The Rhode Island Department of Health, Grow Smart Rhode Island, and the Providence Streets Coalition today announced the recipients of the “Rhode Island Streets Transformation Project (RISTP)” grants. From Woonsocket to Bristol to Cranston to Providence, these grants are supporting community-led initiatives to promote street safety, healthy active transportation, and creative activation of streets and public spaces in communities throughout Rhode Island.
“We are thrilled to support so many great projects across Rhode Island and know that these small but impactful efforts led by municipalities, Health Equity Zones, and community organizations will help raise awareness and support for safer and healthier streets,” said Liza Burkin, lead organizer of the Providence Streets Coalition.
In total, the RISTP is distributing $93,000 to seventeen projects including a Walking School Bus program in Providence, an Open Streets event on Park Avenue in Portsmouth, design work for crosswalks connecting the new train station area to the Tidewater Landing area in Pawtucket, and bicycle safety programs in Bristol, Warren, and Middletown.
“These temporary demonstration projects are a great way for communities to experiment with ideas for improving pedestrian, bike, and accessible infrastructure improvements before pursuing more expensive and permanent improvements,” said John Flaherty of Grow Smart RI.
“Every person and every community in Rhode Island deserves safe and healthy transportation options, and options for active living,” said Interim Director of Health Utpala Bandy, MD, MPH. “Our partnership in the Rhode Island Streets Transformation Project is one of many efforts we have underway to get at the underlying socioeconomic and environmental determinants of health. We look forward to seeing all the good that comes from each of these Rhode Island Streets Transformation proposals for years to come.”
Health Equity Zones, or HEZs, are a proven model for delivering public health services that are more equitable in Rhode Island. Through the Health Equity Zone initiative, the State is investing funding and resources to train community leaders to visualize and deliver programs and services that best serve the unique needs of their community. This work helps all Rhode Islanders overcome zip code-based barriers to living their healthiest life. RISTP awardees include the HEZs in Cranston and Bristol/Warren.
The program is being funded by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Preventative Health and Health Services Block Grant. This is a federal funding mechanism to support local programs to help communities be healthier.
“We are going to be distributing four wheelchair-accessible picnic tables built by the Steel Yard to outdoor spaces throughout Rhode Island to make sure that accessibility is an important factor for all businesses and open spaces,” said Tina Pederson of Real Access Motivates Progress (RAMP). “We’re very excited for this opportunity and we look forward to more and more people seeing and purchasing these tables for our communities – so everybody has a seat at the table!”
All projects, which participated in a Call for Applications and an extensive review process, will be taking place through the summer of 2023. For more information, visit pvdstreets.org/grants.
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2023 Rhode Island Streets Transformation Grants:
| Organization | Project | Short Description | Amount |
| Downtown Woonsocket Collaborative | Woonsocket Complete Streets | Advocacy campaign and technical assistance for a Green & Complete Streets ordinance | $2,000.00 |
| City of Cranston & OneCranston Health Equity Zone (HEZ) | Cranston Active Streets For All (CASA) | Community organizing and outreach around active mobility | $5,000.00 |
| Town of Portsmouth | Park Ave Open Street Event | Open streets event on Park Avenue that will be used as a catalytic opportunity to convert a Green and Complete Streets resolution into an ordinance | $4,000.00 |
| West Broadway Neighborhood Association | Demystifying Zoning and Activating Civic Empowerment | Education and advocacy for safe and active mobility within Providence’s Comprehensive Plan update and zoning ordinance | $4,000.00 |
| Pawtucket Foundation | Downtown Pawtucket Intersections | Design work for crosswalks connecting the new train station area to the Tidewater Landing area, to be used as a catalyst to push forward a Green & Complete Streets ordinance | $2,500.00 |
| Town of Bristol | State/Thames Pedestrian Infrastructure Demonstration Project | Temporary artistic crosswalk demonstration for future raised crosswalk improvements at a problematic intersection | $3,000.00 |
| Bristol/Warren HEZ | Like to Bike: Building a Cycling Community and Culture in the East Bay | Cycling safety programs with Bristol/Warren youth and families | $3,000.00 |
| Town of Barrington | Community Crosswalk Design Contest and Painting at Wood Street-Waseca Avenue Intersection | Youth crosswalk design contest and temporary painting | $2,991.58 |
| Town of Middletown | Middletown Community Walk and Bike Safety | Bike and scooter safety classes | $2,000.00 |
| American Planning Association – Rhode Island Chapter | 2023 Park(ing) Day PVD | 2023 Park(ing) Day in Providence, converting at least 20 downtown parking spots into people-friendly uses for one day | $1,000.00 |
| RAMP: Real Access Motivates Progress | Everyone has a seat at Tina’s Table | Production and placement of four wheelchair accessible picnic tables built by the Steel Yard | $12,500.00 |
| PVD Bike Collective | Free/Open Repair Sessions | Free and mobile bike repair at Kennedy Plaza and Sims Ave | $3,000.00 |
| Rhode Island Latino Arts | Museo del Barrio | A program supporting community arts, culture, history, and physical activity in South Providence | $6,000.00 |
| The Steel Yard | Street Closure Tool Kit! Custom Art Amenities for Sims Ave. in Providence! | Creating a package of locally made materials for open streets events | $10,000.00 |
| Brown Urban Mobility Project | East Side Transit and Cycling Glow Up | Artistic safety improvements to transit stops and pedestrian infrastructure | $2,000.00 |
| Bike Newport | Newport Traffic Garden | Installation of a “traffic garden” to be used for road safety education | $15,000.00 |
| Olneyville Neighborhood Association | Walking School Bus | Planning, training, and recruitment for a walking school bus program | $15,000.00 |