罢丑别听, a nonprofit providing strong leadership to preserve, promote and celebrate the Blackstone Valley鈥檚 historic, natural and recreational resources since 1986, has received a $45,000 donation to its聽 from Koopman Lumber. The Whitinsville-based company鈥檚 funding will support efforts over the next three years to complete the聽Blackstone River Greenway/Bikeway, a 48-mile trail connecting Worcester and Providence.
鈥淲e are grateful for the generosity and support of Koopman Lumber, a fourth-generation family-owned business with a long tradition of supporting the communities it serves,鈥� said Blackstone Heritage Corridor Board Chair Dennis Rice. 鈥淲ith the help of the community and organizations like Koopman Lumber, we have made great strides toward completing the Greenway/Bikeway. We encourage others to join us 鈥� and let鈥檚 get it done by 鈥�31.鈥�
鈥淲e are happy to support this effort and see our communities continue to grow and thrive,鈥� said Koopman Lumber President and CEO Dirk Koopman. 鈥淭his bike path is a meaningful addition that I hope will bring joy to my grandkids and their kids for generations. It鈥檚 one more reason we鈥檙e proud to call the Blackstone Valley home.鈥�
The Blackstone River Greenway/Bikeway is an off-road, multi-use paved path following the historic Blackstone River flowing through a region known as the 鈥渂irthplace of the American Industrial Revolution.鈥� The vision is for the Blackstone River Greenway/Bikeway to extend from Worcester to just north of Providence. It currently consists of 18 completed miles of scenic beauty and history in Massachusetts and Rhode Island.
At the end of 2024, the Corridor celebrated the completion of the southern Massachusetts section, connecting the trail to the Rhode Island border. This success was made possible by local officials in Millville and Blackstone, as well as the Legislature and state agencies that stewarded the project for several years. Uncompleted sections of the Greenway are in Millbury, Grafton, Sutton, Northbridge and Uxbridge in Massachusetts and Woonsocket in Rhode Island.
Upon completion, the Greenway/Bikeway will serve as an alternate mode of transportation for commuters as well as the region鈥檚 premier recreational resource, connecting New England鈥檚 second and third largest cities. The Greenway/Bikeway has been an important driver of tourism, generating significant economic impact and improving quality of life across communities in the Corridor.
is a leading provider of lumber, hardware and home improvement solutions throughout New England, with 11 retail locations in Massachusetts. Founded by Pete Koopman in 1939, the company鈥檚 mission is to supply excellence for generations. One of Koopman鈥檚 core values is living faithfully, a principle reflected in its long-standing support of local organizations.
The Blackstone Heritage Corridor publicly launched its $1.3 million campaign in 2024. The four-year initiative,聽The Legacy Campaign: Reimagining Our Future, aims to support four key initiatives that will enable the Corridor to expand its efforts: the completion of the Greenway/Bikeway, growing its award-winning volunteer program, telling its stories through wayside signage and interpretative panels, and strengthening its collaboration with community partners.
For more information about supporting the Blackstone Heritage Corridor, including the completion of the Blackstone River Greenway/Bikeway, visit聽.
