Blackstone River Visitor Center History

 

        

The building and bikeway connection was designed by the architectural firm of Robinson Green and Baretta (RGB) and constructed by Lusi Construction Inc. under the direction of the Department of Environmental Management. The parking area and access ramps were designed by the engineering firm of Gordon Archibald and including the bikeway connection constructed by Fleet Construction under the direction of the Department of Transportation.

The building and site were designed and constructed to meet the needs of the motoring public and the recreational public in all the following ways:

Visitor information specifically about Blackstone River State Park and Blackstone River Bikeway, Blackstone Valley tourist and traveler information and the John H. Chafee Blackstone River Valley National Heritage corridor.

I-295 recreational access to the Blackstone River Bikeway and Blackstone River State Park, Kelly House Museum, including access to large tour busses and school busses that can safely utilize the large parking area with no impact to the residential neighborhoods of Lincoln and Cumberland.

Create a starting point for learning the historical importance of the Blackstone River and the people of the Blackstone Valley, relative to the very beginnings of the industrial revolution. 

Food and beverage availability to the I-295 traveler and a food, drink, and ice cream destination for bikeway users and most importantly clean safe public restrooms for all. A long-term lease agreement was negotiated that requires the food vendor to maintain the entirety of the interior public spaces 24 hours a day.

A Rhode State Police sub-station to improve patrol capability on I-295 and support the safe use of the park and bikeway and the safe orderly use of the Visitor Center parking area.

A safe off the road area for overnight over the road turckers park their rigs, get coffee and food and sleep for the required down time mandated by state and federal laws and regulations.

Provide a RIPTA commuter bus stop that provides a safe parking area for commuter automobiles during the day and easy public transit access to the city for both the automobile and bikeway user.

Provides a workshop and maintenance center for the parks maintenance crew with easy access to the entirety of the Blackstone River Bikeway and the entirety of the States northern regional state park system.

The building’s design and the building materials utilized are consistent with the historical architecture of the region and the interior has exposed post and beam construction that is very reminiscent of the historical building styles for both early factories and the agricultural barns that preceded the industrial development of the region.

The food vendor is a Dunkin Donuts corporation with a long term lease of the building vendor site. A major responsibility of the vendor is to maintain interior public space in a clean orderly manner 24 hours a day.