More than one participant singled out the planning process for the entrance to Roger Williams Park on Broad Street as a success story they would like to see duplicated. They appreciated the level of interchange with the neighborhood. "We routinely meet with neighbors so parks are reflections of their needs," a representative of the Providence's Parks and Recreation Department said.

One participant expressed his belief that "the openspace that is most valuable is greenspace." Another added that all openspace is potential greenspace.

Participants then created the following list of the uses and benefits of openspace and greenspace.

• Recreational
• Reading
• Walking dogs
• Play
• Contemplate
• Cooling in the summer
• Warming in winter
• Restoration to well-being
• Growing food
• Environmental teaching space
• Raise property values
• Community gathering place
• Visual assets
• Urban greenspace
• Absorb rain water runoff (and save CSO $)
• Aesthetic

"There really isn't any neighborhood that has enough greenspace in this city," one person said. That sentiment received general agreement from those attending this session. A woman added that she felt greenspace and openspace in Providence's poorer neighborhoods tended to be fenced in while "nicer sections don't get that treatment." Several individuals agreed that access to existing greenspaces and openspaces in Providence is too limited. Examples given were the Valley Street Park where, one person said, the upper community has no access and the North Burial Ground where access is available only from the south.

The point was raised that with greater access there is a greater need for events and programs to draw children and the community to utilize those spaces. That step would result in fewer negative and destructive activities by placing more people ó and more watchful eyes ó in the parks, a participant said.
 

As a basic step, there is a need to increase funding for the city's parks department, another person said. She felt that many of the group's suggested action steps would first require staff to carry them out and funding was required to make that possible. "The state needs to help the city out with greenspace funding," she said. She explained that Providence, as the state capital and largest city, is the source of many benefits for the state of Rhode Island and that the state should reimburse Providence for those benefits.

"Get trees where they are needed," was one response to the request for desired future actions. This person thought that the existing street tree program should receive greater support. He questioned the city's compliance with his reading of a state law that mandates the replacement of trees by the city when they are removed. Another person called for the city to take control of ponds, "before they disappear entirely."

"A program and decision-making process to make privately owned openspace useful and attractive," was another response to the request for future actions. That process should include code enforcement efforts, vacant lot transfers to neighbors and a community decision-making process on reuse options that includes incentives for neighborhood ownership. Those efforts should be overseen by the city, one participant said.

A person felt there is a need for a comprehensive neighborhood community design planning process with a focus on greenspace. Currently, he said, greenspaces and openspaces are in pockets as the planning process is divisive and places greenspace in competition with housing.

"An overall voice for openspace in all the discussions is really missing," one woman said. "A house brings more revenues than a park or openspace. We need to develop an argument beyond quality of life." She felt that more funding in support of openspace/greenspace initiatives is needed and noted that one problem lies in the zoning board "consistently granting variances at a loss of greenspace around buildings."

Other suggestions included creating a funding structure for openspace/greenspace efforts by, for example, obtaining brownfield revolving loan funds for openspace creation, incorporating the arts into openspace planning and obtaining more funding for park maintenance. Participants said incorporating the arts would create economic spin-off opportunities and that an endowment should be created in support of neighborhood parks.