About the Cherry
Blossom Festival
Introduction
|
Message from Bob Billington
The Cherry Trees of the
Blackstone is a joint initiative of The Pawtucket
Foundation and Blackstone Valley Tourism Council to
work with the Cities of Pawtucket and Central Falls
to plant cherry trees along Roosevelt Avenue in the
two communities and raise money for a dedicated
Landscape Improvement Fund. In the spring of 2009,
65 rancho cherry trees were purchased and planted in
the project area. The plantings have also
inspired the hosting of the Annual Rhode Island
Cherry Blossom Festival and an annual Earth Day
clean up. In its first year the Rhode Island Cherry
Blossom Festival built a strong foundation for
future celebrations of the Cherry Trees planted
along Roosevelt Avenue in Central Falls and
Pawtucket. More than 400 people came out to
run, walk, eat and celebrate during the inaugural
2010 event and an additional 20 trees were planted on the west side
of Roosevelt Avenue. In 2011, more
than 1800 runners participated in the various races
held during the event.
Louis Yip and Sunny Ng, business partners and the
developer of M-Residential, were prime movers behind
the project offering a $30,000 investment.
Collette Vacations as well as Storage America,
Anthony Gudas, and the Chinese American Church also
contributed to the project.
The Cherry Trees have helped to
transform this once industrial corridor into a
vibrant walkable streetscape. Organizers hope
that the Annual Festival will continue to draw
attention and dollars to help pay for continued
maintenance and planting of future trees as the
neighborhood continues to revitalize.
Join us as we celebrate these
beautifully blossoming trees! Please direct
questions about the event to the Blackstone Valley
Tourism Council 401-724-2200 or
info@richerryblossomfestival.com.
The Yoshino Cheery Tree
In March of 1912 Ukio Ozaki, the
mayor of Tokyo, presented a gift of 3000 cherry
trees to the United States. This variety of Cherry,
the Yoshino, was developed in Japan in the late 19th
century and is one of many varieties of cherry tree.
However, the Yoshino variety was, and still is
today, a favorite of the Japanese people, valued for
its overwhelming beauty, its magnificent array of
pink and white colors and as harbinger of Spring.
The first two gift trees were planted near the Tidal
Basin by First Lady Taft and Viscountess Chinda.
Today, thousands of cherry trees burst into bloom
every year between late February and early March
creating a dazzling spectacle that brings hundreds
of thousands of visitors from around the world to
visit our nation’s capital.
From 1912 to the current day the
trees symbolize the powerful and lasting friendship
between the people of the United States and the
people of Japan.
2013 Cherry Blossom Festival Committee
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Dr. Robert Billington,
Blackstone Valley Tourism Council
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Geraldine Barclay-King,
Blackstone Valley Tourism Council
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Aaron Hertzberg, Pawtucket
Foundation
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Vickie Huang, ATC
Promotions, Inc.
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Sunny Ng, Tai-O, Inc.
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James Toomey, Blackstone
Valley Tourism Council
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Louis Yip, Tai-O, Inc
Introduction
|
Message from Bob Billington