ZAP the Blackstone 50th Revival
Many great things happened this year with ZAP
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Celebration Day Photos
a few pictures from the day...
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lots of recognitions Senator Whitehouse |
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our wonderful host the National Park Service |
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Eastern Medicine Singers perform traditional dance |
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6 bands playing
great music
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David Rosser's family joined the day |
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Mika - Pete Seeger's daughter sings |
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Wake Kittacuck Wake
by Morning Sunrise
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Larger photo album available on ZAPtheBlackstone.com
Our photo album will keep growing as we add your great shots.
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ZAP50 has an Original Song
We never expected to have our own song from this effort, how lucky are we.
Mark Cutler, Allie Van, Steve Maciel, Tyler Shepard, Mark Mello,
J. Michael Graham, and Annie & Rob Landis wrote
This River Wasn't Blue
to mark the 50th anniversary. We love it! The lyrics say it best.
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VIDEO from some of the Clean-up/Green-Ups |
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and a ZAP Poem
a poem for the ZAP50 Celebration September 10, 2022 by Patti McAlpine
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ZAP50 - Our River Workboat |
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Blackstone Valley Tourism Council now has a pontoon boat to help maintain the Blackstone River. This was a new addition this year -- I think you can guess where it got its name.
ZAP50 has been used removing large debris, during water chestnut pulls, supporting canoe/kayak cleanups, assisting in tire removals, and allows us to grab litter that often ends up in the water we could not easily reach.
with Captain Matt & Mike
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ZAP50 Clean-Up/ Green-Up Results
- 2,000 volunteers reported they took part in ZAP volunteer day this year (and we are finding more), and another 150 volunteers supporting this event.
- There were 115 teams that reported results
- Teams ranged from 1 volunteer - 57 volunteers
- We were not able to get weights, as many teams did not report and a variety sizes of bags were used.
- Lots of companies & community groups joined in- engineering companies, real estate, banks, liquor store, church groups, rotary clubs, colleges, Kittacuck River People and a beer company to name a few.
- ZAP received great support from our cities & towns.
- Projects took place on and off the river & all throughout the watershed
- Found original ZAPsters. See their memories on ZAP website.
- Lots of first time volunteers.
- ZAP received lots of press coverage which brought awareness to our goals.
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TV exposure: RI PBS, WPRI Channel 12, Spectrum News1, WJAR Channel 10, NCTV Northbridge.
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Print coverage: Providence Journal, RI Monthly, Valley Breeze, ecoRI News, Boston Globe, Pawtucket Times, Patch, Blackstone Valley Xpress, Telegram & Gazette, Woonsocket Call and NRI Now.
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Radio spots: WOON, WNRI, Cat Country, WCRN & Cumulus Media.
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Some of Our Finds During the Events
Dog tags (the team is trying to locate owner), old Barbie bike, new I-phone (found the owner & received reward), hatched turtle eggs, railroad steamer trunk, bean bag chair, golf balls, baseballs, rubber ducky, nips (lots of these), stereo system, needles, shopping cart, .26 cents and a lone shoe.
Help us find the owner of the Dog Tags: The Valley Breeze did a great article to spread the word. Please read & pass this along.
Valley Breeze article 9/29/22 to find owner
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Words From Our Volunteers
"After picking up many cigarette butts, I am going to tell my mom to stop throwing them out the car window".
"Best feeling doing something good for the environment."
"Wonderful time, three generations - me, my daughter and my grandson."
"Wow, lots of cigarette butts."
"So proud of the kids and teen volunteering their time on a Saturday."
"Had a good laugh when our volunteer got stuck in a bush, we had to pull her out."
"Thanks to all for inspiring ZAP day to happen."
"We're not the original volunteers, but we did our part 50 years later."
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Commemorative Book
Get your special free commemorative book @ the Blackstone Valley Tourism Council Office (1420 Broad St Central Falls), Blackstone Valley Visitor Center (175 Main St. Pawtucket) or view as a FlipBook
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ZAP50 Collectable Pin
Collectible pins still available. Pick up @ the Blackstone Valley Tourism Council Office or Blackstone Valley Visitor Center.
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Blackstone Valley Tourism Council Office (1420 Broad St Central Falls) M-F 9-4
Blackstone Valley Visitor Center (175 Main St. Pawtucket) Daily 9- 5
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Thank You
to all the volunteers, sponsors, new friends and supporters that were part of ZAP this year.
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ZAPtheBlackstone.com
401-724-2200
our website will continue and share
ZAP History, Photos, Memories, In the News,
the Commemorative Book & how to stay involved.
Thanks to our growing team -- We are just getting started.
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