Projo Running Blog

Arcadia Management Area trail maintenance
What: Join the Appalachian Mountain Club for a trail maintenance project on the Breakheart Trail in Arcadia Management Area. Install log steps on ascending and descending portions of the trail to stabilize the trail and prevent further erosion.

Where: Arcadia Management Area. Call Chris Shafer for details.

When: 9 am – 2 pm. Rain date: June 4th.

Who: Appalachian Mountain Club, Chris Shafer, Henry Cruciani, Jennie Crooks; 222-2797, ext. 7511; christopher.shafer@dem.ri.gov.

What to bring: Wear clothing suitable for trail work and wear hiking boots or equivalent. Bug spray recommended. Bring water and lunch.

Aquidneck Island West Side hike and bike path cleanup
What: Join members of the Aquidneck Island Smart Growth Ambassador Program for a fun-filled exploration and spruce-up along the island's western coast—the future site of a hike and bike path stretching through Newport, Middletown, and Portsmouth, with the potential for connection to Tiverton and beyond.

Where: TBA (call Sue, below)

When: TBA

Who: Sponsored by Rhode Island Sea Grant/URI Coastal Resources Center, contact Sue Kennedy at (401) 874-6107 or skennedy@gso.uri.edu.

Barrington Land Conservation Trust
What: Open house at Lombardi Property and lot 216, just south on the East Bay Bike Path both newly acquired land trust properties. Land trust members will have cider and donuts for guests. A brief celebration will be held at 10:00 a.m. To acknowledge this new donation of land to the Barrington Land Trust.

Where: On the East Bay Bike Path, 100' north of South Lake Drive. Best to park at the YMCA on West Street and walk along the bike path to the property.

When: 10:00 a.m. until the cider and donuts are gone

Who: The Barrington Land Conservation Trust, contact Sandra Wyatt at 401-246-0747 or swyatt9@cox.net.

Blackstone River Valley CanalFest.
What: Bike rides and historic park tours along the Blackstone Canal.

Where: River Bend Farm and Canal Heritage State Park

When: 10:00 am – Bike tour along the Blackstone Bikeway of the Blackstone Canal from Kelly House at the Village of Ashton (in Lincoln), riding north to the Village of Manville with National Park Service Ranger Kevin Klyberg.

11:00 am – In-the-park tour along the canal from Stanley Woolen Mill to the spillway led by National Park Service Ranger Dan Wegner.

1:30 pm – South Uxbridge tour of the hidden canal from Rt. 122 to Scull Rock Lock lead by National Park Service Ranger Chuck Arning.

3:00 pm – In-the-park tour to Goat Hill Lock led by National Park Service Ranger Peter Coffin.

Other canal events all day from 10 am – 5 pm.

Who: The John H. Chafee Blackstone River Valley National Heritage Corridor NPS Rangers, including Chuck Arning, (401) 762-0440.

Blackstone River Valley CorridorKeepers
What:The Blackstone Valley CorridorKeepers will welcome spring at the Kelly House with a table full of maps and informational brochures, water, bike helmets, Reauthorization info, petitions, Bikeway information, Greenway Challenge info & registration, Canoe trail maps, too!

Where: The Kelly House in Quinnville on the Blackstone River Bikeway at the Ashton Bridge. Take Route 116 east to Route 122. Turn right for ¼ mile. Turn right on Store Hill Road and follow the drive into the public parking lot on the bike path. Cross the Blackstone River to the Kelly House.
When: 9 am—all day
Who: The CorridorKeepers, Julia Riendeau, 1-800-739-0811
What to bring: Children to be fitted with helmets.

Coventry Greenway walk and talk (or cycle)
What: Walk or cycle on your own and meet with Coventry Parks and Recreation Department staff to discuss the future of the Coventry Greenway and its construction timetable. Maps, brochures, refreshments, and souvenirs will be provided.

Where: Coventry Greenway Station Street Kiosk. 95 North to exit 7 and bear left, or 95 South to exit 7 and bear right. Go to second light and turn left on Arnold Rd. Proceed 1 mi., cross over Rte. 3 to Sandy Bottom Rd. Proceed ¼ mi. further to Rte 117 and then left heading west on Rte. 117. Turn right at the first light. This is Station St.; Greenway parking is on the left 100 yards up. Additional parking ¼ m. further west on Rte. 117 at Coventry Community Center. Access to Greenway from the rear of Paine Field.

When: Any time between 9 am and noon; Rain date: June 4th.

Who: Coventry Parks and Recreation Department, Guy LeFefebvre, 822-9107, guyll@town.coventry.ri.us

Greenway Appreciation Day
What: The Ocean State Bike Path Association will host Greenway Appreciation Day at Your Bike Shop with a table full of maps and informational brochures, apples, water, bike helmets, and simple bike repairs.

