ANNUAL REPORT 2018

Dear Members, Supporters and Friends –

In 2018 the Blackstone Parks Conservancy continued to make headway protecting and nurturing the Blackstone parks.

Surging erosion in both parks inspired new efforts to repair trouble spots and to increase public awareness of stormwater challenges ahead. Lacking major grants, the Conservancy moved forward with carefully managed small ones at York Pond. The long-planned installation of replacement trees at the edge of Blackstone Field was a triumph of collaboration between the City Forester, the Conservancy, and the Narragansett Boat Club for the sake of nature and park users both.

On the Boulevard, a 30-foot test strip of permeable stone dust introduced path users to a possible new solution for this heavily traveled way. Meanwhile, the Conservancy and the Parks Department began meeting regularly to shape the much needed, large-scale path reconstruction to begin, we hope, in 2020.

The Conservancy has a full partner in an invigorated Parks Department, which is using modern tools to enhance their responsiveness and efficiency. This allows Conservancy volunteers to intensify outreach and public education. We anticipate even more synergy in the years to come.

Our work was accomplished with invaluable organizational help from our two part-time staff and multiplied several-fold by a volunteer effort of hundreds of hours valued altogether at over $20,000.

To better fulfill our vision, we need more financial support. We continue working hard to generate the funds needed to give these historic parks the attention they—and the community--deserve. In 2019, we see new opportunities to achieve even greater community involvement for the benefit of all visitors.

For complete details of our 2018 activities, see the list of projects and the financial report inside.

Thank you, as always, for your support of our parks. We look forward to seeing you there this year.

With best wishes,

Jane Peterson, President Amy Larkin, Executive Director

Annual Meeting Tuesday, March 26, 2019, 6:00 - 7:30 p.m., Gov. Lippitt House, 199 Hope Street. Refreshments 6:00, business meeting 6:30-6:45. Allicia Lehrer, Executive Director Woonasquatucket River Watershed Council, will talk about stormwater and the Blackstone parks. Projects and Progress in 2018

Blackstone Park Conservation District - Education Committee Park Committee

• Increased safety on stairs above • Organized and held numerous York Pond with a new handrail. events and programming for adults

and children including: concerts, • Added two wooden sign kiosks near boat rides on the Seekonk River, entrances to welcome visitors. concerts, moonrise celebration, • Combatted trail and slope erosion: winter duck watching, nature groups of local students, corporate programs, yoga classes. teams, and dedicated individuals staked logs and added wood chips • With the Park Committee, brought to stabilize trails and help control an educational component to school stormwater. groups doing service work.

• Began revitalizing the wetland meadow near York Pond, clearing Blackstone Boulevard - woody and invasive plants and Boulevard Committee seeding with native wetland mix.

• Monthly drop-in work sessions • Held four summer concerts at the brought park users together with Trolley Shelter, enjoyed by longtime volunteers to repair trails hundreds of residents. fix fences, spread wood chips, remove invasive plants, and more. • Volunteers maintained four gardens along the Boulevard. • Reduced trash in the park and along the river in the citywide Earth Day • Planted trees chosen for their cleanup and, through Save The Bay, suitability and beauty. Hired the International Coastal Cleanup. Groundwork RI to water, weed, and

mulch new and struggling • Environmental stewardship trees. Worked with Parks Dept. to continued as volunteers removed prune selected trees. invasive and noxious plants from the

North Section and the Forest Health • Assessed the footpath, finding four Works Project along Angell Street. distinct zones differing in • Selected and sited replacement composition and condition. Started trees in Blackstone Field. planning for path upgrades.

BLACKSTONE PARKS CONSERVANCY P.O. Box 603141, Providence, RI 02906 Annual Financial Report, FY 2018

Beginning Balance all funds January 1, 2018 49,640

Contributions 38,064 Membership 31,819 Concerts 3,000 Benches, trees, special projects 3,245 Grants 4,182 Other 150 Total Income 42,396

Expenses Administrative -58,301 Contract work -48,736 Copying, mail, signage , IT -9,374 Events, gifts -191 Park -5,897 Improvements -5,565 Maintenance -332 Boulevard -9,153 Maintenance -6,836 Trees and Plantings -2,317 Concerts -5,328 Education -436 Miscellaneous -3,574 Total Expenses -82,689

Net Result -40,293

Ending Balance all funds December 31, 2018 9,347 Thank you

Our heartfelt gratitude goes to the many individuals who gave advice, grants, time, and/or funds to the Blackstone Parks Conservancy in 2018. We are also deeply indebted to our many generous members.

