Overview and Methodology

Although Providence has an ample system of eight existing and developing greenways, the city offers several opportunities for additional greenways.  The methodology used to determine potential locations for new greenways included an examination of the State of Rhode Island Greenspace and Greenways Plan, a review of several academic and state greenway feasibility studies, an inspection of city maps, conversations with local residents and government officials, and onsite reconnaissance.  Special attention was devoted to existing linear landscape features such as rivers and streams, railroad rights of way, and utility easements.  Another important part of the process was the identification of connectable destination points such as parks, shopping centers, schools, cultural centers, places of employment, and residential neighborhoods.

In general, the density of development in the city has left few opportunities for new greenways.  Nevertheless, several potential greenway sites have been identified, the most promising of which is the West River, discussed at length in the section entitled The West River.  Besides this river, three additional greenway locations are considered: the Moshassuck River, a linkage between Roger Williams Park and Narragansett Landing, and a linkage between Pleasant Valley Parkway and the Woonasquatucket River.  Each of these locations presents considerable challenges to greenway development.  Because of this, implementation might require special justification. Arguably, the development of the West River Greenway could help provide the needed rationale.  The implementation of this greenway would complete the framework for a geographically comprehensive greenways system for the city.  With this foundation in place, the argument would be strong for developing the few missing linkages which would complete a fully interconnected citywide network of greenways.

Moshassuck River

The Moshassuck River is a small stream that originates in Lincoln, Rhode Island and flows southeastward toward Providence, entering the city just east of Interstate 95 on the Pawtucket border.  From here it proceeds southward to converge with the Woonasquatucket River downtown and ultimately flow into the upper Narragansett Bay.  Historically, the river powered numerous mills and was also connected to the Blackstone River to function as the lower section of the Blackstone Canal.  During the last century, the river steadily lost its functions as an industrial and transportation artery.  When Interstate 95 was constructed through Providence, a significant segment of the river was paved over.  Much of the 2.2-mile section of the river within the city’s boundaries runs through a narrow concrete channel.  Land use along the Providence part of the river is mostly industrial or open space, with just a few residential and commercial areas.

A greenway along the Moshassuck River would connect numerous points of interest, including the downtown River Walk, the State Capitol, Roger Williams Memorial Park, North Burial Ground, Collyer Field, the Bonanza Bus Terminal, and a few apartment buildings.  The greenway would also link a West River greenway to downtown Providence.  Unfortunately, as a former Brown student concluded in his senior thesis entitled “The Moshassuck River Greenway: A Feasibility Study,” a continuous greenway along the Moshassuck River would be difficult to design due to several physical barriers and a lack of suitable access points.[1]  The most significant obstacle is the river’s disappearance into a 0.5-mile culvert along the eastern side of Interstate 95, adjacent to the North Burial Ground.  Other challenges include steep slopes and several difficult highway underpasses.  Further studies are recommended.

Roger Williams Park to Narragansett Landing

Another greenway that I considered would connect the city’s 435-acre Victorian-era Roger Williams Park to the Narragansett Bay through the South Side neighborhood of Washington Park.  One possible route would follow Aldrich and Ernest Streets to the Municipal Wharf area; a second alternative would follow Washington Avenue to the Johnson and Wales University campus and then extend to the bay south of the Municipal Wharf.  In either case, the greenway would be about one mile long.  At present, there is little community support for this proposition, and with good reason.  Although Roger Williams Park is an attractive destination, the Narragansett Bay is currently occupied by a sewage treatment plant, transmission line yards, fuel storage

yards, recycling facilities, warehouses, and parking lots.  The character of this area may change in the future, however, as the city is currently studying the site for redevelopment.  Part of the New Cities project, which aims to redevelop 355 acres of underused property in three locations of the city, Providence’s Narragansett Bay waterfront (known as “Narragansett Landing”) could become an attractive area of white-collar offices, high-end apartment buildings, and cultural and recreational facilities.  The development of the proposed greenway between Roger Williams Park and the Bay will probably only be feasible when this vision is realized.

Pleasant Valley Parkway to the Woonasquatucket River

The half-mile stretch between the Woonasquatucket River and the eastern end of the landscaped Pleasant Valley Parkway offers another opportunity for a greenway.  While it might not be possible to route the entire trail off-road, the connection could at least be delineated with signs, plantings, and other sidewalk enhancements.  One possible route would follow along Convent Street to Raymond Street and then cross Chalkstone Avenue to Davis Park.  At this point the route would follow the existing trail along the eastern edge of Davis Park and then connect to the currently barren median strip of the southern Pleasant Valley Parkway.  The route would then continue directly to the Woonasquatucket River.  Alternatively, the greenway could follow Garfield Avenue past the Greene Middle School to the western side of Davis Park.  After traversing the park, the trail would extend to the Woonasquatucket River through what is now the large parking lot of an old factory.  In either case, the development of this greenway might also be more feasible in the future when the city has redeveloped the old factory district along the Woonasquatucket River (known as “Promenade”) into another “New City.”