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Groundbreaking for new Playground in Burnside Park

By on May 11, 2017 in Parks/Open Space

From the Downtown Providence Parks Conservacy:

An ocean of fun is coming to Burnside Park this summer!

We are thrilled to announce that today in Burnside Park, the Downtown Providence Parks Conservancy broke ground on Brandon’s Beach at Burnside Park, a new destination playground for children of all abilities located in the heart of historic Downtown Providence.

The groundbreaking on Brandon’s Beach at Burnside Park marks a significant new investment in Burnside Park, and serves to enhance Greater Kennedy Plaza’s status as a welcoming city center and family destination. The completed playground will be sensory rich, with musical equipment, swings, and spinners. It will be appropriate for toddlers and young children of all abilities.

The DPPC also used the occasion to announce enhancements to the Imagination Center, which features new amenities made possible by a generous grant from the Hasbro Children’s Fund. It will work in concert with the new playground to establish Burnside Park as a compelling draw for families.

“These are major investments that enhance Greater Kennedy Plaza as a thriving, vital city center and destination for Providence residents and visitors,” said DPPC Executive Director Cliff Wood.

Read more to learn about the inspiration and design of the playground, funding sources, and the impact it’s expected to have on the community.

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Bike Month 2017

By on May 3, 2017 in Bicycles

Photo angela n.

Providence Bike to Work Day is Friday, May 19th, information from Facebook:

Bike to Work Day is the origin of all National Bike Month events. Started in 1956, this day is a time to try out commuting to work by bike, even if that’s not something you’d normally do. This year, Bike to Work Day is on Friday, May 19th. There will be a big celebration in downtown Providence from 7-9am, in Burnside Park, with free food, booths with community organizations, and a few special guests to applaud your bicycling efforts. There will also be bike trains coming into downtown from all parts of the city, so you don’t have to bike alone!

Visit the Rhode Island Bicycle Coalition website for information about all the events happening during Bike Month.
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Community Conversation on the future of Kennedy Plaza – February 16, 2017

By on February 1, 2017 in Parks/Open Space

From the Mayor’s Office:

Mayor Jorge O. Elorza will be hosting a Citywide Conversation focusing on a long-term vision for Kennedy Plaza. The Mayor will provide remarks on his vision for the space and community members will be able to participate in working groups to provide thoughts, ideas, and feedback.

WHO: Mayor Elorza; Community Members
WHAT: Citywide Conversation on Long-Term Vision for Kennedy Plaza
WHERE: Joseph A Doorley Jr. Municipal Building, 444 Westminster Street, Providence
WHEN: Thursday, February 16, 2017 at 5:00PM

Event listing on Facebook
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Boo City at Burnside Music Series + Beer Garden – July 7, 2016

By on July 6, 2016 in Events

boo-city

Boo City – Image courtesy of the Downtown Providence Parks Conservancy © Curt Allan

Canceled due to the imminent risk of severe weather.

The weekly Music Series + Beer Garden kicks off for the season this Thursday at Burnside Park in Kennedy Plaza:

You’ve earned it, Providence: an entire season of afternoons in the park. The sun on your face, the breeze in your hair, a well-deserved drink in your hand, and FREE MUSIC!

Every Thursday this summer from July 7th to September 8th, Burnside Park will be transformed into your favorite restaurant, your family outing, your afternoon date, and your patio bar. Lounge on the grass, grab a bite from your favorite food truck, or sidle up to the tables and chairs at Trinity Brewhouse’s beer garden (open from 4:30-7:30 every Thursday!). Live music from 5:30-7 ensures that your personal dance hall, showspace, and musician’s salon is but a stroll downtown away.

Whether you’re wrapping up work, heading in for your shift, cavorting with friends, or just reveling in something other than winter, join us by the fountain Thursday afternoons. You work hard. You deserve it.

Facebook event page

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2015 Burnside Music Series + Beer Garden starts Thursday, July 9, 2015

By on July 7, 2015 in Events

kennedy-plaza-beer-garden

The Kennedy Plaza Beer Garden is back! Starting this Thursday, July 9th and every Thursday through September 10th in Burnside Park. More information from Greater Kennedy Plaza:

2015 Burnside Music Series + Beer Garden

The time is nigh, friends, and not a moment too soon! Join us every Thursday this summer for beautiful times in Burnside Park, replete with delightful bevs by Trinity Brewhouse, delicious food by Rhode Island’s greatest food trucks, casual jams by celebrity DJs, and of course, the finest tunes Rhode Island has to offer, courtesy of a kaleidoscopic array of astounding musicians.