Where: Your Bike Shop, 51 Cole St., Warren. Take Route 114 north or south into Warren, turn east on Child Street to Railroad Ave. Turn right on Railroad Ave. into the public parking lot on the bike path. Your Bike Shop is on the bike path directly across from the public parking lot.

When: 9 am—all day

Who: Ocean State Bike Path Association, George Redman, 434-4258 (call before 7 pm), gredmanep@yahoo.com

What to bring: Children to be fitted with helmets.

Neutaconkanut Hill walk
What: Two-and-a-half mile nature trail walk through a woodland area. Neutaconkanut Hill is the highest point in Providence with spectacular views of the city from its summit. The northwest boundary of the land deed to Roger Williams by the Narragansett Indian chiefs Canonicus and Miantonomi in 1636.

Where: Meet at the parking lot of the Neutaconkanut Park Recreation Center, 675 Plainfield St., Providence, RI 02909

When: 11 am – about 3 pm; Rain date: Sunday, June 4th.

Who: Neutaconkanut Hill Association Inc., Elli Panichas, Robert Fitzpatrick, Michael Lusi, & the American Cadet Alliance, Inc., Military Cadets of New England; 943-1219; ellip5@cox.net.

What to bring: Walking shoes

North-South Trail hike
What: Hike a portion of the North-South trail, which runs from the Massachusetts border down the length of Rhode Island to the sea.

Where: TBA

When: TBA

Who: Ginny Leslie, 781-8117.

Oaklawn Village Community in Bloom way station
What: Table with water, snack bars, children’s bike helmets, and bike maps

Where: Oaklawn gazebo on the Cranston Bike Path. Take Route 5 (Oaklawn Ave.) in Cranston to Wilbur Ave. Turn east and pass under the bike path. The Oaklawn gazebo is on the right side of Wilbur Ave.

When: 9 am-1 pm

Who: Oaklawn Village Community in Bloom, Linda Heroux, 942-0757, ljheroux@cox.net

Prudence Island hike
What: Prudence Conservancy will host a coast-to-coast hike of Prudence Island. Enjoy the beautiful scenery and coastline of our island.

Where: Meet at Prudence Island Ferry, Church Street Wharf, Bristol, RI.

When: In time to catch the 10 am ferry from Bristol to Prudence Island; return about 4 pm.

Who: Beth Correira of Prudence Conservancy, (401) 232-3353 x 127 (best time to call: M-F 8:00 – 4:30 pm), correira@prudenceconservancy.org

How: The Prudence Ferry leaves Bristol at the base of Church Street. Parking on the dock is extremely limited and costs $5. Free parking is available at the Bristol Town Hall, located at 10 Court Street. (For MapQuest directions enter destination as 1 Church Street, Bristol, RI 02809)

What to bring: Round trip ferry ticket, bag lunch, water, and warm jacket if it is cool. Ticks are abundant: best measures will be to utilize a combination of long, light-colored pants, with pant cuffs tucked into socks, and bug repellant (with DEET). We will have extra repellant available.

South County bike ride
What: Bike ride on William C. O’Neill (“South County”) Bike Path

Where: Starting at Kingston train station off Rte. 138 in Kingston. Will go to Wakefield and back.

When: TBA (call Bob, below).

Who: Friends of William C. O’Neill Bike Path, Bob Votava, 783-8886 bobvotava@mac.com

South County bikepath stroll
What: Walk for physically disabled and senior citizens on William C. O’Neill (“South County”) Bike Path

Where: Walk starts at the end of the bike path in Wakefield across from Chellos restaurant on Route 108 (Kingstown Rd.)

When: 11 am

Who: Friends of William C. O’Neill Bike Path, Bob Votava, 783-8886, bobvotava@mac.com

Three state hike to converge at Three State Marker
What: Three groups starting at separate locations will converge at the Three State Marker (see photo) for bag lunch. Approximately 10 miles round trip each.

Where: Starting places to be announced. Massachusetts will be Douglas State Forest; Rhode Island will be Buck Hill Land Management area.

When: 10 am – 12 pm (unless round trip). Rain date: June 4.

Who: Thompson Together Trails Committee, Charlie Obert, 996-6875, cindypobert@charter.net

What to bring: Lunch, hiking boots (terrain is hilly and rocky).

Proposed Newport-to-Tiverton trail
What: Three-and-a-half mile walk along the railroad tracks to take in the view and the potential development of using this right-of–way for a pedestrian / bike path in Tiverton as part of the proposed Newport-Tiverton path. The proposed path could be linked to the East Bay Bicycle Path.