AIPSO Suzanne Renfro* April Alix Steve Ricci, Groundwork Providence Gale Aronson Rhody Native Audubon Society of RI Joan Richards Stephanie Avila* RI Dept. of Environmental Management (DEM) William Barry RI Dept. of Public Works (DPW) Dan Berard RI Dept. of Transportation (DOT) Ruth Berensen RI Philharmonic Youth Jazz Ensembles Books on the Square Elena Riverstone* Boulevard Tree Sponsors Save The Bay Sara Bradford Serve Rhode Island Anna Browder Skyscrapers, Inc. Brian Byrne Björn Sandstede Caitlin Chaffee, Coastal Resources Swan Point Cemetery Management Council (CRMC) Doug Still, City Forester Don Cordner * J. Timmons Roberts Carol Delaney Scott Ruhren, Audubon Society of RI Marisa Chock Scott Turner Mary Dennis U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Harold Doran Wheeler School Peggy Edwards Woonasquatucket Watershed Council The Fisler/Krishnamurthi family Martha Fraenkel* *BPC Committee members Matt Garza Friends of Gladys Potter Park Senator Gayle Goldin Blackstone Parks Conservancy Sally Godfrey Officers and Trustees Rotem Goldshmid Melissa Goulet Jane Peterson, President Erin Harnett Carrie Drake, Vice-President Isenberg Family Foundation Deming Sherman, Treasurer Joe’s Backyard Band Amy Zinsser, Secretary Wendy Klein Allison Bryant Lincoln School Margaret Brookner Karen Longeteig* Jonathan Ford Narragansett Boat Club Anthony Hollingshead Natural Resources Conservation Service Robert Murphy Senator Donna Nesselbush Ken Orenstein Wendy Nilsson, Supt. of Providence Parks Rick Richards Partnership for Providence Parks Colgate Searle Eric Peterson Erik Wernevi Providence Dept. of Parks & Recreation Amy Larkin, ex officio Lifetime Members, $1,000 or more Cynthia Battle and Esteban Cardemil Paige Newby Carrie Drake Robert Berkelhammer Darek Niklas and Rachel Filinson Bernard and Heidi Buonanno Cynthia Bertozzi Jack and Pat Nolan Deming and Jane Sherman Elizabeth Billik Nancy Nowak Judith Bloom Parr and Cary Twichell Sustainers, $500-$999 William and Judith Braden Martha Holman Paull Kathy Bourque Allison Bryant Deborah F. Perlman Frederick Roses and Deidre Brown Roger N. Carlsten Jane and Eric Peterson Anthony Hollingshead A. Chazan Judith Queen Jack and Sara McConnell Renee Chicoine Marilyn Quesenberry Kenneth and Laura Nordstrom Terri A. Spisso Mercedes Quevedo Ken Orenstein Lisa Conigliaro Patrick and Anne Quinn Kevin and Amy Orth John Costa Jane and John Reeder Rick Richards Albert and Pamela Dahlberg William and Suzanne Reeves Sophia Shibles Kitty Douglas and Mark Sargent Ellen Reeves and Joan Ress Reeves Jyothi Subramaniam Robert and Marilyn Edwards Jeanette Riley and Kathleen Torrens Richard and Barbara Wong Peter and Melanie Eleftherio Jerrold A. Salmanson Foundation Karl Ziegler Lynne Ende James Sanford and Jean Doyle Amy Zinsser and Bob Ferreira Joseph Fisler Frank Schaberg Jordan Frank Christopher Schmid Conservationists, $250-$499 Fred J. Franklin Peggy and Henry Sharpe Ian Barnacle Elizabeth Fussell Amee Simmons and Bryan Spondike Richard and Sandra Bornstein Ann Gallagher Joan Slafsky Albert and Pamela Dahlberg Wallace and Leslie Gernt Marjorie L. Sundlun Jill Davis Thomas Getz Julia Ann Tullis Thomas DiSanto Jeremy Giller Susan and William Twaddell Lisa and Oliver Dow Sarah Gleason Joann Watson Ann Gallagher Sandra J. Heron John Wermer David Hunter Craig Hopkins and Laura Stanton Constance White Kosiver Intro-Welding Co., Inc. Thomas and Janet Wing Richard Lang Michael Isenberg Joseph Hoefferle and Sabrina McCain Family Foundation Warren and Janet Jagger Witherby Martha Fraenkel and Michael Barry and Ellen Jagolinzer Richard Worrell McGlynn Stephen and Judith