Rebirth and Regeneration in the Blackstone River Valley

A methodology used to enhance a community’s livability and not loose its soul

Guest Post: 

Robert Billington, Ed. D. President
Blackstone Valley Tourism Council Inc
Sustainable Tourism Planning and Development Laboratory

Efforts to bring back the Blackstone River Valley are apparent across its landscape. The Valley that explored and perfected renewable energy and understood the principles of sustainability eventually lost its environmental focus while it brought America to world leader status. 

With the success of industrialization in the Blackstone River Valley in textiles, machinery, jewelry and other forms of manufacturing, the Valley turned away from its "green" form of energy and allowed the Blackstone River to become a sewer and “catch all” for chemicals, dyes, metals, sewerage and eventually household goods, automobiles, really anything that was not wanted went into or on its banks.  This type of abuse continued for decades.  The Blackstone Valley's reputation of hosting the first polluted river and the first river to die in this hemisphere was earned by design, not chance. 

Today, the Blackstone River tells a story of rebirth.  A new way of looking at this scarred-up landscape has been underway since 1972 when Project ZAP brought 10,000 residents to the river to “take it back”.

The Blackstone Valley is now being recognized internationally for its work in sustainable tourism development.  In fact the Blackstone Valley is a contender with the World Travel and Tourism Council’s Tourism for Tomorrow award in sustainable tourism practices. 

A program of thoughtful whole place tourism development, which began in the early 1980’s, is taking hold in every Blackstone Valley Community.  Some overarching achievements for the Valley are a cleaner, fishable Blackstone River, physical access to the river in Lincoln, Cumberland, Central Falls, Pawtucket, Woonsocket and North Smithfield.  An 18-mile Blackstone River State Park, hosting the Blackstone River Bikeway and the Blackstone Canal from Pawtucket to North Smithfield, is nearing completion.  We now have the Blackstone River Valley National Heritage Corridor with National Park Service Rangers providing interpretation of the Valley's place in American history.  The Blackstone Valley Tourism Council is nearing its 25th year of sustainable, place-making Geotourism programs in the Blackstone Valley.     

In 1982, efforts to organize some of the Blackstone Valley's remaining factories to offer their products direct to the customer from the factory floor, began.  Fourteen factories, between Pawtucket and Woonsocket, gathered together to fight a deepening recession and seek a new market for their products.  The market they were seeking was the tourist seeking bargains purchasing direct from the factory.

Visitors came to the Blackstone Valley to purchase sweaters, gifts, curtains, cloth and even duck decoys all at factory prices.  The factory’s work to bring the traveling public to the Blackstone Valley worked so well that by April of 1985, the Blackstone Valley Tourism Council was formed to broaden their promotional program to include all Valley activities and attractions.  There were only a few activities open for the visiting public at that time. 

Once the Blackstone Valley communities were given the opportunity to welcome visitors they also considered how tourism could help sustain and develop what was important to their community.  So the beat began and it continues today.  So many historic, cultural, artistic and recreational amenities are available now to the residents to enjoy and are now open to the public to “tell their stories” to visitors.

Let's look at what is happening in each community in the Blackstone Valley. 

In Pawtucket, along with the Slater Mill Historic Site, there is the Blackstone Valley Visitor Center that now serves as the centerpiece of the downtown revitalization effort.  Over 150 artist studios and galleries have opened, Slater Park has been revitalized and the Ten Mile River Bike path is complete.  The Pawtucket Arts Festival, Rhode Island Chinese Dragon Boat Races and Taiwan Day Festival, Hope Artiste Village, Rivers Day, the Columbian Independence Day Celebration, the Gamm Theater, a restored Looff Carousel, an expanded Pawtucket Red Sox Stadium, Christmas at the Park and Winter Wonderland at Slater Memorial Park, Mixed Magic Theater and the Pawtucket Arts Exchange are all new additions. 

In Central Falls, the Blackstone River Landing, the Samuel Slater, British Canal Boat and the 49-passenger Blackstone Valley Explorer as well the Central Falls Antique Car Show, and Pierce Park and River Island Park along the Blackstone River are well utilized by residents and the touring public.  Now Broad Street is the focus of a terrific regeneration effort to enhance its future and health of this main thoroughfare though Cumberland, Central Falls and Pawtucket.

