City of Providence Announces Additional Restrictions on Parks and Public Spaces
Providence Public Parks, Green Spaces, Dog Parks, Sports Fields and Courts and Off-Road Trails Closed until May 1st
PROVIDENCE, R.I. — Mayor Jorge O. Elorza announced updates regarding Providence’s COVID-19 response and the closure of all Providence public parks, green spaces, dog parks, sports fields and courts and off-road trails. After a weekend of enforcement followed by increasingly warmer weather, additional restrictions have been put in place to prevent further community spread of COVID-19.
As of 12:00PM today, April 7, all Providence parks, green spaces, dog parks, sports fields and courts and off-road trails– including Roger Williams Park, North Burial Ground, Blackstone Boulevard and Pleasant Valley Parkway—are closed for pedestrian and recreational use until May 1. As of Wednesday April 8, all golf courses in the City of Providence will also be closed. Providence Police will continue to enforce these restrictions with the assistance of city staff. Additional security measures will be put in place at facilities across the city this week to ensure compliance.
Residents are encouraged to follow current social distancing guidance including maintaining a minimum of six-feet distance between people and limiting groups to five (5) or fewer. It is recommended that residents wear face protection whenever leaving their homes (including bandanas or fabric masks) which cover the nose and mouth and are primarily used to keep others safe from the spread of germs. Surgical masks and N95 masks should be reserved for healthcare workers and first responders.
Additionally, all restrictions and prohibitions put in place by the City of Providence through Executive Order related to the current State of Emergency will be continued through May 1. Mayor Elorza is expected to sign an Executive Order later today to this effect.
Drivers at this time are encouraged to also use additional precautions as many residents continue to walk and ride bikes throughout the city. Additional provisions, such as eliminating the need for manual activation of crosswalk buttons at city-maintained traffic signals, have been put in place to ensure safety and reduce contact with surfaces at high-traffic intersections and will be implemented permanently citywide. Moving forward, the pedestrian walk signal will be displayed automatically without the need to press the button at city-maintained traffic signals throughout the city.
This is a rapidly changing situation. As the state’s recommendations to combat the spread of the COVID-19 evolves, the City of Providence will continue to evaluate the need to make additional changes to city services and operations. Essential city services will continue to be accessible remotely and local resources are available as defined on our website. The City and Providence Public Schools will continue to offer grab and go breakfast, lunch and dinner meals for all Providence youth 18 and younger and as of today, April 7, multi-day meal distribution will move to Tuesday and Friday only.
Eligible small businesses can receive access to working capital and immediate relief through the Providence Business Loan Fund and are encouraged to complete this survey to help the City understand the impacts of COVID on the local business community. For more information on COVID-19 and best practices you can share, residents can visit our website, call to connect to the Mayor’s Center for City Services by dialing 3-1-1, visiting www.PVD311.com or downloading the PVD311 mobile app on your smart phone for 24/7 access. Residents can register to receive CodeRED emergency notifications by phone, email, text, and/or mobile alerts for the latest updates from the City and to reach out to the Rhode Island Department of Health’s COVID-19 Assistance Line at 401-222-8022 Monday through Friday during regular business hours should they have additional questions.