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Heritage State Park receives grant money
November 20, 2006, Boston...State Representative Jennifer Callahan (D-Sutton) and State Senator Richard T. Moore (D-Uxbridge) are pleased to jointly announce that the Blackstone River & Canal Heritage State Park in Uxbridge will be receiving grant money totaling $165,440. The funds have been awarded through a competitive process by the State Office of Public Private Partnerships (OPPP)’s FY 2007 Matching Funds Program. This program is administered via the Executive Office of Environmental Affairs, in which state funds are matched with private/non-state capital funds for improvements to the Commonwealth’s parks, open spaces and facilities. The Heritage State Park was selected as one of only 32 projects statewide to receive funding for two important projects; the repair of three sets of water control gates and new maple sugaring equipment. “These funds come at a critical time following last year’s devastating October floods. Repairing the three historic water control gates at the Blackstone River & Canal Heritage State Park is essential for better management and protection of the watershed area well as for the long-term preservation of the Park”, said Callahan. She added, “This is a welcome follow-up to the $500,000 in emergency repair funding that the Senator and I helped secure for the nearby Rice City Pond Dam repairs earlier this year. These funds will also ensure that the maple sugaring program will continue on its path of ‘sweet success’.” “I am especially pleased that we were able to respond to pressing needs of the Blackstone River & Canal Heritage State Park for their water control gate repair project and maple sugaring equipment,” said Moore. “Repairing, maintaining and improving our parks are an important government responsibility. These funds are vital to the public safety and economic vitality of the local communities.” This year, $897,500 in OPPP capital dollars have been matched with philanthropic individuals and institutional partners who are interested in partnering in the re-investment of the Commonwealth’s open spaces. The Heritage Park received the largest funding of all the projects awarded across the Commonwealth. Callahan and Moore offer their sincere gratitude to the strong local partnerships of Valerie and William Paul (maple sugaring program advocates) and the Blackstone River Valley National Heritage Corridor Commission for making these projects a priority for the region. In the past three years, the Office of Public Private Partnerships has raised, matched, and re-invested $6.6 Million in conservation and recreation facilities across the commonwealth. The Riverbend Farm visitor’s area and park was able to receive funding because of their strong focus on stewardship for the historic, cultural, recreational, and natural resources of the area. |
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