As far as the two Blackstone parks have come in the last decade, with dramatic physical upgrades and program expansions in both, more needs to be done to keep their place as destination parks. Right now Blackstone Parks Conservancy (BPC) volunteers are figuring out ways to involve more city residents in their care and in the educational programs so vital to their future.
Astonishingly, many people still do not know that the parks are as clean and healthy as they are thanks to relatively small numbers of Conservancy volunteers working closely with the Department of Providence Parks and Recreation. Some don’t even know that the Blackstone Park Conservation District overlooking the Seekonk River belongs to them. Moreover, most people have little idea of the mounting challenges created by use and climate change, not to mention the program opportunities foregone for lack of volunteers to help run them.
In the coming months we at the Conservancy will try to expand a relatively small core of loyal supporters by reaching more of the thousands of people who benefit from these historic parks without realizing what a difference even a little bit of help could make.
In the meantime, while you are thinking about how you can participate, please continue to enjoy our late-summer programs: the Trolley Shelter concerts expertly managed by Gale Aronson that have again drawn hundreds to each performance; and the many enjoyable educational events organized by the tiny BPC Education Committee (see Events below). Not to mention walking and running on the Boulevard path and Park trails above the Seekonk River. If we succeed in expanding our base as we hope to, the next years will be the best ever.
Jane Peterson
