Fall River Mass in Motion (MIM) hosted a trolley tour with members of  the Urban Land Protection Council and city officials on April 21, 2010in collaboration with Healthy City Fall River and Children In Balance. The tour was part of a day-long series of events held in order to learn what can be done to leverage resources for parks and open spaces in urban environments. MIM is working to develop new systems to support the development of community gardens, farmers’ markets, parks and open spaces in order to create sustainable systems that will improve the local food supply and create improved opportunities for active living. The tour began at McGovern's Restaurant following a luncheon discussion and included stops at the bicycle path and the overlook at the base of Kennedy Park, as well as views of the proposed Quequechan River route developed in a 2002 charette and the City's boardwalk along the Taunton River. Staff from Groundwork Lawrence, Lowell Parks and Land Trust, The Greater Worcester Land Trust,  The Waltham Land Trust, and The Trustees of Reservations went on the tour and shared information about how they resourced similar projects in their communities with representatives of Fall River's Planning, Public Works and Water Departments. The tour was followed by workshops held at Government Center. For a link to a   video of the tour, click here. Click to join the Urban Park Advocates. For more information, contact Mass In Motion coordinator Julie Kelly at 508-324-2411.  

(Top row) Fall River Mass in Motion director Julianne Kelly talks with Department of Public Works Manager Al Oliveira before leaving on the trip. (Top row, center and right) Marc Rudnick of the Waltham Land Trust Board, Groundwork Lawrence Executive Director Heather McMann and Community Programs Manager Janel Wright, and  Putnam Conservation Institute Director of The Trustees of Reservations Andrea Freeman listen as Fall River Planning Director Jim Hartnett describes some of the work to develop open spaces in Fall River, including the newly-completed Bourne Mill Apartments that overlook Cook Pond. (Middle row) Ms. Kelly leads the group along the bicycle path along South Watuppa Pond as a muskrat skims the surface of the pond water. (Bottom row, left) Al Oliveira watches for the boardwalk along Davol Street to come into view as the trolley goes by Heritage State Park. (Bottom row, center and right) Mr. Hartnett talks to the group about potential open space development at the Kennedy Park overlook on the Taunton River.