. 31
Leicester Common: Meet at Leicester Town Hall, Main Street, Leicester, MA.  Leicester is home to a quintessential New England Common.  Discover some of Leicester connections to the rest of the Blackstone Valley, like Pliny Earl who helped Samuel Slater get America’s first successful textile mill working.

The Blackstone Valley Paddle Club:

The Blackstone Valley Paddle Club is offering a series of paddling programs across the Blackstone Valley.  For more information about the club and their schedule, please visit: http://www.rickaflatwater.org/bvpaddlers.htm.

2006 Blackstone River Valley Events

Blackstone River Valley Greenway Challenge - September 30

The Sixth Annual Greenway Challenge, a triathlon with a twist, will be held on Saturday, September 30, 2006. The Challenge features relay teams of cyclists, paddlers and runners, criss-crossing the Blackstone Valley.

For more information, click here.

Trail / Greenway Vision Report

The John H. Chafee Blackstone River Valley National Heritage Corridor recently completed the “Blackstone Valley Trail & Greenway Vision Report”. The report outlines a vision for trail and greenway development for years to come. This report should help municipalities and state agencies prioritize their planning, development and land acquisition strategies in an efficient and cost effective manner.

This report, completed in cooperation with the states of Rhode Island and Massachusetts, along with the twenty four municipalities within the Blackstone Valley, is now available in pdf format.

Complete Report
(PDF: 5,380KB / 54 pages)

Executive Summary
(PDF: 89KB / 2 pages)

Vision Maps

Map 1
(Leicester, Worcester, Millbury)
(PDF: 404KB / 1 page)

Map 2
(Grafton, Upton, Hopedale)
(PDF: 309KB / 1 page)

Map 3
(Sutton, Northbridge, Douglas, Uxbridge)
(PDF: 404KB / 1 page)

Map 4
(Uxbridge, Hopedale, Millville, Blackstone, Mendon)
(PDF: 313KB / 1 page)

Map 5
(Burrillville, Glocester, Smithfield, North Smithfield)
(PDF: 560KB / 1 page)

Map 6
(Woonsocket, Cumberland, Lincoln, Central Falls, Pawtucket)
(PDF: 5073KB / 1 page)

For more information contact:

Mark C. Jewell, Outdoor Recreation Planner
John H. Chafee Blackstone River Valley National Heritage Corridor
(401) 762-0250
mark_jewell@nps.gov

Download Adobe Acrobat Reader software for free in order to read and print the PDF file on this page.