Each and every Thursday, July 9 – September 10, the Trinity Beer Garden will open for business at 4:30 pm. Mill about and sip sangria to the melodious sounds of DJ LaRochelle from 4:30 – 6pm, and enjoy live music from 6 – 7pm.

We are getting our groove on just thinking about our first act SALSA Y GAITAS, who graced us with their sultry music during the Providence International Arts Fest! Salsa with Sangria, what better way to kick off the Summer Season?!

Rendezvous in front of the fountain! Treat yourself, Providence! You’re worth it!

See the Facebook event page for the full summer line-up of music.
Full disclosure: I am on the Board of the Downtown Providence Parks Conservancy and my employer, Cornish Associates, is sponsoring this week’s Beer Garden.
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Downtown Farmers Market in Kennedy Plaza starts today – July 7, 2015

By on July 7, 2015 in Events

kennedy-plaza-farmers-market

The Downtown Farmers Market in Kennedy Plaza is back starting today and every Tuesday through the end of October. More information from Greater Kennedy Plaza:

Welcome back, Downtown Farmers Market!

Downtown Farmers Market + Kidoinfo Play in the Park
Tuesdays 3 – 6PM
July 7th – October 27th

Welcome back to the Downtown Farmers Market with Farm Fresh Rhode Island! Stroll the outskirts of Burnside Park for all of your fresh veggie and locally produced comestible needs! Bring your appetite as well, because this dinnertime market has food trucks to feed you!

Concurrently, Kidoinfo Play in the Park will offer family friendly activities and playspace. The Imagination Center will be open, with the Open Air Reading Room and Imagination Playspace! Bring friends and family to make an afternoon of it!

Featured Play in the Park partner for July & August is playScience
with Miss Katie bringing you fun, interactive music and science activities each week! This week, in honor of Independence Day we bring you Marching Music!

2015 Downtown Farmers Market Vendor Lineup!

  • Pezza Farm
  • Mello Farm
  • Barden Family Orchard
  • Blackbird Farm
  • Ellie’s Bakery
  • Cafe Havav
  • Farm Fresh & Co.

This weeks featured Food Truck: Rocket Fine Street Food!

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Providence Bike to Work Day – May 15, 2015

By on May 11, 2015 in Bicycles, Events

bike-to-work-2015

From the Facebook event page:

Friday, May 15, 2015
7:30am – 9:30am
Burnside Park

With spring in the air, the City of Providence and the RI Bicycle Coalition invite you to celebrate Bike to Work Day as part of National Bike Month.

Free coffee and food will be provided to participants. Other activities include:

  • Bike demos
  • Raffles
  • Bike-powered charging station for your electronics
  • Photo booth
  • Information from community organizations and local vendors

Mayor Elorza is excited to demonstrate his support for bike commuting by leading one of the six bike trains to Bike to Work Day! Join one of these 1-3 mile trains starting in different locations across the city. Meet your bike train leaders at one of the following stops at 7:30am to bike downtown together.

  • Train 1 starting location: Neutaconkanut Recreation Center – Mayor Elorza’s train!
  • Train 2 starting location: Mount Pleasant High School
  • Train 3 starting location: Lippitt Park
  • Train 4 starting location: Roger Williams Park
  • Train 5 starting location: Wayland Square
  • Train 6 starting location: Coventry Bike Path– intermediate level – captains will also lead a ride home at the end of the work day
Bike Trains Map
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UPDATED: Possible project at Parcel 12

By on October 6, 2014 in Downcity

parcel-12

Image from Bing Maps

The so-called ‘triangle-parcel’ in Capital Center adjacent to Burnside Park could soon see a new development.

On the October 9th agenda of the Providence Redevelopment Authority is a:

Motion to approve lease with option to purchase Parcel 12 located at 5 Exchange Street, to First Bristol Corporation.

According to the Minutes of the PRA July 10th meeting , the lease would be for the construction of a hotel. First Bristol are the owners of the Hampton Inn & Suites on Weybosset Street.

The last proposed development on Parcel 12 was way back in 2006 when The Carpionato Group also proposed a hotel on the site. Let’s hope this one is a little less ugly.

Update: ProJo reports:

The company envisions a six-story building with 120 suites, with an estimated cost of $18 million to $20 million, Karam said.

First Bristol seems to be leaning toward an extended stay hotel concept.

