Bill Introduced in U.S. Senate & the House of
Rep. to Establish New National Park Unit in Blackstone River Valley
Legislation Would Help Preserve,
Protect and Interpret Nationally Significant Resources and Promote Educational
& Recreational Experiences in RI and MA
WASHINGTON, DC – Advancing efforts to preserve,
protect, and interpret nationally significant resources throughout the John H.
Chafee Blackstone River Valley National Heritage Corridor, promote economic
development opportunities, and enhance historic and natural resources of the
Blackstone Valley, U.S. Representative David Cicilline (D-RI), along with
co-sponsors Richard E. Neal (D-MA), James McGovern (D-MA), and James Langevin (D-RI), introduced legislation to create the John H. Chafee Blackstone River Valley National Historical Park. This legislation was also introduced in the
Senate today by U.S. Senators Jack Reed (D-RI), John Kerry (D-MA), Sheldon
Whitehouse (D-RI), and Scott Brown (R-MA).
Spanning from Worcester, MA to Providence, RI, the Blackstone River
Valley is the Birthplace of the American Industrial Revolution. The Valley’s
beauty and history embodies a landscape rich in natural, historic, and cultural
treasures. If enacted, the legislation introduced today would help preserve
these icons of industry, environment, and history for generations to come.
“I am proud to introduce
legislation that will create a new national park unit within the Blackstone
River Valley, ensuring the protection and promotion of this vital historical,
environmental, and educational resource – all while helping to promote our local
economies,” said Rep. Cicilline. “The Valley embodies and unites two important
pieces of our past and our future – that of industry and environment. For
generations men, women, and children have come to this place to enjoy the
region’s natural beauty and learn of the revolution that propelled our nation’s
economy – and this legislation will help preserve these experiences for years to
come.”
"For many years, I have been an
enthusiastic and outspoken supporter of the Blackstone River Valley National
Heritage Corridor. The corridor is a special place that celebrates the region's
history, heritage and culture. It is also a magnificent natural resource that is
enjoyed by thousands of people each year. I visited Lookout Rock in Northbridge this week and strongly
support the bipartisan effort in Congress to make the corridor part of the
National Park System," said Congressman Richard E. Neal (D-MA).
“Creating a national park in the
Blackstone Valley would be a tremendous boost to our local economy,” Rep.
McGovern said. “As the birthplace of the American Industrial Revolution, the
Valley holds a special place in our history – and our future. I’m very pleased
to be a co-sponsor of this legislation.”
“The Blackstone Valley Corridor,
home to the industrial revolution, has long been a source of pride for Rhode Island, but is also now
recognized by the National Park
Service for its historical significance. I look forward to the
Corridor’s inclusion in the National Park System to preserve the historical
sites that shaped our nation and to encourage more Americans from across the
country to visit and tour Rhode Island,” said Congressman James Langevin
(D-RI).
Established by Congress in November 1986, the John H. Chafee
Blackstone River Valley National Heritage Corridor now includes all or part of
twenty-four communities extending from Worcester, MA to Providence, RI. The
Corridor contains approximately 400,000 acres of land in total. In July of this
year, the National Park Service released a Special Resource Study for the
purpose of determining whether the resources evaluated in the Heritage Corridor
meet the criteria for inclusion as a unit of the National Park System. The study
was completed following extensive input from local stakeholders, the Blackstone
River Valley National Heritage Corridor Commission, National Park Service staff,
and historians.
Drawing from the Special Resource
Study, the legislation introduced today would establish a new unit of the
National Park System to be known as the John H. Chafee Blackstone River Valley
National Historical Park. The Park would be comprised of sites and districts in
both Rhode Island and Massachusetts including the Blackstone River and its
tributaries; the Blackstone Canal; the non-contiguous nationally significant
historic districts of Old Slater Mill in Pawtucket; the villages of Slatersville (in North Smithfield) and Ashton (in Cumberland) Rhode Island; and Whitinsville and Hopedale in Massachusetts
