We’re feeling incredibly honored and grateful this week.
Last night, alongside our partners at the City of Providence and Bowman Consulting, the Woonasquatucket River Watershed Council was proud to receive the Excellence in Plan Implementation Award from the American Planning Association Rhode Island Chapter for the Woonasquatucket River Greenway.
The American Planning Association exists to elevate and unite a diverse planning profession, helping communities, leaders, and residents anticipate and meet the needs of a changing world. To be recognized by a community of planners doing this kind of work across the country means a lot, and it reflects the strength of collaboration here in Providence.
We also extend our sincere thanks to Gabe Amo for presenting a Congressional citation honoring this project and the partnerships that made it possible.
This award celebrates the Kinsley Avenue and Promenade Street Greenway Project, a once-overlooked stretch of riverfront that has been transformed into a vibrant, accessible linear park just west of downtown. Today, that space is a one-mile multi-use trail for walking, biking, and rolling, with pocket parks, kayak launches, and green infrastructure that captures and treats stormwater before it reaches the river. It is a place where recreation, transportation, and environmental stewardship come together along the Woonasquatucket.
This work would not be possible without deep partnership, shared vision, and a commitment to investing in both people and place. We are proud to be part of a team that believes in what the Woonasquatucket River can be.
And to all of the 2026 award recipients, congratulations. Each of you is helping shape a stronger, more resilient Rhode Island:
Ashley Sweet, Farhad Atash, Annette Bourne, Rochelle Lee, the Rhode Island Division of Statewide Planning, the Rhode Island Executive Office of Housing, Kimberly Korioth and partners at RIDEM and the Executive Climate Change Coordinating Council, Hongbing Tang, and the Community Housing Land Trust of Rhode Island. We are honored to be recognized alongside all of you, you all are amazing!
We share this award with our community, our partners, and everyone who continues to show up for the river.