Zap the Blackstone Movement to Mark 50th Anniversary - August 1, 2022
A 50th-anniversary Zap the Blackstone cleanup is scheduled for Saturday, August 27th. Join us in supporting Keep Blackstone Valley Beautiful on the anniversary of Blackstone Valley's Operation Zap.
In September 1972, ten thousand volunteers lined the banks of the Blackstone River. They removed tons of trash, appliances, furniture, cars, and a school bus from its banks. It became the largest one-day regional environmental clean-up in American history.
Today, although many challenges still remain in the effort to “Bring Back the Blackstone,” the waterway is much cleaner than it was half a century ago. It is also a focal point for many of the activities taking place in the Blackstone River Valley National Heritage Corridor.
Bonnie Combs, Molly Cardoza, and others in the Corridor office are understandably proud of all of the happenings that are calling overdue attention to the region’s prized national park. Recently, for instance, the Corridor issued a call for help in growing its “pollinator gardens,” asking, “do you have a green thumb? Want to volunteer for gardening projects?” Individuals interested in helping out in this capacity should email Ms. Cardoza at mcardoza@blackstoneheritagecorridor.org.
Re-enactment of Zap clean-up scheduled
In celebrating and recognizing that effort 50 years ago, our SEA Club is volunteering and hoping to make an even bigger impact this year. So join them on Saturday, August 27th, for Project Zap and volunteer to clean up part of the Blackstone River Watershed. Events will be happening all day watershed-wide from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
To celebrate the success of the Blackstone River Watershed Project clean-up, Zap 50 will hold a celebratory event on September 10th at Old Slater Mill in Pawtucket.
To learn more and get involved, visit https://www.zaptheblackstone.com/.
