thePULSE
Vincent Pacifico
The Canal District didn’t earn that name for just any old reason. There actually used to be a real waterway that ran straight down Harding Street in the early 1800s. This canal was dug by Irish immigrants to create a shipping passage all the way down the Blackstone River, through Rhode Island and out to Narragansett Bay. This gave Worcester the ability to trade, ship and import goods from the sea. Not long after the canal was opened, it ended up ceasing to operate due to the new Providence and Boston railroads that came along. The canal was eventually abandoned, used to house the city’s sewer system, covered over and forgotten about.
In recent years there have been ideas of reopening the canal as an attraction and destination for the city. Numerous plans and renderings have been created depicting how this could look and what it could possibly do to enhance the Canal District as a destination in the city. The goal would be to recreate the riverway from the top of Harding Street down to Kelley Square and make it a pedestrian only area with river walks along the sides of the canal. This would be a transformative idea in the city but it would take a lot of money and planning to create.
Just down river, Providence Rhode Island has a similar project that they were able to pull off which truly made a huge difference in the city and brought value to the walkability of the downtown. During their downtown revitalization project, they planned to restore their riverways which were mainly covered up with highways. The plan was to create pedestrian only areas alongside the river which created a walkable and green space for all to enjoy. Nowadays popular events like Waterfire are held every year on the river which take place in the evenings during warmer months in which bonfires are lit above the water, music is played, gondola rides are offered and it is a fun show for all to come and enjoy.
Worcester should look towards Providence to see how they were able to create such a meaningful and popular project which was game changing. These two cities were once linked by a canal and still can be. Imagine having events in Worcester like Waterfire that would bring people from all over. The local businesses would thrive, there would be a sense of pride about the city’s history and there would be the creation of a walkable area where people won’t need to worry about watching out for cars. A project of this scale would take a long time but we have to remember that it is possible if other cities have done it, especially at a larger scale. We would really need a true visionary to pull off this huge endeavor if we ever want to bring the canal back to the district.
Resources:
thecanaldistrict.com/the-history/
