May 17, 2010 ... Sen. Richard T. Moore, D-Uxbridge, recently announced that the French River Connection will be receiving $6,000 from the Last Green Valley for the development of a canoe and kayak access point and parking lot at Leovich landing, a four acre parcel of land located in the Town of Oxford. The French River Connection, headquartered in Webster, is a non-profit organization dedicated to the preservation and revitalization of the French River corridor in the towns of Webster, Dudley, and Oxford. 

“I congratulate French River Connection President Ken Parker and all members of the Connection for their dedication and hard work in developing yet another destination along the historic French River,” said Sen. Moore. “I am happy to have played at least a modest role in securing the Last Green Valley funds for the Connection, and look forward to seeing future visitors that will enjoy the expansion of Leovich Landing in Oxford.”

The French River is a major tributary of the Quinebaug River that extends 26 miles from its source in Leicester, MA to its confluence with the Quinebaug in Thompson, CT. Since its creation in 2005, the French River Connection has raised more than $70,000 in grants and donations, including a state Conservation Partnership grant that perpetually conserves the river in its surrounding communities. 

In addition to the Leovich Landing development, the Connection has examined the economic potential of developing a Greenway along the river, while at the same time preserving the area’s deep-rooted heritage. Sen. Moore was one of the original pioneers in developing the idea of the French River Greenway, and has cited the expansion of Leovich Landing as an important step in making the Greenway concept a reality.

The Last Green Valley, Inc.—whose name is derived from the popular moniker for the Quinebaug and Shetucket Rivers Valley National Heritage Corridor—aims to preserve the significant natural and cultural resources of the region, which encompasses a portion of South Central Massachusetts, while encouraging compatible economic development. After sending in a grant application to The Last Green Valley, complete with a strong letter of support from Sen. Moore, the French River Connection received word that they were pre-approved for the $6,000 grant, and would be able to commence their project in several weeks.

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