In Cumberland, the Valley Falls Heritage Park, Diamond Hill Vineyard, the Blackstone River Theater, the William Blackstone Park, the New Dawn Earth Center, the Celtic Festival, Blackstone Valley Outfitters, the Polar Express and the Blackstone Valley Scenic Railway Excursions through the Blackstone Valley and Cumberlandfest draw thousands to the Valley.

     

In Lincoln, the Hearthside Mansion, the Hannaway Blacksmith Shop, the 500-acre Chase Farm where Civil War Re-enactments take place, the Moffett Mill, the Kelly House Museum, the Valentine Whitman House, the Eleazer Arnold House, the Lonsdale Marsh Restoration, the Blackstone River State Park Bikeway and Visitor Center, and the Covered Bridge at Lincoln Woods State Park add to the livability of the community.

In Glocester, the Heritage Park with hundreds of acres of open space, the Ruben Mason House/Dorr Rebellion Museum, Glocester Heritage Days, the Chepachet River Park, the Job Armstrong Store and a Main Street Plan for Chepachet are enjoyable resources for Rhode Island. 

In Burrillville, the Bridgeton School is open by the Burrillville Historical Society, the historic Spring Lake Arcade has been rebuilt and expanded.  Grace Note Farm offers a real farm-living experiences and the now visitors walk the Pascoag Riverwalk.

In North Smithfield, the Great Pumpkin Festival, Homestead Gardens, the restored 19th century John Slater Mill, the historic Forestdale schoolhouse and Grange Hall offering the stories of North Smithfield.

In Smithfield, the 18^th century Smith-Appleby House, the Rhode Island Audubon Society headquarters and maintains the Powder Mill Refuges Wildlife area with many hiking trails.  Bryant University is home to the Chinese New Year celebration in Rhode Island.

In Woonsocket, the Museum of Work and Culture, the elegant Stadium Theater, the French Farmers Market, the Woonsocket River Landing, St. Ann's Arts and Cultural Center, the American French Genealogical Society, the Pillsbury House Bed and Breakfast and the home of the Blackstone Valley National Heritage Corridor Commission as well as the annual Autumnfest celebration provide a context for telling the Blackstone’s story.

The Blackstone Valley Tourism Council has created the Sustainable Tourism Planning and Development Laboratory to bring this work to a world stage.  The lessons learned of how a community can come from the first polluted river in the hemisphere to one of planting the seeds for a sustainable community using tourism based on the cultural, environmental and historical resources are taught, shared and explored in Rhode Island's Blackstone River Valley.

So much completed so much more to do.

Pawtucket segment of Blackstone River Bikeway potentially faces major obstacle

[Editor Note:  After some feedback from City Clerk, we learned the Council did not take an official vote on the matter below, rather, they have "held up consideration of the request until RIDOT has a public meeting with the residents who will be affected by the loss of parking."]

Last week RIDOT, RIDEM, City officials and local business leaders met to discuss the next phase of the Blackstone Valley Bike Path now under construction.  The project manager for the bike path stated an active contract to complete the bike path to Pawtucket Town Landing is in progress and could potentially be completed within months.

Although the path alignment has been in discussion during two different administrations, RIDOT director Michael Lewis recently sent a letter to Mayor Grebien after the City Council denied held up consideration of a parking restriction necessary to complete an active bikeway construction contract until a public is hearing is held on October 11.  According to the City Clerk, RIDOT will hold a public hearing to hear from those affected by the potential loss of parking.  The contract in jeopardy involves paving, striping and signing the bike path up to Town Landing in Pawtucket.

The irony in this situation is as follows:  (1) the community has been fighting for this bike path for more than a decade; (2) last month, City council passed a complete streets resolution which specifically supports on-street bicycle routes; and (3) the route was coordinated with City planners before RIDOT engaged in an active construction contract.

In his letter to Mayor Grebien, Lewis stated, “We have been placed in a difficult situation with these issues and the active construction contract.  The Department will not force a project onto a community that doesn’t want it, so we must have a resolution immediately.”  He offered several options and warned that if a resolution is not reached, RIDOT would have to consider an option to “eliminate the bikeway signing and striping in the City of Pawtucket, and look to suspend the paving and new signal work.”  This would be a major setback for the hundreds of stakeholders who have diligently fought for the highly desired bike path alignment over the last decade.

