The Completed
Blackstone Boulevard
Reforestation Project

This project developed from Estelle Singer’s tree steward service project. After completing the course, she chose to take inventory of all the trees on Blackstone Boulevard. She did this with the help of a committee she assembled to work towards an eventual planting project. Tree stewards, graduates of classes conducted under the auspices of the Rhode Island Tree Council, helped take inventory of the trees. Over the years, tree stewards have continued to help maintain the trees by pruning where needed.

The committee consisted of local residents on the one hand, and Fred Holman, the landscape architect for the Providence Parks Department at the time on the other hand. Since the boulevard is a public park, the Friends of Blackstone Park & Boulevard depended on his over-all supervision and approval for everything that was done.

Committee members also were instrumental in getting funding for surfacing and maintaining the winding path down the center of the grassy median strip and in obtaining the original 1904 planting plans from the Olmsted Brothers archives in Brookline, Massachusetts.

When the committee decided to raise money to enhance the plantings on the boulevard, it applied for and received 501 (c) (3) status as The Friends of Blackstone Park & Boulevard in order to facilitate raising funds from state and federal governmental sources, private persons, and foundations.