PUBLIC STREET WATERFRONT ACCESS PROJECT
Explore the history, geography, community, and design process.
2015
DECEMBER
Public Street is identified in the City of Providence Harbor Management Plan (HMP) as a potential waterfront access point by the Coastal and Resources Management Council (CRMC) and the Providence Harbor Management Commission. _______
Public waterfront access is a key goal of the Harbor Management Plan (HMP) and includes the following objectives:
PUBLIC ACCESS : GOAL Provide public access to the waterfront for all residents and visitors.
OBJECTIVE 1: Identify existing rights-of-way and maintain an inventory of rights-of-way and other public access to the shore, including municipal paper streets, dedicated easements, drainage outfalls, and utility easements such as buried cable sites.
OBJECTIVE 2: Maintain, expand and enhance rights-of-way and access to the shore.
OBJECTIVE 3: Promote and plan for continuous pedestrian access along all accessible waterfront.
OBJECTIVE 4: Improve public information and education regarding the waterfront, public access and habitat.
2016 - 2020
Advocacy & Engagement
by Save The Bay, Community-Based Organizations (CBOs), residents and the City of Providence.
Linda Perri, a resident of Providence’s Southside and chair of the Washington Park Association, has long advocated for environmental justice for her community (Portrait Photograph by Dana Smith).
The designation of the Public Street location as a public right-of-way remained an important goal for community advocates from port adjacent neighborhoods, Community-Based Organizations (CBOs), residents and the City. ________
Learn more about the efforts for coastal access: South Providence's "Slice of Water Access" , 41° N Magazine.
2021
JULY
Public Street is officially designated a CRMC Coastal & Public Right-Of-Way. ________
Designation as a public right-of-way codifies community access to the Providence River waterfront, but the deteriorated condition of the site limits its ability to provide meaningful access and enjoyment.
Search for more RI coastal public access points using: The Explore Rhode Island's Coast online tool Click below to learn more: Public Street was blocked off to the public. Now it's becoming a coastal right-of-way , The Providence Journal. Push Made to Make Public Street a Coastal Right of Way Again , EcoRI News.
AUGUST
Meeting the Climate Justice Plan Goals: Working with community, the City of Providence Department of Sustainability takes the lead! ________
The Community Health section of the Climate Justice Plan , co-created by the Racial and Environmental Justice Committee (REJC), includes the development of a Green Port Initiative as a strategy to:
"address the negative health impacts, eliminate climate and other pollution, ensure the port is resilient to the impacts of climate change, and increase the positive benefit of the port for neighboring communities, workers and businesses. The Collaborative should include businesses in the port, frontline workers, and frontline community neighbors of the port."
OCTOBER
Community Engagement by Save The Bay & Fatema Maswood ________ The City contracted a landscape designer, Fatema Maswood, to facilitate community engagement for the Public Street waterfront access site. This was followed by a site analysis and preliminary conceptualization with the goal of improving the waterfront space to be a more accessible, inclusive, safe, sustainable, and well-connected area.
2022
FEBRUARY
Site Analysis & Recommendations Report by Fatema Maswood ________ Landscape Designer Fatema Maswood created a report that includes a preliminary site analysis, review of current data and conditions, and a set of design recommendations to facilitate safe and joyful waterfront access at the Public Street right-of-way.
The goal of this report is to inform the forthcoming design and engineering process. The report's vision is for a public space that honors the land and surrounding community and becomes one of many ecologically-rich access points to the Providence River. Click below to read: Site Analysis & Recommendations Report
JULY
CIVIC, Inc. is contracted by the Department of Sustainability for design and engineering services at Public Street. ________ CIVIC, Inc. (subconsultants: Design Under Sky & Green International Associates)
SEPTEMBER
Building on the work of Fatema Maswood's earlier report, CIVIC, Inc. develops a site and approach analysis to identify existing conditions, uses, and site context including history, geography, landmarks, accessibility, culture, coastal flows, abutting operations, and pollutants and to begin to understand opportunities and challenges associated with the site. ________ Click below to read: Public Street Site Analysis & Approach Report
Meet the Steering Committee:
Elder González Trejo (Sustainability Policy Associate), Kevin Proft (Deputy Director of Sustainability), Monica Huertas (Founding Member of the Racial and Environmental Justice Committee (REJC) & Executive Director of the People's Port Authority), David Everett (City Planner), Ian Cullings (Civil Engineer).
This steering committee has been instrumental in the development of this site into a safe, accessible and sustainable waterfront access point. Every member of this committee provides a deep perspective and years of experience in the fields of climate & social justice, community revitalization, urban planning, wildlife & environmental conservation and sustainability. _________________________________
OCTOBER 2022 - FEBRUARY 2023
Stakeholder & Public Engagement The Sustainability Department, in partnership with CIVIC, Inc. and CBOs conducted a series of stakeholder meetings and community workshops. ________
This process consisted of meetings/workshops with abutting property and business owners, regulatory agencies, local academic institutions, community organizations, partners and residents with the goal of understanding how the site is currently used and developing a shared vision for the site’s future.
Explore our Public Engagement Tools: - Workshop Presentation & Activities - Preliminary Design Concepts - Community Input Survey
STAKEHOLDER MEETINGS _______________
The Department of Sustainability met with the following abutting business owners and stakeholders to learn about existing site conditions, land use and operations and to foster collaborative relationships for the improvement of the site. _____________________________
2022-2023 STUDENT AND COMMUNITY VISIONING WORKSHOPS
Department of Sustainability
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360° High School - View Full Report
Racial Environmental Justice Committee (REJC), The People's Port Authority, and The MET High School - View Summary or Full Report
Washington Park Neighborhood Association (WPNA) and The People's Port Authority @ Washington Park Library - View Full Report
South Providence Neighborhood Association (SPNA) Racial and Environmental Justice Committee (REJC) @ Lifespan Health Institute - View Full Report
Virtual Community Meeting - South Providence Neighborhood Association (SPNA) and Racial and Environmental Justice Committee (REJC) - February 2023
2023-2024
MAY 2023
STAKEHOLDER & PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT 30% Design
The City of Providence compiles feedback from Stakeholder & Public Engagement efforts to inform 30% design. ________ Click below to read: Phase 1: Stakeholder & Public Engagement Report
30% Design
In summer 2023, the Public Street design progressed to 30%, showing a layout that accommodates pedestrian and vehicles and offers safe and attractive access to the waterfront.
Securing Funding
Following the completion of the 30% design phase, the Sustainability Department secured approximately $1.5M in grant and local funding to finish the design, engineering, and permitting and construct the project.
Spring 2024
The Sustainability Department hired Fuss & O'Neill, Civic, and Design Under Sky to complete the design process. Before advancing the design, the Sustainability Department conducted additional community and stakeholder engagement where it shared the 30% schematic design and requested additional input.
Community and Stakeholder Engagement
November 2023 Sustainability Commission Meeting
April 2024 Washington Park Neighborhood Association
June 2024 Community Workshop at Lifespan Community Health, Prairie Ave
Shoreline Resiliency Cohort, a resident cohort focused on shoreline issues in the Port of Providence - Meeting Notes
July 2024
Meetings with Abutting Business owners - RI Energy, Eastern Salt, Pete's Tire Barn, and Sims
Sustainability Commission Meeting - Project Update to discuss ongoing public engagement and community discussion
August 2024
DownCity Design - Youth Workshop
This project is ongoing! Please check back here for updates. If you have questions, suggestions, or comments, please contact Kevin Proft at kproft@providenceri.gov or 401-630-5476 for general inquiries about the process and next steps, or Manuel Cordero at manuel@designcivic.com for inquiries related to project design.
