On June 11, the Town of Blackstone was featured in a walking tour led by the American Society of Landscape Architects and the Congress for the New Urbanism. (Photo Courtesy Town of Blackstone)
BLACKSTONE — Town Administrator Chad Lovett is pleased to announce that the Town of Blackstone was recently featured in a walking tour led by the American Society of Landscape Architects and the Congress for the New Urbanism.
The June 11 walk, titled “A Stately Connection: A Walking Journey through History and Mobility,” offered a unique blend of historic preservation, modern transportation, and community storytelling merged within a sold-out walking tour.
The 6-mile walking tour along the Blackstone River Greenway started in Millville and extended to Blackstone. The half-day experience guided attendees through the evolution of the Blackstone Valley’s transportation landscape — from 19th-century canals and railroads to today’s shared-use greenways and highlighted the Blackstone River Greenway as the second official cross-state shared-use path connecting Massachusetts and Rhode Island.
“This Greenway project has been a great addition to the Town of Blackstone,” said Town Administrator Lovett.
Central to the experience was the majestic seven-span stone arch viaduct, a 19th-century engineering marvel built by the Norfolk County Railroad. Though rail service ceased over 50 years ago, the viaduct continues to fulfill its original purpose — linking people and places — as part of this modern rail-to-trail network, now part of the Blackstone River Greenway.
This rail-to-trail conversion extends the viaduct’s legacy, supporting regional mobility and community connections in a new way, while honoring the transportation history that shaped the Blackstone Valley.
“Attendees traveled from Providence to Millville by bus while enjoying an interpretive talk from Val Stegman, retired National Park Service ranger, and Bob Billington, President of the Blackstone Valley Tourism Council,” Selectwoman Bulso said. “Their stories brought to life the canal era, the region’s industrial rise, and the role of intermodal transportation in shaping New England.”
Beginning at the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) parking lot in Millville, the group visited the Millville Lock, where Stegman discussed the historical workings of the Blackstone Canal. From there, they moved to the Triad Bridge, learning about the convergence of three major railroads that once met in this historic corridor.
Peter Sutton, Bicycle and Pedestrian Coordinator at the Massachusetts Department of Transportation (DOT), shared the Commonwealth’s ongoing investments in non-motorized infrastructure and the inter-agency collaboration behind this cross-state project.
At the Union Station site and Brick Block, Selectwoman Bulso, who is also an Architectural Historian, guided participants through the station’s pivotal role in the 19th-Century transportation revolution. Blackstone was once a hub connecting trains from New York, Connecticut, Rhode Island, Worcester, and Boston — an epicenter of industrial mobility.
“Crossing the towering viaduct on foot, attendees were struck by the breathtaking views and the craftsmanship of this enduring structure,” Selectwoman Bulso said.
Participants praised the moment as a highlight of the trip, with interpretive remarks from Bulso, Stegman, and Sutton enhancing the experience.
The tour concluded at the ruins of the Mammoth Mill on Mill Street, where a grassroots effort is transforming the site into a pocket park that honors the industrial past while inviting community use.
“Notably, none of the participants hailed from Massachusetts — this enthusiastic group of planners, engineers, and transportation professionals traveled from across the United States to witness firsthand how historic infrastructure is being reimagined for sustainable, active mobility,” said Selectwoman Bulso. “This tour showcased how partnerships between Rhode Island and Massachusetts, guided by a shared vision and community leadership, can overcome environmental and regulatory hurdles to create vibrant, connected spaces for all.”
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The 6-mile walking tour along the Blackstone River Greenway started in downtown Woonsocket, Rhode Island, and extended to Blackstone, guiding attendees through the evolution of the Blackstone Valley’s transportation landscape. (Photo Courtesy Town of Blackstone)
The 6-mile walking tour along the Blackstone River Greenway started in downtown Woonsocket, Rhode Island, and extended to Blackstone, guiding attendees through the evolution of the Blackstone Valley’s transportation landscape. (Photo Courtesy Town of Blackstone)
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