Blackstone River Valley National Heritage Corridor - Corridor Interpretation and Planning Staff (U.S. National Park Service)

Ranger Chuck Arning doing a program

The Interpretive Rangers are the most visible face of the National Park Service’s affiliation with the Corridor Commission, and their NPS Ranger hats are their most distinctive calling card. Their basic tasks are to tell the story of the Blackstone Valley’s nationally significant role as the Birthplace of the American Industrial Revolution and to promote the restoration of the Blackstone River and its watershed.

The Planning staff of the Corridor Commission helps to further the goals of the Corridor as they relate to preservation of the Blackstone Valley's historic and natural resources. These goals and their subsequent objectives are more specifically identified in the Corridor's guiding master plan, "The Next Ten Years." This charge naturally leads the staff to and through a diversity of projects from historic preservation to education and event planning.

Chuck Arning, Park Ranger & A Specialist
Chuck is the writer, producer and editor of “Along the Blackstone,” an award winning public access cable television series produced several times a year. Chuck is also active in research on the Underground Railroad, Baseball in the Blackstone Valley and coordinates a number of partner projects many focusing on the Blackstone Canal.

Ray Boswell, Park Ranger
Ray is an intermittent ranger who specializes in neighborhood, industrial, work and culture history, the Blackstone Canal, and the City of Worcester. He has also been active in the Paddle Club and teaches courses on New England Industrial and Blackstone Valley history at Worcester State College.

Suzanne Buchanan, Park Ranger & VIP Coordinator
Suzanne presents a variety of educational programs throughout the Blackstone Valley, including “New Coat for Anna,” which combines learning about early industrialization with an annual coat drive. She is also the coordinator for the Heritage Corridor’s “Volunteers in Parks” (VI) program.

Peter Coffin, Park Ranger
Peter is an intermittent ranger who offers programs in both the history and environmental fields. His areas of interest include Mending, Hoped and Uxbridge as well as the continued restoration of the Blackstone River.

Joanna Doherty, Community Planner
Joanna works on a variety of planning issues in the Heritage Corridor, with a particular emphasis on the preservation of historic buildings and landscapes. In addition to working with partners on specific projects, Joanna provides general technical assistance on preservation topics.

Diane Keith, Landscape Architect
Diane manages bikeway, Greenway and river access planning in addition to providing technical assistance on community-based projects.

Kevin Klyberg, Park Ranger
Kevin is a historian who presents a variety of educational and public programs around the Heritage Corridor on boats, bikes and buses as well as on foot. He specializes in the Rhode Island communities of the Valley, but does many programs north of the border as well.

Valerie Paul, Volunteer in Parks coordinator
Valerie is broadening and enhancing the Corridor Commission's successful volunteer program, recruiting new volunteers, and also creating and presenting training programs so that they will be prepared to help share the stories of the Valley.

Halford AM. Welch, Economic Development, Tourism, Special Projects
Halford manages several community-based projects, including the "Footsteps in History" programs as well as focusing on our commitments to economic development and promoting tourism in the Blackstone Valley.