In a recent opinion editorial in the Providence Journal, Mayor Grebien commented, “It should be made clear, however, that substantial alteration of the already-contracted project, two years in the planning and several years in the concept stage before that, could mean no bike path or many other road-related improvements there at all. And to acknowledge the obvious, people have been riding their bicycles from neighborhood to neighborhood, and indeed city to city, in that area for many years, though in a less safe way than a well-planned bike path route would allow.”

The Pawtucket Foundation’s official position:  “The business community fully supports the creation of the Blackstone Valley Bikeway in Pawtucket.  We urge local government and elected leaders to immediately resolve any issue that could adversely impact the active construction contract of the bikeway segment in Pawtucket.”

A public hearing is scheduled on October 11, 2011 to discuss the bicycle path.

The next segment through Pawtucket is now entering the design phase.  VHB, the firm working on the design, will host a site visit with City staff to inspect various options for aligning the path through Downtown Pawtucket and into Central Falls.  Officials hope to have agreement on the alignment strategy by January 2012.

Bringing the Blackstone Valley Bikeway to its completion!

Guest Post:

Robert Billington, Ed.D, President

Blackstone Valley Tourism Council

Cyclists park in Downtown Pawtucket.

Let’s face it; Rhode Island’s bikeways bring lots of enjoyment to our residents.  From South County to the Blackstone Valley, these paths connect our neighborhoods, improve our economy and draw visitors to explore our communities.  They are safe, enjoyable and provide a stress-free place to relax and exercise. Everyone who experiences them wants to see not only more paths but improved connectivity between paths.  We have the opportunity to do this.

While there are other bike paths in the state, what makes the Blackstone River bikeway special is the industrious American story it tells. Over 30 years ago, planning began on the Blackstone River bikeway -- a bold idea for its time. Restoring dirty land along the oldest polluted river in the hemisphere, the river that launched America to super-power status, took great imagination, and guts. Ten years ago, the first few miles of the bikeway opened in Lincoln.  Now with 11 miles of the Bikeway constructed, accessibility to the Blackstone River and Canal is now easy and enjoyable for fishing, canoeing and cross-country skiing.  Our state has successfully transformed land that was once a dump to land that is transforming people and reconnecting them to nature.  

While we have made considerable progress, we are not done.  The completed section of the bikeway passes along the Blackstone River through Cumberland, Lincoln and Woonsocket.  As wonderful as the completed section is, a significant amount of work has to be done in order to connect the Blackstone Valley bikeway to both the East Bay bike path and to the Massachusetts border.  Despite the Rhode Island Department of Transportation and Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management’s work to plan and construct the bikeway, its completion is elusive.  The reason is funding.

We have worked with Rhode Island Department of Transportation officials to determine a completion date for the Bikeway and the amount of funding necessary.  As of right now, it is projected that completion could take place in seven years if we continue to work hard and as long as the $31 million needed for construction is secured.  To make the completion of the Blackstone Bikeway by 2017 a reality, residents, governmental leaders, community groups and organizations need to take responsibility to find the funds to complete the Blackstone Bikeway. 

To date, we have 11 of the less-expensive miles of the Bikeway completed. Additionally, we have $1 million of the $31 million needed to fund the more-expensive miles ahead.

We must not wait and assume that someone else will step forward and secure the funding to complete the rest of the Bikeway.  We have done this for too long.  It is time to stay focused and bring the project to full completion. While cutting through the dense riverfront of Central Falls, Pawtucket, East Providence, Providence, Woonsocket and North Smithfield is going to be difficult, the completion of the bikeway is within our grasp. We need to urge its completion to every local, state and federal official asking them to help us find the construction funds to build.  This is a call to action to get involved and continue to remind our officials to push for the completion of the Blackstone Bikeway by 2017.

