DEM Announces Closure of Food and Beverage Concession at Blackstone River State Park Visitor Center in Lincoln
PROVIDENCE – The Department of Environmental Management announces that food amenities are not currently available at the Blackstone River State Park Visitor Center on Route 295 in Lincoln. The Department is seeking a new tenant to operate a food/beverage service at the facility, and will be advertising a Request for Proposals to solicit a new food concession in the near future.
The visitor center and its restroom facilities are open daily from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Staffing is provided by DEM’s Division of Parks and Recreation along with volunteers from the Blackstone Valley Tourism Council, who offer informational materials on Blackstone Valley tourism sites and nearby amenities. This schedule will remain in place until a new vendor is found for the facility. Three port-a-johns have been placed in the parking lot for after-hours use by truckers and other travelers.
The visitor center is a major gateway to the Blackstone River Bikeway, which is managed by the Department of Environmental Management, and to the John H. Chafee Blackstone River Valley National Heritage Corridor, which stretches from Pawtucket to Worcester, MA. The center provides easy access to the 10 miles of bike path currently open to the public in Central Falls, Lincoln, and Cumberland, as well as a convenient location for patrons to park their vehicles and unload their bikes. It also offers access to several focal points in the Blackstone Valley, such as the Wilbur Kelly House Museum, the Blackstone Canal, and the Blackstone River.
Located on the northbound side of Route 295, the complex features a 9,700 square foot colonial post and beam visitor center. The attractive red structure houses many tourist, park, and bikeway amenities, a Rhode Island State Police satellite office, and a satellite office for DEM’s Division of Parks and Recreation. The facility also provides long-haul truck parking, allowing truck drivers to pull off the highway safely to sleep. A popular farmers’ market operated by DEM’s Division of Agriculture is available at the visitor center from May through October.