Celebrating a Major Restoration and Education Milestone in Johnston

On Wednesday, September 24, 2025, the Woonasquatucket River Watershed Council (WRWC) will celebrate a major milestone for the Johnston community with the completion of the Manton Outdoor Classroom, Native Plant Garden, and extensive stormwater and streambank restoration projects at Manton Pond. This event marks another step in transforming Johnston’s 1.25-mile stretch of the Woonasquatucket River Greenway into a resilient, thriving community space.

The celebration will begin at 1 PM at 15 Goldsmith Street, where guests will gather in the Outdoor Classroom’s natural amphitheater. After opening remarks from WRWC Executive Director Alicia J. Lehrer, including a special tribute to longtime supporter Ken Bent whose contributions made this project possible, attendees will hear from a lineup of local, state, and federal leaders. Confirmed speakers include Senator Jack Reed, Representative Seth Magaziner, Pastor Chris Abhulime representing Governor Daniel McKee’s office, Cassius Spears from the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service, Latice Fuentes from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Susan Forcier from the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management, Peter Alviti from the Rhode Island Department of Transportation, Bruce Lofgren from the Coastal Resources Management Council, and Representative Deborah Fellela. Following a ribbon-cutting photo, guests will be invited to tour the site and see the transformation firsthand.

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Project Highlights

This project provides a wide range of benefits for Johnston residents and the Woonasquatucket River watershed:

  • Outdoor Classroom and Native Plant Garden: The space features terraced log seating, bike racks, and ADA-accessible design. It will host school field trips, WRWC Bike Camp graduations, and ongoing community programs.

  • Streambank and Stormwater Restoration: Over 5,000 native plants have been installed, along with bioswales and stabilized streambanks to improve water quality, reduce flooding, and restore habitat.

  • Fishway Connection: The new classroom connects to the Manton Nature-Like Fishway, part of WRWC’s fish passage system that allows herring and shad to return to Manton Pond each spring.

  • Community Engagement: Building on WRWC’s annual Earth Day volunteer events, the site will continue to host family-friendly programs, nature walks, and educational workshops throughout the year.

Why It Matters

This project demonstrates how strategic investments can deliver multiple benefits at once. It protects public safety, improves water quality, restores wildlife habitat, and creates accessible public spaces with programs for the community. WRWC’s broader vision for Johnston includes advancing river restoration, reducing flood risk through USDA-led flood resilience projects, installing public art and signage, and continuing to advocate for cleanup of the long-delayed Centredale Manor Superfund Site.

The Manton Outdoor Classroom ribbon-cutting is not just a celebration of a completed project. It is the beginning of a new chapter for Johnston and the Woonasquatucket River watershed.