The City of Fall River lies along the east bank of the Taunton River, at its confluence with the Quequechan. Settled in 1680 as a farming and fishing community, Fall River developed in the 19th century into one of the nation's major industrial centers. By 1910, the city was the largest producer of textiles in the country, with 43 corporations, 222 mills, and 3,800,000 spindles. Following the Depression, the textile industry moved south, and Fall River's economy waned. City leaders began to explore new concepts for reviving the economy, including capitalizing on Fall River's historic and cultural resources, and re-developing the remaining mill structures and complexes.

Between 2007 and 2009, Martha Lyon Landscape Architecture collaborated with Community Preservation Associates and AECOM, Inc. on a comprehensive master plan for Fall River. MLLA inventoried, assessed and made recommendations for preserving the city's historic and cultural resources. Major plan recommendations included marketing Fall River as a tourist destination; supporting and fostering growth of the city's cultural organizations; preserving the city's historic architectural and landscape architectural resources; and improving the visitor's first impressions of the city.