Dear Neighbor,
As Mayor, making Providence a city that works for every resident and business owner has been my top priority – and that means investing in much-needed infrastructure improvements.
Together, we are building a new Providence by doing business differently and by making meaningful investments across our city with a long-term vision in mind. We are no longer kicking the can down the road, deferring maintenance or waiting for things to break before we fix them. Instead, we are investing in our residents, business owners, families and youth who depend on these resources daily.
The past few months have been busy with construction crews all over the city. A newly configured Broad Street is now safer, accessible and welcoming to multiple forms of transportation, putting us on the cutting-edge of urban design. The street also celebrates local culture with the colors of the Dominican flag striped down the middle and spaces made for the neighborhood’s iconic chimi trucks.
Downtown, the Riverwalk and Waterplace Park are beloved public places for residents and visitors alike. Through a grant submitted by the City and secured by Senator Whitehouse, we will soon be making bold investments to these areas to address climate change-fueled sea level rise and frequent flooding.
Once completed, the Riverwalk and Waterplace Park will be accessible for people of all ages and abilities thanks to new entrances, bridges and ramps.
In addition to improving the area’s climate resiliency, this project will connect to our growing Urban Trail Network by linking the Riverwalk to the Woonasquatucket River Greenway.
Providence school facilities are a top priority of our infrastructure plan, continuing the work of our ambitious five-year School Capital Plan that we announced in 2019. We need school facilities that inspire our students to learn, are responsive to their needs, and prepare them to compete in a 21st century workforce.
This year, we have already invested $100 million to rebuild the Narducci Learning Center, Spaziano Elementary School Annex, D’Abate Elementary and Classical High School facilities.
Progress and project updates on Providence’s infrastructure projects are documented on the City’s Infrastructure Project Dashboard, which can be found at providenceri.gov/infrastructure.
These improvements are a collaborative effort between my administration and the City Council, as we both share a vested interest in ensuring Providence residents feel connected and have the opportunity to thrive in our city.
Together, we are ensuring a bright and resilient future for generations to come.
Sincerely,
Jorge O. Elorza