Jagolinzer Kimberly and James Worrell Lori and Fred Polacek Jewish Federation of RI / Simon and Jimmy and Harriet Wrenn Carl N. Raether Jaqueline Nemzow Fund Richard Zienowicz Libby Isaacson, Residential Properties Maureen Johnson Amanda and Chip Riegel Mary F. Kesson Family, $50-$99 Don and Estelle Singer Clare Kirby and Jim Maxwell Virginia M. Mary C. Speare Harold and Linda Kushner Lucien and Kristi Agniel Christine Townsend Ruth Landow The Hon. Edith Ajello Terry Tullis and Connie Worthington Marie Langlois Lorraine Bacalles and Michael Whelan Zale Hospitality Inc. Roberta and Steven Lasser Angela Badway Jinxuan Zhu Andrew and Stephanie Levinson Donald Baier D. Zurier Karen Longeteig Neil and Cheryl Bartholomew Alison and David Mandelbaum Lionel and Anne Bercovitch Protectors, $100-$249 Terry and Dorothy Martiesian William Binder Roy and Judith Aaron Frederick R. Mattis Frank and Liliane Birch Dinaz Adenwalla Rebecca Mayer and Joseph Rosenthal Stanley and Marcia Blacher Peter and Susan Allen Bill McGowan Michael and Alice Bonitati James and Susan Allen Margaret Megowen Michael and Cynthia Braca Rebecca Gasior Altman Regina Kuecks Morgan George Calcagni Helen Anthony Douglas & Elizabeth Morse Brooke and Machel Charles Cherry Arnold Robert T. Murphy David Chopy Gale Holmes Aronson Jane S. Nelson John and Annette Coleman Family, $50-$99 (continued) Elisa Tabaddor Martha Sherman Rosemary Colt Richard Terek and Teresa Schraeder Alexandra Silveira Donald T. Cordner and Jean E. Ann Thorndike John F. Smollins, Jr. Cavanaugh Mark Tracy Amanda Soares Kevin Cunningham Meredith Walsh Nicholas Sofios Carol Delaney Lee and Lisa Wesner Lora Spalt Norine Duncan Joanna C. Wood Mary K. Staples Marc Dunkelman Nini Stoddard Mira Eides Individual Cheryl Teverow Timothy M. Empkie Noel Bailey Sandra Tremblay and Paul Iorio Alfredo Esparza Julie Baldwin Susan Tremblay Eric and Dana Falk Sarah Baldwin-Beneich Susan Triedman Robert R. Garzillo and Catherine Stephanie Benedetti Susan Tucker Wodehouse Anne Bozzi Christine Turgeon Maxine Goldin Octavio Brito Christine Vadnais Dorothy and Edwin Gozonsky Ellen Brookman Margaret Watkinson Dan and Sharon Hendriksen Margo Chiappinelli Donna Summer White Robert and Laura Howe Christina S. Clark Peter N. Woodberry Richard and Sharon Jenkins Mary Clark Michael Zifcak Boyd P. King Richard Cohn Morrisa Zwetchkenbaum Ryan Kuhn Gerald Colvin Elizabeth Laposada Stephen W. Coon Jane Larson Maria De Angelis Marjorie Lederer Elliot and Carol Esterman Charles McNeil Temple Fawcett Jacky and Paul Levinson Jonathan Ford and Heather Wright Lewis Lipsitt Mary Gluck and Lajos Czászi Theodore and Kay Low Headway LLP Charles Mahoney Jana Hesser Brock and Jamie Manville Betty R. Jaffe Adrienne Morris and Stewart Martin Samuel and Gloria Jarcho Burleigh and Carol Morton Petra Jenkins Philip Mullen Gabor Keitner Victor and Lila Neel Jacqueline Ketner Jennie Newkirk and Kennon Miller John Kosterlitz William O'Neil Lesley Landau Lawrence and Ruth Page Deborah Langstaff Lianne Paolino. Philip Leis Kenneth Pariseau James Mahoney Karen Pizzarello Jason Marchetti Joe and Holly Polhemus Gay Martin Donald and Margherita Pryor Saul Martin Kurt Raaflaub Lynne Mendes Clifford Renshaw Alan Metnick Barbara Riter William and Loiza Miles Jay and Paula Romasco Carolyn and Will Morgan Karen Romer Michael Nulman Bonnie Ryvicker Susan Olson Duane and Mary Schmidt Sheela Percelay Helaine Schupack Deborah Siegel Richard Sedano David Riedel Betsy and Kenneth Shimberg William and Kristen Rose Ellen Simmons Michael Rosen Caldwell Smith and Alice Benedict Thibaut Schilt Beatrice and Robert Swift Marguerite Schnepel