Even with the State’s growing budget deficit, we must not waiver from completing the Blackstone Bikeway.  Our state has many priorities for recreational spending and we realize that the Blackstone River Bikeway is just one of them.  However, this one has been on the agenda for over three decades.  It is time that the completion is moved to the top of the list. Don’t think of the bikeway as simply being a place of recreation. With gas prices steadily increasing, it provides Rhode Islanders with a way to bike to work, shop for groceries and travel.  The Blackstone River Bikeway is quickly becoming the new Main Street in the Blackstone Valley. The economic, environmental and health benefits from using the Bikeway cannot be overstated.

Residents, businesses, federal, state, and local officials, and community groups have to work to complete the Blackstone Valley Bikeway.  It is time for the Blackstone Valley Bikeway to be completed.  2017 has to be the date!  Push for progress: Cycleblackstone.com.

Smack Down on the Blackstone

Guest Blog Post by Robert D. Billington, President

Blackstone Valley Tourism Council

Former-Chair, Blackstone River Valley National Heritage Corridor Commission

BVRI@aol.com (401) 724-2200

Art Installation at Slater Mill

Revolutions don’t happen accidentally.  There must be a catalyst: someone or something has to be so unique and so paradigm changing that it sets the normal world ajar.  One of America’s greatest revolutions took place here in the Blackstone River Valley.  In fact, the revolution that gave America its economic independence began on the banks of the Blackstone River in Pawtucket. 

This revolution changed the way Americans worked and lived, and it began our nation’s rise to super-power status.  In December of 1790 an 18 year-old ex-patriot from England, Samuel Slater, was able to reproduce on the Blackstone River what he had learned as an apprentice on the Derwent River in Belper, England.  It was this system of mills that garnered the attention of our founding fathers and launched America’s industrial revolution, transforming our nation’s economy. 

It’s not every day that a community gets a chance to tell the story of a revolution on a national scale.  We have that opportunity now.

In 1986, the US Congress established the Blackstone River Valley National Heritage Corridor to tell this fascinating American story.  A small group of Rhode Island and Massachusetts citizens were appointed to make up the Blackstone River Valley National Heritage Corridor Commission.  Their charge was to work with state and local governments to preserve the Valley’s history, culture and environmental features, create plans and partnerships, and ensure the best possible return on federal investments in the Blackstone River Valley.

 Congress directed the National Park Service to support this effort.  To date, over $25 million has been spent on preserving historic buildings, creating museums, constructing visitor centers and building permanent exhibits to tell the story to the thousands that visit the Blackstone Valley each year.  At the same time, the Commission and its many partners worked to clean up the river, create public access, promote restoration and reuse of historic structures, protect the character of historic villages and downtowns, and get construction underway of the Blackstone River Bikeway, which will connect Providence to Worcester. The work of this Commission could not be more important to the past and future viability of the Blackstone Valley.

A specialized team made up of 6 U.S. history scholars and National Park Service planning staff spent the last three years preparing a Special Resource Study to help Congress decide if this story of industrialization in America should be told with a permanent national park in the Blackstone Valley.  After substantial research, meetings with residents, community historians and public officials, it was clear that the Blackstone Valley is a place that holds unique significance as the birthplace of the American Industrial Revolution and that it should be transformed into a permanent unit of the National Park System. 

For the past 25 years, the Blackstone Valley National Heritage Corridor Commission has collaborated with a diverse range of community partners to protect the important industrial landscapes, enhance cultural resources and create a destination to tell this American story.   It is impossible to think that a region, which saw 200 years of industrialization and economic decline, could be regenerated in just 25 years.  The restorative work in the Valley has not been completed.   However, under current federal legislation, the work of the Corridor Commission could come to an end in October of this year, when its congressional authority expires.  Although our designation as a National Heritage Corridor will last in perpetuity, the federal funding and Park Service staff would no longer be available.   

Based on the Special Resource Study, new legislation is expected to be introduced this year to create a permanent national park.  We believe that this is an important next step in preserving the Valley’s history and strongly urge Congress to approve a national park in the Blackstone Valley.

The national park would include certain sites and districts in both Rhode Island and Massachusetts that the Study has identified as being of particular, national significance.  These include Slater Mill, a National Historic Landmark in Pawtucket, as well as the mill villages of Ashton and Slatersville, both listed in the National Register of Historic Places.  In addition, the Study recommends, and the legislation is likely to require, that the Park Service not only manage this Park but also forms a partnership with a Corridor-wide organization to make sure the regional efforts to protect the resources of the Valley can continue.

