Letter to the Editor: Rail Trail benefits from great, coordinated volunteer effort with Roger Williams

As the coordinator of Fall River's Mass in Motion program, I received a call back in late spring, from Professor William McKenzie of Roger Williams University. He explained that with each incoming freshman class, Roger Williams arranges an opportunity for the students to provide assistance to some regional project or program. Engaging students in its neighboring communities is felt to be an important goal of the university, in addition to academic studies. The projects give students the opportunity to expand their experience beyond the gorgeous campus on Mount Hope Bay. It also suggests that higher education can include branching out into the community and learning about the “real world.” From that perspective, the professor asked if there was a project in Fall River for the students’ attention.

And so on Monday, Aug. 27, one of the hottest days of the summer, 50 students and McKenzie arrived to lend their hands to the maintenance of the Alfred J. Lima Quequechan River Rail Trail. The event was coordinated by Janice Velozo, chair of the Friends of the QRRT. The project was an example of true collaboration among the Friends volunteers, Roger Williams students, and the city's Community Maintenance and Water departments. The expert volunteers, who regularly care for the trail, took groups of students and showed them how to put the trail’s day lily gardens “to bed” for the upcoming fall and winter. Weeding and mulching were the primary tasks. The crew worked from the Brayton Avenue entrance to Quequechan Street, and at the rail switchback and Rodman turnoff. They did an extraordinary job.

McKenzie said he hoped the relationship with the city could continue into the future, and that his colleagues were very impressed with his project and how well it was coordinated. Interest was expressed by some to lead the next round of freshmen to the trail!

Special recognition has to be given to those dedicated volunteers who planned, organized, met with university representatives, and led by doing the hard physical labor necessary to get the job done. Thank you, Janice C., Marcia, Al, Betsy, John, Carl and Sophia. Thank you to William McKenzie and all the students for a job very well done. And most of all, thank you to their fearless leader and volunteer extraordinaire, Janice Velozo.

Julianne Kelly

Coordinator, Mass in Motion Fall River

Health Department, Government Center, Fall River