_Arup to lead the vision for a $16M public investment project,
catalyzing downtown economic development, public space activation,
accessibility and connectivity_
PROVIDENCE, RI – Mayor Jorge O. Elorza and the Department of Planning
and Development today announced the selection of an expert consultant
team to lead the City’s plans to invest in critical infrastructure and
placemaking in Greater Kennedy Plaza. The City of Providence has hired
Arup, the creative force behind many of the world’s most prominent
public space projects in the built environment, to work with public and
private stakeholders to create a single cohesive vision that connects
Downtown Providence’s public space network, while maintaining an easily
accessible, transit-rich environment and develop engineering plans for
specified infrastructure projects funded through the City’s Capital
Improvement Plan.
“Creating safe and accessible public spaces is salient to great
placemaking,” said Mayor Jorge Elorza. “In the past decade, the public
investments made in Downtown Providence have cemented Providence’s
reputation as a fun and captivating destination. As we continue our work
to re-envision public spaces, these investments will further accelerate
Downtown’s transformation and continue to drive economic development
across the City.”
Over the years, Greater Kennedy Plaza has gone through several physical
transformations. As Downtown continues to grow and the demographics of
the City change, the vitality of Downtown’s Civic hub requires
investments that serve all residents and visitors. By creating a unified
vision for the public spaces that compliments both the existing uses and
future conditions, the City will foster increased business activity,
attract visitors, spur artistic and cultural expression, and ultimately
create a safer and more accessible City.
“With this investment and through our engagement with the Arup team and
community stakeholders, we have an opportunity to showcase the
increasingly important role of civic, public space and emerge from 2020
ready to lead by example of how to create a place for all of our
residents to enjoy more activities, and more living outdoors in our
city’s heart, ” said Bonnie Nickerson, Director of the Department of
Planning and Development.”
The project work focuses on Waterplace Park and the Downtown RiverWalk,
the BankNewport Skating Rink, Memorial Boulevard and Exchange Terrace
tunnels, and the central plaza area within Kennedy Plaza. As part of the
unified vision for the area, placemaking modifications include: a
cohesive artistic lighting plan; shade structures and two temporary
liner buildings at the Providence Rink; a utility plan for Waterplace
Park, the tunnels, and Riverwalk between Francis and Steeple streets; a
programming plan for the central plaza area at Kennedy Plaza; and a
series of modifications to make Waterplace Park and the Riverwalk more
accessible and pedestrian friendly. Overall climate resilience in
Waterplace Park and along the Riverwalk will also be addressed.
“In a time of redefinition of our public spaces, we are planning for the
human experience to be at the center of the design process. The feedback
that we hear from the community will provide the foundation for how we
approach our plans and designs,” said Alban Bassuet, Associate
Principal, Arup. “There has never been a more important time for us to
set a new benchmark for inclusivity, equity, respect and ownership of
these shared spaces, ensuring that accessibility means access for all,
not just for some.”
As part of the design and planning phase, the City and Arup are
collaborating to create a public website portal that enables users to
virtually navigate the 8.6-acre site, view photos of existing site
conditions and provide direct feedback to the project team to help
inform the planning, design and development process. The website will
launch on a later date to be announced. A robust public engagement
process will be an integral part of the development and implementation
of the project through regular consultations with all stakeholders and
community members. Arup will be collaborating on the design and
community engagement process with a Providence-based team that includes
landscape architecture firm Stimson, architecture firm Ultramoderne, and
Manuel Cordero.
These improvements will be implemented in three phases. Phase I/II are
financed through Mayor Jorge Elorza FY2020-FY2024 Comprehensive Capital
Improvement Plan (CIP). During CY 2020 – 2023, $12.8 Million of CIP
funds will help propel the plan into action. During Phase III, an
additional $4 Million will be deployed through the Rhode Island State
Transportation Improvement Program (STIP).
Providence has seen a historic increase in major development projects
across the City. In 2019 alone, more than 70 major development projects
were under construction, in plan review, or undergoing the permitting
process. These developments, coupled with city-connectivity initiatives
like _Great Streets_ [1], are foundational elements of Downtown’s
transformation into a thriving business, residential and cultural
district.