The National Park Service has been an important supporter of the communities between Providence and Worcester that make up the Blackstone Valley National Heritage Corridor.  As we enter this period of transition, it is clear that the work of the National Park Service is not finished.  Fortunately, we have the opportunity to make sure we can continue telling our story, and doing it better than ever. We should not let this opportunity slip away.  To use a wrestling term: It’s Smack Down time.  Our congressional delegation is already very much involved and supportive. They need to hear from you.  For further information about what you can do, or to download a copy of the Special Resource Study when it is published for public comment, visit http://www.blackstonevalleycorridor.org/, where you can also sign up to express your support.

Cutting the City's expenses won't solve long-term problems

Last night, dozens of concerned Pawtucket citizens testified at the Council's budget hearing on the Mayor's new budget.  Front and center: a passionate debate about why the City should not cut services to the library, Daggett Farm and Blackstone Valley Visitor Center.  That was the thrust of the major concerns that surfaced.  Overwhelmingly, I think the community recognized the necessity and pragmatism of the proposed budget, and some even argued the budget doesn't go far enough to reduce the size of government.  The main topic last night revolved around short term solutions to cut expenses.  Virtually no discussion broached the real challenge:  how to grow municipal revenues without increasing property taxes.

Pawtucket, like many New England and Rhode Island cities, is facing continued deficits resulting from decreased revenues and all the usual "expensive" suspects:  pension funds, personnel, school budget, overburdened municipal services, etc.

Mayor Grebien and the City Council are faced with tough decisions on where to cut.  Clearly, cutting expenses appears to be the only immediate option to avoid a receivership situation like our one-square mile neighbor.  Cutting the budget is a necessity in the short term, but it won't solve the long term problem: a lack of sustainable revenue.

Skyline of Shanghai, China.  Photo by author.

Pawtucket's prime source of revenue is commercial and residential property tax.  Given that most of the buildable land in Pawtucket is taken up, most might make a short-sited observation that the City is "built out" and can't grow any more.  I always chuckle when I hear someone say an entire city (or state) is "built-out." It is the most ridiculous thing anyone could ever say about any place of scale...just visit China before you say Pawtucket is built out.

It is impossible to build out a City.  What?  You say?  There is a finite amount of land, but an infinite amount of air space.  Go vertical!  Let's put an end to inefficient, sprawl development.   Let's incentivize urban, mixed-use development.  Let's put a higher emphasis on better building bulk-standards and quality site-planning that maximizes existing infrastructure, transit and density.  I'm not suggesting Pawtucket try to be Shanghai, but we can start with replacing a few surface parking lots in the downtown with multi-story, mixed use buildings.

The City can increase its revenue by adopting policies to better utilize the downtown, industrial parks and riverfront.  Look at the tax revenues of mill buildings that have been redeveloped.  A snapshot of before and after tax rolls show an exponential increase in tax revenue after redevelopment.  Ironically, Pawtucket's most valuable land (greatest potential) is currently some of the most underutilized land in the entire City.  There is a real opportunity to expand the property tax base by better utilizing this land.

Dozens of buildings in the downtown have empty upper floors.  There are MILLIONS of square feet of empty buildings within walking distance of a proposed commuter rail station.  The riverfront zones slated for development in the City's comp plan are virtually a blank slate waiting for the right investment opportunity.

The Pawtucket Downtown Growth Center is not just a fancy planning map.  It's a real policy strategy to grow revenue and position the City in a fiercely competitive regional market.  To succeed, the City will need to invest in the neighborhood of $10M to $20M in public infrastructure investments (just within the growth center bounds and not counting cost for commuter rail) to catalyze the full potential of private development.  Perhaps a bond on the ballot is in order?

The Pawtucket Foundation's new strategic plan is based on the policy of growing revenues in the Pawtucket Downtown Growth Center.  Each district within the growth center has a distinctive neighborhood character with unique attributes on which to base economic development objectives.  Whether it's the river, the arts, tourism or attractive transit, all of these assets are part of a larger vision to rebuild the urban core into an attractive, sustainable quality place.