FALL RIVER — A TV show taped in Fall River last summer focused on the abundance of outdoor activities available within city limits. The challenge now, city tourism experts say, is to learn from this experience and help visitors explore Fall River on their own.
“I think Fall River has a really underrated outdoor brand,” said Mike Labossière, the city's forester.
He was one of several local residents featured in an episode of “Explore New England,” an outdoor travel tourism themed television series available on NESN, YouTube and Roku. Labossière, “Explore New England” host and executive producer Tom Richardson, and many others at the Fall River Arts and Culture Coalition, 44 Troy Street. At the new Ignition Space, I participated in a panel discussion hosted by Patti Rego, executive director of Viva Fall River. The Fall River Tourism Board watched the episode and discussed strategies to attract new customers.
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This episode is available for free on YouTube. Hiking and mountain biking on the city's 16,000-acre biological preserve, biking the Kekechan River Rail Trail, kayaking on South Watuppa Pond, boating, fishing, waterfront dock-and-dining and more, Richardson offers Focus on all activities. He was surprised to find it in Fall River, he said.
Panelists said this is not just an opportunity for entertainment, but also an opportunity for economic growth.
“It's important to keep visitors in the city as long as possible and get more things to do. We don't want them to go back to the highways too soon,” Mr Rego said.
Here are six ideas to improve Fall River tourism.
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1: Host more public events
“We could probably host events with different organizations in the area,” said John Tomaowski, president of the local chapter of the New England Mountain Bike Association. “Hold your event on the weekend at a time when others can attend.”
Bioreserve is home to the Freetown 50, a 50-mile mountain bike race. The Appalachian Mountain Club and Reservation Management Board also regularly host guided walks, and United Way's annual campaign, “United We Move,” invites people to run, walk, and bike through the city's forests. Masu.
There may be a market for shorter, more frequent events that attract new entrants.
“We have to make it easy for people, especially beginners. We have to hold their hand and say, 'This is your kayak, this is where you're going.'” said Mr. Richardson. Ideally, you'll have a guide. ”
2: Improve access to outdoor activities
Nicole Land of Borden Wright Marina said tourists often come to Battleship Cove, but walking access from there to the Ferry Street stores needs to be improved, with signage, comfortable sidewalks and crosswalks. Is required.
Sarah Labossière, president of South Coast Bikeways, said “bicycle lanes and segregated, protected, shared-use roads are extremely important,” not only for recreation, but also for people who bike to work or on errands. said.
There could be an untapped market for bike and kayak rental businesses, letting tourists know that outdoor fun is nearby.
“When you look at where you can rent a bike or where you can rent a canoe or kayak, you know there’s something out there,” she said.
The roads entering the biological preserve from Fall River are generally unpaved and closed to cars. Most visitors must enter and exit via Freetown, Westport, or Dartmouth. Mike Labossière said the roads had long been left in disrepair to prevent dumping and other misuse of the land. This may have to change, he said.
“If we're really going to be on the map as a biological reserve destination, we need to adjust what the right kind of access is and whether we have the right support for it. And that still remains.” he said. To be seen. ”
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3: Put up more signs to show people the way.
Almost all speakers said the city needs to install more signs. This is a signpost that tells visitors where to go, whether by the water or in the woods, how to find other activities in the city, and where to grab a snack or meal. Drinks afterwards. The city cannot rely on smartphones for this task, they said.
Mike Rand also noted that the signs on Interstate 195 where drivers approach Fall River are outdated signs that simply advertise “Waterfront Attractions.”
“Narrows isn't listed. The two breweries there aren't listed. “Stampy's isn't listed,” Rand said. “For this to survive, people from outside the town need to spend money. Then they start sniffing around, and then they start to find out what the hidden secrets of this town are. .”
4: Companies need to cooperate and promote each other
Mike Labossiere said the preserve benefits from the fact that the Appalachian Mountain Club regularly conducts hikes with 20 or 30 people from Boston, the Cape and Providence. “People go out for a two- or three-hour walk, and then it's time for lunch,” he says, adding that he has the opportunity to give these people leaflets with information about the city's restaurants and cafes and how to get there. added.
Mutual promotion of forests and water is key, the Lunds added.
“It’s something as simple as a brochure,” Nicole Rand said. “If you go to a tourist destination like Newport or Providence and you walk into a restaurant, there's a brochure that tells you what's going on in the city. It's simple, but it's effective.”
5: Fall River needs to understand its value.
Rego said that even though she comes from an urban area, she was completely unaware of the extent of the biological reserve. Mike Labossiere added that in order to market itself, Fall River needs to understand a little more about itself and what it has to offer.
Nicole Rand said the “Exploring New England” episode “should be shown in every school in the city.”
“These are the next generation of kids. Have they tried mountain biking? Have they tried hiking? Have they gone out in the woods? Do you know what it's like?'' she said.
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She added that schools could use Fall River's outdoor activities to plan more outdoor trips, with children teaching their parents about what's around them.
“What's been an issue over the last few years is the amount of money in Fall River that leaves on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays,” Mike Lund said. “We’re not only keeping money that’s coming in from outside, we’re also keeping money that’s here inside.”
6: Improve Fall River's curb appeal.
Mike Rand said he is often disappointed by the impression the city gives to visitors heading to the waterfront from the freeway: ugly fences near battleships, overgrown weeds and graffiti all over the buildings.
“How do out-of-city visitors feel comfortable walking down the street to Columbia Street or Sagres or toward where we are?” he said.
Kurt Larson, vice president of NEMBA, agreed, saying that while he gives tips to mountain bikers about where to ride locally, “when that's their first impression; “You can't just put a bunch of bikes in the back of your car and send them somewhere.” You go to the street and say, “You can't park here.” I don't leave my bike behind. ”
Richardson said the city has made great strides in overcoming its reputation as a tough factory town, but needs to further connect the waterfront and downtown with safe green space.
“It makes it easy for people to go back and forth between the two locations and not feel threatened or nervous,” Richardson said. “Unfortunately, that reputation is something that has to be overcome, and he has to overcome one visitor at a time.”
Dan Medeiros can be reached at dmedeiros@heraldnews.com. Please support local journalism by purchasing a digital or print subscription to the Herald He News today.
