by Abigail Appel | Aug 30, 2021 | Council News, Press Release, Ward-7
Council President John J. Igliozzi (Ward 7) today joined Senior Deputy Majority Leader Nicholas J. Narducci Jr. (Ward 4), Mayor Jorge Elorza, the Providence Parks Department, the Woonasquatucket River Watershed Council, the Providence Housing Authority and members of the Board of Park Commissioners to unveil recently completed improvements at Merino Park, located in the Hartford neighborhood of Providence.
“I am proud to unveil impressive new improvements to Merino Park today. Working with neighbors, the WRWC, the Parks Department, and the Mayor, we have been able to build on the growing list of amenities Merino Park has to offer our community., Residents can now enjoy a beautifully revitalized basketball court and soccer field, along with the other activities areas and green spaces. Parks are a crucial component of quality of life in our city, and I am always glad to allocate funding and resources to ensure that children, families, and people of all ages have access to beautiful, well-maintained parks in every neighborhood,” stated Council President John J. Igliozzi.
Igliozzi, an advocate for city parks, established the City Council Parks and Recreational Trust Fund Account in 2015, which requires developers receiving tax stabilizations to contribute a percentage of their reduced property taxes to the trust fund to go towards parks and recreation capital improvement projects. These recent improvements are the most recent in the Council President’s long-term effort to transform Merino Park. Throughout his tenure with the City Council, Igliozzi has invested nearly $1 million in the park, including the construction of the Woonasquatucket Adventure Park which opened in October 2019, a new playground, new lighting, a new parking lot, security cameras, and a water park.
“We are committed to making Providence a vibrant, thriving community, and that includes providing recreational and green spaces our community can enjoy,” said Mayor of Providence Jorge O. Elorza. “The improvements unveiled today at Merino Park make the park an inviting place for all, and I’m appreciative of our partners on the City Council and in the community who helped make these park improvements a reality.”
The Parks Department oversaw the design and construction for the project, which includes a newly resurfaced basketball court and installation of new backboards. Additionally, the soccer field was revitalized with new turf and irrigation. Council President Igliozzi allocated $113,450 in Capital Improvement Plan funding towards these necessary improvements.
“There is something for everyone along the Woonasquatucket River Greenway,” said Wendy Nilsson, Parks Department Superintendent. “We are thrilled to enhance and revitalize the well-used courts and field at Merino Park as part of our ongoing work to improve courts and fields throughout our City parks.”
Merino Park has over 18 acres of recreational and green space open to the public and is located at 265 Hartford Ave in Providence. This summer, the Parks Department has worked to revitalize seven parks across the city including Arthur and Ruby Lawrence Park, Major Park, Brown Street Park, Father Lennon Park, Morris Ave Tot Lot, Annie Morris Park and the Blackstone Park Woods Trail.
“I commend the Parks Department and my City colleagues for their dedication to the consistent improvement of parks and green spaces in our city. In my role as a city councilman and on the board of parks commissioners, I know the pivotal role that parks play in the social and physical well being of young people in our city. I look forward to continuing these improvement efforts across the city of Providence,” added Senior Deputy Majority Leader Nicholas J. Narducci Jr.
To learn about parks in your neighborhood, visit the Parks Department interactive map here: https://bit.ly/3jsvoao
by Michael Giles | Aug 20, 2021 | Council News, Press Release, Ward-7
“Congratulations to Dr. Javier Montañez on being named Acting Superintendent of the Providence Public School District for the upcoming school year. This is the time for us as a city and state to collectively support the district, and I want to thank Governor McKee for guiding this phase of the state turnaround of Providence schools towards stability and success. Dr. Montañez’s relationships and depth of understanding of Providence schools — both as an educator and a former student — make him uniquely suited to provide a steady and firm foundation, as well as to be an agent of change who can to lead our school district in a positive direction and give our students the excellent education they deserve.”
by Abigail Appel | Aug 18, 2021 | Council News, Press Release, Ward-1
The South Water Street Trail will provide a safe and enjoyable transportation option for our families, children, and community.
Bike-friendly street infrastructure makes streets safer for everyone — pedestrians, business patrons, visitors — not just bicyclists. Most importantly, this is an opportunity to be less car-centric and create a more equitable, sustainable, and environmentally-friendly ward and city.
This particular street has been under siege from speeding cars, ATVs, and other non-pedestrian-friendly activities for years. Many of our constituents, including local resident abutters, provided robust feedback and were supportive of the plans for the South Water Street Trail, which includes traffic calming measures that will mitigate the issues in this area.
During the planning stages for the South Water Street Trail project, there were several meetings and communications sent with opportunities to provide comment. Unfortunately, some individuals did not participate or engage in that process. However, we’re taking the concerns of these parties and also our business community very seriously.
Our local businesses are very important stakeholders; we want them to continue to succeed and we encourage folks to patronize their businesses. For the last few days, the City’s Department of Planning and Development has been reevaluating aspects of the plans in hopes to accommodate them as much as possible, however, removing the bike plans is non-negotiable as it is supported by hundreds of residents and will provide a safe and enjoyable transportation option for our families, children, and community. Change is not comfortable or easy, but we ultimately look forward to the way this project will reinvigorate the South Water Street corridor.
To review the plans, click here.
by Abigail Appel | Aug 16, 2021 | Council News, Press Release
Today, the flag at City Hall will be lowered to half-staff in honor of the late City Sergeant Dave Tassoni. Sergeant Tassoni was a dedicated city servant, and he will be dearly missed by the City Council, the Mayoral Administration and all of the city staff who had the pleasure of working with him.
Our deepest condolences are extended to the family and loved ones of Sergeant Tassoni. We are profoundly grateful to Sergeant Tassoni for his years of service to the City of Providence, and his memory will remain at city hall for years to come.
by Abigail Appel | Aug 13, 2021 | Council News, Press Release, Ward-12
I am deeply saddened and disturbed by the news of the shooting of a 26-year-old man on Smith Hill last night. I am left, like so many other community members, wondering who could be the next victim and how we can restore a sense of safety in our neighborhood. To the victim’s family, I offer my prayers and condolences. To the Smith Hill community, I ask for your support. Be it the police or myself, no one person alone can end this disturbing violence. But together, we can.
The isolation and uncertainty we have all faced in this pandemic has put an incredible strain on the strength of our community, but if we come together once again as a neighborhood, I know that we can begin working towards a safer Smith Hill. I ask that as community members you come out to community events, play in our streets, and watch out for your neighbors because coming together will be our greatest act of strength.
I am working closely with the Council office and the Rogers Recreation Center to ensure our recreation center will be open until 11pm at night. Our youth desperately need positive spaces with adult mentors and programming to keep them off the streets. Without these spaces, youth most at risk of being impacted by violence are left without reasons to live.
by Abigail Appel | Aug 12, 2021 | Council News, Press Release, Ward-6
Twelve hours after the Providence City Council met with the Chief of Police regarding crime in the city we found ourselves in the midst of shots fired at a police officer, missing him by inches.
The professionalism exhibited by the Providence Police bringing this case to a peaceful conclusion without injury speaks to the training and leadership, and commitment to the community of the officers on scene. I once again commend Chief Clements, and the command staff in bringing this to a close peacefully. As always, I am grateful and thankful to the men and women of the Providence Police Department and they have my full support.
