Cultural Resources: Proposals by Others

Currently, Massachusetts has two American Heritage Rivers and there are plans to designate additional heritage rivers. They are the Connecticut River and the Blackstone River. The Connecticut River Valley contains some of the most beautiful and scenic areas in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. The Blackstone River, which originates in Worcester and ends in Providence, Rhode Island, was a source of power used to run industrial mills. This historic region is the birthplace of the American Industrial Revolution. There are more than 5,000 historic buildings in the region, which are listed in the National Register of Historic Places. The flowing rivers, lakes and ponds of the state are protected by the Massachusetts River Protection Act of 1996. Earlier, Massachusetts's legislature passed the Scenic and Recreational Rivers Act in 1971. Under this law, forty-six rivers in the state are given priority for protection and recreational development. The National Park Service also designated the Westfield, Assabet and Sudbery Rivers as National Wild and Scenic Rivers. There are currently two expansion proposals in the works: 1.) Expand the Quinebaug-Shetucket National Heritage Corridor and 2.) Establish a new Heritage district encompassing the towns around the Quinebaug and Ware River Valleys. This heritage district is part of a plan to expand the National Park Service River Corridor network in Massachusetts. These proposals are both supported by U.S. Representative Richard E. Neal, D-Springfield and State Environmental Affairs Secretary, Robert A. Durand (Murphy1999). The new legislation was drafted by Michael J. Coughlin Jr., legislative liaison for the Tri-Community Chamber of Commerce early in March 1999, and the bill was sponsored by state Senator Stephen M. Brewer. This plan would help promote tourism in the towns of Barre, Brimfield, Brooksfield, East Brookefield, Hardwick, Ludlow, Monson, New Braintree, Palmer, Ware, Warren, West Brookefield and most likely Belchertown. If the bill passes, the National Park Service Rivers and Trails will immediately provide technical assistance to the towns seeking to support tourism, recreation and preservation efforts. According to Coughlin, in the future these towns could seek federal funds to implement the plans such as marketing the Quabbin Reservoir as a major tourist stop as well as rail trail through the communities.

Map Proposals by Others

Proposals by Study Results