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Downtown Design Review Committee Meeting – July 14, 2014

By on July 8, 2014 in Downcity
Downtown Design Review Committee
Monday, July 14, 2014 – 4:45pm
Department of Planning and Development, 1st Floor Conference Room 444 Westminster Street, Providence, RI 02903

drc-roundOpening Session

  • Call to Order
  • Roll Call
  • Approval of Meeting Minutes of May 12, 2014 and June 9, 2014

New Business

159-weybosset

159 Weybosset Street. Image from Google Street View.

1. DRC Application No. 14.13: 159 Weybosset Street Proposal to remove an egress door on the north elevation, create a new opening on the east elevation for a new egress door, and to construct a new handicap ramp on the property.

burnside-street-view

Burnside Park. Image from Google Street View.

2. DRC Application No. 14.14 2 Kennedy Plaza (Burnside Park) Proposal to install a new pathway across the park, modify the existing fencing at new entry points, install new granite steps at the Burnside Statue, install lighting, and construct a new granite arch at the corner of Exchange Street and Exchange Terrace.

Adjournment

Agenda
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2014 Burnside Park Music Series and Beer Garden

By on June 23, 2014 in Events, Parks/Open Space

beer-garden-2014

The Thursday, September 11th Burnside Park Music Series and Beer Garden features music by Detroit Rebellion.

Toeing the line between jazz and no-wave, this blues driven garage duo creeps and grooves their way to a good time.

Visit the event page on Facebook for more details. This is the last beer garden of the season, so BE THERE!

The 2014 Season of the Burnside Park Music Series and Beer Garden kicks off this Thursday, June 26, 2014 at 4:30 with performers Supreme Satellite Band.

You’ve earned it, Providence: an entire season of afternoons in the park. The sun on your face, the breeze on your skin, a well-deserved drink in your hand, and the kind of music that means it drifting all around you.

Every Thursday this summer, Burnside Park will be transformed into your favorite restaurant, your family outing, your afternoon date, and your patio bar. Lounge on the grass, grab a bite from your favorite food truck, or sidle up to the tables and chairs at Trinity Brewhouse’s beer garden (open from 4:30-7:30 every Thursday!). Live music from 5:30-7 ensures that your personal dance hall, showspace, and musician’s salon is but a stroll downtown away.

2014’s Burnside Music Series will be filled with unstoppable rhythms, celestial harmonies, unparalleled musicianship, and good times.

Whether you’re wrapping up work, heading in for your shift, cavorting with friends, or just reveling in something other than winter, join us by the fountain Thursday afternoons. You work hard. You deserve it.

Visit the Burnside Park Music Series and Beer Garden Facebook event page for a listing of this summer’s performers.

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Bike to Work Day – May 16, 2014

By on May 14, 2014 in Bicycles

bike-broadway

Date: Friday, May 16, 2014
Time: 7-10am; Mayor Taveras will speak at around 8:15am
Location: Burnside Park, rain or shine!

With spring in the air, the City of Providence and the RI Bicycle Coalition invite you to celebrate Bike to Work Day on Friday, May 16th as part of National Bike Month. Mayor Taveras urges everyone to bike to work or try cycling for fun, fitness or transportation. Free coffee and food will be provided to all participants at Burnside Park. Other activities include bike repair, vendors, and a raffle. Mayor Taveras will also announce the 2014 Providence Cyclovias!

Local sponsors include: City of Providence’s Healthy Communities Office, RI Bicycle Coalition, the Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Commission, Dash Bicycle Shop, Greater Kennedy Plaza, Whole Foods, New Harvest Coffee Roasters, and Legend Bicycle.

Continue Reading →

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News & Notes

By on May 12, 2014 in News & Notes

Kennedy Plaza

Two ProJo articles last weekend about Kennedy Plaza:

The Providence Journal: A View from Providence: Hangout or hub, Kennedy Plaza certainly is quirky

People get off buses. Others get on. Some stand in line, others stand around. They wear headphones and backpacks, some carry bags.
The plaza draws folks from all walks. Students. Workers. Homeless. Peddlers. Visitors.

The Providence Journal: Some argue that good parks and public spaces can revitalize RI economy

In Kennedy Plaza, bus and vehicle traffic compete with people wanting to use the park. There is too much hard surface; too few trees. There’s too much noise; too little to do.

“If you leave public spaces barren you get this blight,” Wood said. “You create a draw for all sorts of undesirable activity.”

