Magaziner, Secretary Buttigieg, Senators Celebrate $1 Million in Federal Funding for Green Space and Safe Streets in Providence
PROVIDENCE, R.I. — U.S. Representative Seth Magaziner (RI-02) today celebrated $1 million in federal funding to improve the quality of life for residents in Olneyville, Valley, Hartford, Silver Lake, and Smith Hill by expanding access to green spaces and improving roads and pedestrian access along the Woonasquatucket River Greenway. This federal funding, secured by Magaziner and Senators Reed and Whitehouse, was announced at a press conference with U.S. Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg.
“Every Rhode Island neighborhood should be walkable, clean and resilient,” said Representative Seth Magaziner. “With this federal funding, the neighborhoods of Olneyville, Valley and Smith Hill will become greener and more accessible, benefitting residents, small businesses and pedestrians.”
“The Biden-Harris administration is proud to join Governor McKee, Mayor Smiley, the Rhode Island Congressional delegation, and community leaders, to break ground on the River Greenway Improvement Project, building a safe path for people to walk, bike, or roll, separated from vehicle traffic,” said U.S. Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg. “This fills in one of the last remaining unbuilt pieces of greenway, providing the ability to travel safely and affordably from Olneyville and points west to jobs and opportunities in the Valley District, downtown Providence, and the whole region because this will connect to the train station. We’ve seen a lot of others breaking promises; we’re breaking ground.”
This federal grant will improve the quality of life of Rhode Islanders by connecting residents to green spaces, increasing accessibility for the mobility impaired, and leading to less congestion. Specifically, this funding will be used to help construct a safe, ADA-accessible connection from Hartford Avenue and the Hartford Park Housing Development to the entrance of Merino Park via Heath Street. Heath Street currently serves as the only access road from the Providence neighborhoods of Hartford and Silver Lake to Merino Park and the Woonasquatucket River Greenway.
Hartford Park Housing Development, located on Hartford Avenue is home to 1,275 residents, the majority of whom are women, children and elderly, and 215 of whom have disabilities. This project will drastically improve safety for vulnerable residents and include pedestrian, and bicycle infrastructure, including sidewalks. Accordingly, the project will help provide the local community with safe access to the Greenway and ultimately numerous educational, career development, economic, recreational and health resources along it.
This funding is among 14 grants secured by Rep. Magaziner in the first tranche of government funding for fiscal year 2024 signed into law by President Biden.
The full list of the 14 grants secured by Rep. Magaziner can be found here.