Broad Street development started up again in spring with the replacement of accessible curb ramps at crosswalks. Existing sidewalks near curb ramps are being replaced with new ADA-accessible ramps along both sides of the street between Trinity Square and Potters Avenue. By summer, all the ramps on Broad Street down to Roger Williams Park (Hawthorne Avenue) will be ADA-accessible. At press, paving of the northern section of Broad Street is slated for mid-May.
State Representative Grace Diaz held several community meetings in the past months discussing legislation to limit the sale and use of fireworks. In the past, fireworks legislation has received pushback from other parts of the state; however, Diaz has not given up, most recently proposing changes to House Bill No. 7197 to require a permit for display and/or aerial consumer fireworks. The proposed changes to the bill clearly state the types of fireworks exempt from the definition of display fireworks and aerial consumer fireworks, define times of day and year that permitted fireworks can be used, and the penalties for violations. If the bill passes, some residents of Elmwood propose an information campaign to inform residents of the need for permits and the penalties for violating the terms of the law.
The Fox Point Neighborhood Association (FPNA) has made a tradition of celebrating Earth Day with fanfare. This year was no exception as the group hosted two cleanup events in late April and facilitated a third effort earlier in the month.
On April 22, FPNA, Narragansett Beer, and the Clean Earth Project co-hosted a large cleanup of India Point Park. “We made a substantial dent in shoreline beautification of the lower park,” says FPNA president Nick Cicchitelli. Over 100 people came out to pick up litter, ultimately collecting 315 pounds of trash. “Everyone was super excited,” added Brooke Cure of Narragansett Beer. “They stuck around afterwards to have a [free] beer and lunch.”
The following day, FPNA hosted a smaller tree-trimming event on the nearby bike path at Bessie Way and George M. Cohan Boulevard, where branches had grown so far into the path that cyclists were swerving to avoid getting hit. Earlier in the month, City Forester Doug Still and the City’s Forestry Division pruned long-overgrown limbs of two ornamental trees in front of the school library at Vartan Gregorian Elementary, per the request of FPNA. “What a difference!” comments FPNA vice president Daisy Schnepel about the results. “We so appreciate the contribution [of the Forestry Division] to the neighborhood.” The library, former home of the Fox Point Bathhouse, is a cherished architectural and historical structure for Fox Point residents – as is the annual tradition of keeping the local landscape pruned and clear of trash.
Summit Neighborhood Association (SNA) conducted its annual meeting on Monday, April 25 via Zoom, hosting presentations and question time with local elected officials, as well as their annual election of SNA board officers and members. In addition to the officers and board members remaining for another year, SNA welcomes Andrea Belanger and Robert L. Bailey V.
Neighbors gathered on April 23 to plant a total of 17 trees across Mount Hope and Summit neighborhoods. Organized in partnership with the Providence Neighborhood Planting Program and City Forestry Division, events such as these have seen almost 60 trees planted in Summit neighborhood over the last year. For those interested in participating in a future tree planting, please contact Emily Kloeblen at KloeblenEmily@gmail.com or 203-917-2052.
Neighborhood volunteers continue to assist both the Mount Hope Community Center and the Camp Street Community Ministries with their work distributing groceries from the food pantry every Wednesday and Friday to residents in need. Contact snaprov@gmail.com to join the volunteer email list.
On May 10, the JDA presented a Superman Building information session at their monthly public meeting. After years of anticipation, it looks as if new life will be coming to Providence’s signature tower. But what sort of life? At the meeting, held at South Street Landing, the developers detailed their plans to convert the towering office building into Providence’s newest apartment tower, with market rate and affordable units.
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