FROED One Government Center Fall River, MA 02722-7700 Tel 508-324-2620 Fax 508-677-2840 info@froed.org		A GRAND VISION FOR FALL RIVER The Herald News, Wednesday, May 21, 2008 Fall River — It’s not just the “sunsational” views over the river where canoes and kayaks wander in the backdrop of bigger boats. Nor the hundreds of acres of Copicut Woods, inviting in spring and ablaze each fall. Nor does a snapshot of cafes and international eateries turned into series of trolley stops or the dream of a horse-drawn carriage through beautified parks paint a full picture of what the city’s former community coordinator envisions for Fall River. “It’s a plan to build a strong tourist industry,” Maureen Ryan Estes told three dozen people that turned out to be inspired Tuesday at the Heritage State Park Visitor Center. Her 45-minute, 178-slide presentation of the sights and sounds that exist or could exist if entrepreneurs saw fit led Sandy Dennis of Highland Avenue to say, “It makes you want to go out and do something.” And, in fact, Dennis recently had, signing up to put her home on the annual Christmas tour. It was visions of Victorian Christmases in one of the city’s Olmsted-designed parks, or an international guard flag raising and lowering, with daily musical salutes, at Ponta Delgada Gates Plaza, or tapping into the German invention of “grass sledding” down a renewed North Park that Estes asked viewers to imagine. Pulling together the natural resources and moderate attractions of places like the Borden Flats lighthouse, Battleship Cove with its boardwalk and Heritage Park, community boating, the Historical Society, Marine Museum and the Old Colony Fall River Railroad show glimpses, Estes said, “of old Fall River, what it was years ago and what it will be again.” If Fall River were to become a tourist destination, she said, people could be drawn to stories like E.P. Charlton and Seymour Knox opening a store in 1890 that became F. W. Woolworth with its soda fountains and penny candies. “We tend to overlook what’s around us,” she said, having spent months making the transition into a new marketing career. Playing off the annual event of Fall River Celebrates America, she called her presentation, “Come, celebrate Fall River. We are ready for you.” Asked about potential to become a tourist destination, Estes tied together the waterfront and Quequechan River, developable land and ample inventory for reuse in historic mills and a proximity to Providence, Boston, Newport and Cape Cod — even the mountains and Maine coast just two hours off. She described a different focus for tourism — for upscale travelers, not recycled attempts to attract city residents, whom she described as “workhorses,” who are not ready to relax at attractions after working second and third jobs. How to make things happen? Building on the present, enhancing the city’s image, building SouthCoast ports, using old city charm and urban sophistication, while strengthening a cultural life bubbling with the likes of Little Theatre and Spindle City Ballet, Estes said. “The first step is preparation. Get ready, company is coming!” Estes said, likening a tourist renaissance to a grand spruce up worthy of a queen. With city government and business interests working in concert for many months, Alan Amaral, chairman of the Fall River Office of Economic Development, said he applauded Estes’ energy and vision. “I think there’s a wonderful synergy between what she’s proposed and what is envisioned for the downtown and waterfront,” said Amaral, a leader behind the approved arts overlay district. “We think it fits very well as a waterfront plan. I was overjoyed with what I was hearing. I think it’s right on the money.” Back