The Blackstone River Valley National Heritage Corridor’s visitors centers in Worcester and Whitinsville are closed because of the coronavirus pandemic. But park leaders and partners are ensuring there’s still available activities, particularly for those with mobility issues.
The corridor has received an electric-assisted wheelchair bicycle through a grant from the Network of the National Library of Medicine, an arm of the National Institutes of Health. The bike is made by the Dutch company Van Raam and will be managed through a partnership with All Out Adventures of Northampton.
The funding, through the national organization’s Opening Doors to the Outdoors program, totaled $9,960. The bike seats two, with one person sitting and the other pedaling.
The Blackstone River Valley National Heritage Corridor has previously partnered with All Out Adventures on adaptive recreation programs, including kayaking. With nearly all events canceled this year because of the pandemic, the corridor instead worked with the Network of the National Library of Medicine to use the grant funds in other ways.
