Whaling Museum moves forward with park renovation

WITH A $300,000 GRANT, the New Bedford Whaling Museum nearly has all the fundraising complete for its renovation of the Captain Paul Cuffe Park, which is dedicated to the region's African-American heritage. / COURTESY NEW BEDFORD WHALING MUSEUM
WITH A $300,000 GRANT, the New Bedford Whaling Museum nearly has all the fundraising complete for its renovation of the Captain Paul Cuffe Park, which is dedicated to the region's African-American heritage. / COURTESY NEW BEDFORD WHALING MUSEUM

NEW BEDFORD – In a move that will quadruple the size of New Bedford’s Captain Paul Cuffe Park, a $300,000 grant has allowed the New Bedford Whaling Museum to move forward with the design and planning process for a renovated green space in the city’s historic district.

The museum’s renovation fund currently stands at $500,000 of the necessary $600,000 after receiving the grant from the Island Foundation – a nonprofit community support organization out of Marion, Mass.

Dedicated in 2011 to the region’s African-American heritage, museum President James Russell said the city has played host to the likes of Cuffe, an 18th-century sea captain and businessman, and Frederick Douglass.

“We are thankful to our donors who are making it possible to expand this park so that more residents and visitors can learn about and observe the great historic figures that have roots in Old Dartmouth,” he said.

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Situated on the corners of Union Street and Johnny Cake Hill, the renovation will create a space open to community and education events.

The museum expects to host a ribbon-cutting ceremony in the fall. A companion exhibit on New Bedford’s role in abolitionist movement will premier concurrently.

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