Continue Reading →

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What Cheer / What Jeer 2013

By on January 5, 2014 in RIPTA, What Cheer/What Jeer
We’re running a little late this year but we’re finally ready to run down the What Cheers and What Jeers of 2013.

what-cheer-south-street-power-station

WHAT CHEER: South Street Power Station (Maybe)

In 2013 we got another plan to redevelop the moribund South Street Power Station. While numerous plans for the building, which at one point was known as the Dynamo House, have come and gone, this latest plan engenders optimism as Brown University is involved now.

In January the New York Times and then The Brown Daily Herald reported on rumors of the university becoming involved in the project. Then in June Brown announced it’s plans for the building in a letter to the campus community.

Those plans include a home for the long talked about URI/RIC Nursing School, office space for Brown, and some sort of retail component in the former power station building. Brown also has a developer engaged in building a student apartment building in the neighboring parking lot along Point Street and the City is involved in plans for a parking structure across Point Street from that.

The latest news on the project comes from the ProJo just before Christmas with reports that the PRA is considering condemning the building so the project can move forward.

While this could all be looked at as another in a long line of proposals for the building, Brown’s involvement makes this proposal seem more promising. 2014 will show us if this project actually moves forward.

Continue Reading →

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Champlin Foundation grant to fund gateway project at Burnside Park

By on December 4, 2013 in Downcity, Parks/Open Space, RIPTA, Transportation

exchange-exchange

From the Downtown Providence Parks Conservancy:

$395,000 Champlin Foundations Grant Awarded to Downtown Providence Parks Conservancy’s Kennedy Plaza Project

Funds will build a pedestrian gateway within Burnside Park

The Champlin Foundations recently granted $395,000 to the Downtown Providence Parks Conservancy (DPPC) and The Providence Foundation to create a pedestrian gateway within Burnside Park. This significant investment will fund a detailed design and reconstruction of the park’s northeast corner, which is a critical element of capital improvement in Greater Kennedy Plaza. An attractive new entrance by the Burnside statue and a corresponding footpath will encourage more varied, healthy activities in our downtown public spaces. By ensuring that the passageway remains safe, clean and well-lit, this project will allow travelers to easily walk through the park on their way from the train station to the RIPTA bus hub, strengthening this connection. Construction is scheduled to begin next spring, with completion expected in late summer 2014.

First proposed during a community charrette led by international placemaking experts at the Project for Public Spaces in 2008, this gateway improvement project is one of several transformative changes planned within Greater Kennedy Plaza next year. The city of Providence has committed $1.7 million from its downtown circulator project to reconfigure traffic patterns around the parks. With support from RIPTA, plans call for the relocation of bus berths to the outside of Kennedy Plaza to make way for a pedestrian plaza and market.

Continue Reading →

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Greater Kennedy Plaza summer season programming Survey

By on October 31, 2013 in Arts, Parks/Open Space

hannah-burnside

Greater Kennedy Plaza is seeking your input on the outdoor programming that takes place there, see information below:

Many thanks for a great outdoor programming season in Greater Kennedy Plaza! Many of you have told us all season how much what we do improves the place we all share – and your ideas for improving on it – here is your chance to help us learn how to continually improve our programming and our public spaces downtown by filling out this quick online survey. Completing a survey gets you a chance to win one of two Prize Packs which include a membership to the Providence Children’s Museum, Fourpack for free ice skating & rentals to the Providence Rink, and a Dave & Buster’s power card. First winner will be drawn on Friday.

Take the Survey

Full disclosure: I am a member of the Downtown Providence Parks Conservancy Board.
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Last Burnside Park Beer Garden of the season

By on September 19, 2013 in Arts, Events

beer-garden

Photo from Greater Kennedy Plaza

After being extended for two more weeks, tonight is for real the last Burnside Park Beer Garden Music Series event of the year.

We’ve had a great season featuring a wide array of local music–clearly Providence has a wealth of talent! We have one more night for you on Thursday, Sept 19.

Grupo Sazon, is an amazing Latin band featuring master percussionist Jesus Andujar. This high energy band, with Latin and Cuban influences, have lit up the WaterFire stage twice this season to rave reviews! What a great way to end the park series and usher in Fall.

As always, relax before the show at the Trinity Brewhouse + Revival beer garden – serving locally brewed beer and wine starting at 4:30PM (music at 5:30PM)! Lawn games + food truck fare throughout – including Fancheezical, Lotus Pepper, Noble Knots, Panino Express + Like No Udder.

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