Where: Start from Boat House Restaurant (Schooner Drive). From Portsmouth: cross the Sakonnet River Bridge, exit at Main Road (first exit) bear left, through the construction site (rebuilding the overpass) on to Main Road. Heading north to Schooner Drive (A new road for Starwood Condos) turn left (This is across from Sousa Rd.) Go to the bottom of this road to the Boat House Restaurant, on the waterfront. Park in the big lot by the tracks. From Rte. 24 in Tiverton (heading south) exit Main Rd., which is before getting on the Sakonnet River Bridge. Bearing right onto Main Road, follow the directions above.

When: 10 am-noon. (Rain date June 10th).

Who: Peter M. Moniz or Raymond Joubert, 625-5328 (evenings, or leave message), pmoniz@prodigy.net.

West Warwick Greenwalk and Celebration
What: Greenway Celebration and Horticultural Tour. Community gathering to celebrate the recreational benefits of the West Bay Bike Path. Horticultural Tour of the West Warwick JAYCEES Corridor and Arboretum, and State Senator Donald Roch Riverwalk (1.3 mi. along the confluence of the Pawtuxet River).

Where: Meet at the Red Caboose with West Warwick Friends of the Greenway at the corner of Providence and Hay Streets (Routes 115W and 33).

When: 10 am – 2 pm

Who: Friends of the West Warwick Greenway (Dave Perry) and West Warwick Jaycees of Kent County, Ron Holloway and Dave Legault, 828-9191, wwjayceeskc@aol.com.

Westerly’s Riverwood Preserve
What: Walk into Westerly Land Trust’s Riverwood Preserve and, depending on the number of participants, walk as one group or sub-divide into groups to walk the trails network in Riverwood. A bit more than 3 miles.

Where: Meet at the intersection of Old Hopkinton Road and Boy Scout Drive in Westerly, a few yards from the intersection of Old Hopkinton Road and Route 3, approximately two-tenths of a mile south of the Route 3 bridge leading from Hopkinton into Westerly. It is in close proximity to Redstone Tire, Chester House, and Kingdom Hall, all located on Route 3 near Old Hopkinton Road.

When: 9 am – all day. (Rain date: June 4th.)

Who: Westerly Land Trust, R.C. Holliday, 596-8602, Dick@RCHolliday.com.

What to bring: Dress for the weather and have tick and sun protection.

Wood River Source-to-Sea Paddle
What: Join the Wood-Pawcatuck Watershed Association (WPWA) on what they claim to be “the best river trail in Rhode Island”—along the upper Wood River. This very scenic section is the first leg of a month-long exploration of the Wood and Pawcatuck Rivers. There are some challenging areas on this reach: numerous curves, blowdowns, and class 1 rapids. Boaters should have some river paddling experience. About 7 miles, one portage. A WPWA naturalist will lead the trip, giving commentary before and after. Bag lunch at the WPWA campus. WPWA volunteers will provide shuttle service. Personal flotation devices required.

Where: Put-in at Rte. 165 Bridge in the Arcadia Management Area. From 95 North or South, take Exit 5A, Rte. 102 East towards Rte. 3. Take a right onto Rte. 3 South and follow for approximately 1 ½ miles to Rte. 165. Take a right onto Rte. 165 West and follow for approximately 3 ½ miles. There will be a sign on the left hand side of road after the bridge over the Wood River for the Arcadia check station. We will meet in the parking lot with the Quonset hut building.

Take out: Wyoming Damon Bridge Street, Hope Valley.

When: 9 am to about 3 pm.

Who: Wood Pawcatuck Watershed Association, Denise Poyer, 539-9017, denise.poyer@wpwa.org

Donation: $10, to benefit WPWA programs.

What to bring: Boat, paddle, personal flotation device, water, and lunch. A limited number of kayaks are available to rent for $10 more.

Connect the Greenways Ride
What: Experienced cyclists will ride over 80 challenging miles along all seven greenways in Rhode Island over the rural farmland roads and congested city streets that link them. Starting on the South County Bike Path in Wakefield and ending at Colt State Park in Bristol, the route will take riders over the South County Bike Path, Coventry Greenway, Washington Secondary Bike Path, Woonasquatucket River Greenway, Blackstone River Bikeway, Ten Mile River Greenway, and East Bay Bike Path.

Why: The ride will highlight just how far Rhode Island has come to complete a network of connected greenways but how much more needs to be done to make the rest of the roads in our state safe for bicycles.

Who: Interested cyclists are invited to join Narragansett Bay Wheelman, John Rohland, on this adventure. For logistical details, contact John via email at john.r@verizon.net or by phone at 401-258-8828. The Deadline to sign up is May 31.

What to bring: bike in good condition, bike helmet, basic repair tools, water and energy food.