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October 14, 2011

Blackstone National Historic Park Bills Filed

Members of both houses of Congress have filed bills that would establish a national historic park in the Blackstone Valley from Providence up into Worcester County.

Under a recent recommendation from the National Parks Service, the John H. Chafee Blackstone River Valley National Historic Park would contain a chain of historic sites that are a part of a 25-year-old national heritage corridor also named after Chafee, a former Rhode Island governor and U.S. senator.

Some Massachusetts business people and officials hope Congress will include more sites in the park than the Parks Service has recommended. For example, it's not yet clear if any Worcester sites will be included in the park.

The park would receive $3.5 million in federal funding each year, federal officials have said, though the funding decision will be up to Congress. That's approximately three times the federal funding the corridor has received each year.

Massachusetts politicians supporting the legislation include Rep. James McGovern, D-Worcester; Rep. Richard Neal, D-Springfield; and U.S. Senators John Kerry and Scott Brown.

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