Mayor Smiley, Governor McKee Announce Nearly $22 Million in Recreation Center Investments to Support Youth and Expand Community Access

Renovations at Davey Lopes Recreation Center will modernize facilities, improve safety and expand programming for youth and families

Providence, RI – Mayor Brett P. Smiley, Governor Dan McKee and Councilwoman Mary Kay Harris today announced an $8.7 million renovation project to create a Community Learning Center at the Davey Lopes Recreation Center. This latest announcement is part of nearly $22 million in investments across Providence’s recreation centers that include Community Learning Centers at the Elmwood Park Community Center and the Joslin Recreation Center and facility improvements at Zuccolo, Igliozzi, Rollins, Kennedy, Rogers and Sackett Recreation Centers.

“These investments are a direct result of listening to residents and responding to their shared priorities,” said Mayor Brett Smiley. “The Davey Lopes Recreation Center has long been a vital community anchor, and these renovations will ensure it continues to provide safe, modern and supportive spaces for our youth and families. Every improvement, from the new computer lab to the multipurpose rooms and upgraded energy-efficient systems, reflects our commitment to equity, opportunity and the belief that every child in Providence deserves access to high-quality spaces to learn, grow and thrive.”

“Community Learning Centers are designed to provide new learning, health monitoring, and job development programs to approximately 20 neighborhoods around the state,” said Governor Dan McKee. “We have been pleased to partner with the City of Providence on these projects and are impressed with the progress they have made to date. These centers will be game-changers for all members of the community and will play an important role in offering Learn365RI out-of-school learning opportunities to Providence’s young people.”

These projects are funded through several sources, including $16.2 million from the Capital Projects Fund (CPF) Community Learning Center Municipal Grant Program, $3.55 million from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) and $1.8 million in Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) funding.

At Davey Lopes, construction has already begun throughout the building, focusing on three main programming spaces and upgrades to electrical systems. Key spaces include the meeting room, the computer lab and the multipurpose room. The computer lab will be fully renovated, and three small phone and conference rooms will be created to support education, private work, job interviews or telehealth appointments. The multipurpose room, which formerly housed an abandoned indoor pool, will be converted into a flexible multi-use space with an operable partition down the center.

The Zuccolo Recreation Center has already completed renovations, featuring a new roof, gymnasium repainting and a branded gym floor. Other centers, including Igliozzi, Rollins, Kennedy, Rogers and Sackett, are receiving targeted facility improvements, such as new wall pads, bleachers and updated restroom facilities, while major facility and programming space renovations are underway at Joslin and other recreation centers.

In addition to infrastructure improvements, the City is launching a series of first-time technological upgrades. This includes multimedia hubs at the centers, which will offer access to digital tools that support creative learning, digital literacy and career readiness. These hubs and pods also provide professional spaces for interviews, workforce development, virtual meetings and telehealth appointments.

These upgrades will help expand the centers’ capacity to partner with local organizations. Improved facilities and shared space planning will also create new collaborative programming opportunities that reflect each neighborhood’s unique needs.

Security upgrades are also part of this investment, including integrating new software, surveillance cameras and alarm systems compatible with the Providence Public School District (PPSD). These measures ensure that recreation centers remain safe, secure and welcoming for families.

These investments have been guided through robust community input. Over the past year, the Department of Recreation has hosted and attended various engagement events to guide this work. This project is being supported, in whole or in part, by federal award number CPFFN00169 awarded to the State of Rhode Island by the U.S. Department of Treasury. Since August 1, 2024, the department has attended and hosted nearly 30 community events, including tabling events, CPF community-focused meetings, and staff participation, providing design-focused feedback on floor plans and programming alongside residents and experts.

Through a focus on sustainability, accessibility, youth empowerment and community-driven development, the City of Providence is making long-term investments that will allow recreation centers to serve as thriving neighborhood hubs for future generations.