In 1986, the Blackstone Valley was recognized as a special place and designated as a National Heritage Corridor by the U.S. Congress (Public Law 99-647). A 19-member Federal Commission, appointed by the Governors of each state and approved by the Secretary of the Interior, consists of representatives from the National Park Service, state and local governments, and valley-wide interests, and oversees the Corridor’s operations. For more on the Corridor Commission, please click here.

National Park Service professionals make up the Corridor staff, and include interpretive rangers, planners, managers, and administrative specialists that provide expertise in historic and natural resource preservation, interpretation, education, and recreation development to carry out work as directed by the Commission and outlined in the Ten Year Plan. 

The Corridor Commission office is located at One Depot Square (the corner of Main Street and High Street), in Woonsocket, RI.

To see some of the current Corridor Commission projects, please visit Your Dollars at Work.

CORRIDOR STAFF
Jan Reitsma
Executive Director

Interpretation & Planning
Chuck Arning
Park Ranger & Television Producer

Suzanne Buchanan
Park Ranger & Volunteer Coordinator

Ray Boswell
Park Ranger

Peter Coffin
Park Ranger

Barbara Dixon
Special Events Coordinator

Joanna Doherty
Community Planner

Diane Keith
Landscape Architect & Riverway Coordinator

Kevin Klyberg
Park Ranger

Valerie Paul
Volunteer Coordinator

Hal Welch
Economic Development, Tourism, Special Projects

Administration
Bill Maurer
Administrative Officer

Diane Angell
Budget Analyst

Charlene Berry
Cooperative Agreement Specialist

Pauline Lozeau
Executive Secretary

Roger Williams National Memorial Site
Jan Reitsma
Superintendent

Jennifer Gonsalves
Site Manager

Diane Angell
Budget Analyst

Sparkle Bryant
Park Ranger

Paul Coletta
Maintenance Worker

Maria Levesque
Park Ranger

John McNiff
Park Ranger