Change Expected For The Heritage Corridor

Operated as a division of the National Park Service for 25 years, the at One Depot Square in Woonsocket works to to protect the sites and resources of the Blackstone Valley, but the site, or at least the way it is run, may see some big changes over the upcoming year.

Congress established the corridor in 1986 in recognition of the area's national significance as the birthplace of the American Industrial Revolution. The corridor encompasses 24 communities, around 400,000 acres of land and over 500,000 people, extending north to Worcester, Massachusetts and south to Providence, Rhode Island, with the Blackstone River as a centerpiece and focal point. 

Currently, the Heritage Corridor does not own or manage any of the land within its boundaries and instead works with Federal, State and local agencies, along with many non-profit and private organizations to protect the Blackstone Valley's resources. The largest of the commission's many current projects is the Campaign for a Fishable/Swimmable Blackstone River by 2015.

As part of a five-year extension of the group's work in 2006, Congress ordered a study to be done on the region to explore the possibility for a permanent National Park.

What that means for Woonsocket, and the current headquarters of the commission, remains to be seen. While the study could result in creation of a permanent National Park in the Blackstone Valley, it also will likely bring changes for the city office.

Asked about the possibility of the corridor being moved out of Woonsocket, Executive Director Jan Reitsma replied "We're hoping that won't happen."

Reitsma and others at the Depot Square office, once a stop for , are anxiously awaiting the final results of the study. A draft released last year identified five possible future management options for the Heritage Corridor. Possibilities include moving the offices to the former Slater Mill in Pawtucket.  

"It's been narrowed down to three choices," said Reitsma. In addition to the Slater Mill option, the Special Resource Study group is considering a "no action alternative" which would keep operations from the Woonsocket office essentially the same. A third, currently preferred option would involve expanding the region to include Whitensville and Hopedale in Massachusetts.

"That same preferred option would include a partnership with regional offices," said Reitsma, and the current commission could be included as one of many sites to continue to the corridor's work. 

Once the final results of the study are released, there is a period for public commentary. Congress is then expected to introduce legislation for creation of an official National Park in the Blackstone Valley.

"We've been telling people who really care about this and who know what we've been able to accomplish to let their legislators know," that a National Park should be created, Reitsma said.

"We're making efforts to let our federal delegates know the importance of it," said Woonsocket Mayor Leo Fontaine.

Assuming the legislation is introduced, it will likely take time to be enacted. Reitsma is hopeful that the commission will be allowed to operate in the interim and not need to start from scratch.

The federal authorization to operate the facility currently expires in October of 2011.

To learn more about the Blackstone River National Heritage Corridor visit their website at blackstonevalleycorridor.org.