A bi-state effort is planned for a watershed-wide cleanup of the Blackstone River Watershed on Saturday, April 13 from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. The Blackstone River Watershed Association (BRWA) and the Blackstone River Watershed Council/Friends of the Blackstone (BRWC/FOB) are partners with the Blackstone River Valley National Heritage Corridor (BHC) which is helping to organize the cleanup. Both watershed groups are bringing volunteers together in both Massachusetts and Rhode Island to clean and help protect the rivers, streams, ponds and lakes.

There will be some dedicated sites chosen for cleanups, but volunteers are encouraged to adopt a site and/or adopt a storm drain in their community. All three organizations are partnering on an effort to raise awareness about storm drains and how they impact water quality. Volunteers will be supplied with safety equipment and once registered, site permission and plans for removal of collected litter will be obtained.

For Massachusetts communities of the watershed, volunteers will work with the Blackstone River Watershed Association. Meet at Blackstone Heritage Corridor offices at 670 Linwood Avenue, Whitinsville, MA, for supplies and volunteer check-in. Register at CleanupBRWA.Eventbrite.com. For more information, on the Massachusetts portion of the cleanup, contact Bonnie Combs at bcombs@BlackstoneHeritageCorridor.org.

For Rhode Island communities of the watershed, volunteers will work with Blackstone River Watershed Council/Friends of the Blackstone. Volunteers will meet at either the Blackstone River Watershed Council Education Center at 100 New River Road, Manville, RI, or at Scott Pond, 19 Lower Road, Lincoln, RI. Register at CleanupBRWC.Eventbrite.com. For more information, contact Keith Hainley at dkhainley@gmail.com.

 

 Whitinsville, MA (March8, 2019) – In celebration of National Bike Month in May, Blackstone River Valley National Heritage Corridor (BHC) is partnering with All Out Adventures and the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation’s Universal Access Program to offer a series of five complimentary adaptive cycling events on the Blackstone River Bikeway/Greenway.  Three rides will depart from the new Blackstone Heritage Corridor Visitor Center at Worcester and two will depart from the Blackstone River Greenway in Blackstone, MA.  Scheduled dates include Wednesday, May 1 (Worcester); Wednesday, May 8 (Blackstone), Wednesday, May 15 (Worcester), Saturday, May 18 (Worcester), and Wednesday, May 22 (Blackstone).  Rides will be available at 11:00 a.m., 12:30 p.m. and 2:00 p.m., by advanced registration only.  To RSVP, call All Out Adventures at 413-584-2052.  All Out Adventures will spend time talking with each individual to learn about their disability to help select the proper piece of equipment ranging from single and tandem recumbent trikes, to two-wheel tandem and upright and slow style hand cycles.

This month-long event is also presented in partnership with Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation (MA DCR) and BHC’s Blackstone River Bikeway Ambassadors volunteer group.  Last spring, the Bikeway Ambassadors attended a day-long training with All Out Adventures and assisted in presenting a day of adaptive cycling along the Blackstone River Bikeway/Greenway in Blackstone last June.  More than 30 people were able to take advantage of the experience, and for many it was their first chance to ride on bicycle.

This year’s series of rides is made by possible by funding from the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation’s Universal Access Program. 

To learn more about All Out Adventures and other recreational programs it offers to people with disabilities and their family and friends in state parks and forests throughout Massachusetts, visit AllOutAdventures.org. 
To learn more about the Universal Access program, visit mass.gov/orgs/universal-access-program. 
To learn more about Blackstone Heritage Corridor and its Volunteers-In-Parks program, visit Blackstone Heritage Corridor.org.

Complimentary accessible bike rides offer new experience on the Blackstone River Bikeway/Greenway