+clean safe V I B R A N T THRIVING Public Spaces

P r o g r a m m i n g G r e a t e r K e n n e d y P l a z a

Lighter Quicker

Cheaper HEALTHIER

P r o v i d e n c e R h o d e I s l a n d

G r e a t e r K e n n e d y P l a z a

Stakeholder workshops with Project for Public Spaces 2008

Vision for a Greater Kennedy Plaza

+Greater Kennedy Plaza Programming History Programming Greater Kennedy Plaza area since 2008

GKP Programming provides:

Enhanced amenities and public space management for the downtown park system

Arts, Cultural, Educational and Recreational Public Programming

Manages Markets and facilitates Public Art

Others programs & special events (Cultural Festivals, Races)

Signature programming: Burnside Park Music Series and Beer Garden Family Programming with Kidoinfo (Storytime, Art in the Park, Play in the Park)

Collaborative programming: Downtown Farmers Market, Tweed Ride

Burnside Music Series + Beer Garden

Downtown Farmers Market

Food Truck Market

Family Programming: Storytime + Art in the Park

A variety of activities with inexpensive + recycled materials

A Fun Factor and multiple reasons to stay

Lighter Quicker Cheaper

A mobile playground

Mobile playground enhances existing programming

Play options makes uses of space more flexible

Good play options make events family-friendly and invites people of all ages to participate

Look for opportunities

Community organizations like Parkour RI and other youth groups love to share what they do

Partnerships are Key

+Community Programming Partners Farm Fresh Rhode Island Healthy Communities Office Providence Childrens Museum Rhode Island Museum of Science and Art (RIMOSA) Rhody Center for World Music and Dance Downcity Design Brown Student and Community Radio Roger Williams National Memorial Park Waterfire Providence RISD /RISD Museum Providence Community Library Books on the Square Partnership for Providence Parks

Childrens dance classes with Festival Ballet and Rhody Center for World Music and Dance

Be Creative Tweed Ride with RISD Museum + the Steel Yard

Mix it Up Touchable Public Art, Street Performers and a Marching Band get people on their feet

Grow your team

Weve grown our team to include outside experts like PPS

Seasonal staff and interns increasingly reflect the communities we serve, linguistically and culturally

Each individual brings a tie to a new community and audience.

+Cluster Activities Thursdays on the Plaza is dawn to dusk programming This helps people see the parks in their fully activated, introduces them to other programs, and pairs sedentary + active events

Take Advantage of Momentum

JUMP! Dance Company site

specific performance on climbable

sculpture installation

A climbable public art installation The Hannah, above, inspires climbing, play and dance activating the space 24/7

Visible markers of activity lead to more tangible and permanent outcomes

Success of the Mobile Playground lead to the donation of the Imagination Playground.

BOTH are still used.

+ Imagination Center a center for community and creative activity in our downtown parks

+Imagination Center Open Air Family Reading Room Imagination Playground Playspace

+ Imagination Playground

Interchangeable Moving Parts Promotes Active Play An attraction in its own right and Compliments Downtown Farmers Market, Arts & Cultural Programming

Healthy Families on the Plaza Program

Partnership established to support Farmers Market Reinvention

College Internship Program

Physical Sciences and Community Health Students

Enabled Play Programming

Added Health Outcomes to existing programing

Downtown Farmers Market Farm Fresh Rhode Island Providing access to: Fresh + healthy food New market added

opportunities for recreation

83% growth rate for credit/debit = increased market activity and vendor sales

224% growth for SNAP (5859/1806) = improved access to fresh food for those in need in downtown

+ A Successful Revitalization Snapshot: Tuesdays

Food trucks (11am-2pm), Kidoinfo Play in the Park Mobile Playground (3pm-6pm), Farmers Market (3pm-6pm) with dedicated health programming and workshops.

Reduce Barriers & Provide Opportunities for Active Transportation

n f

Bike to Work Day

Recycle-A-Bike Bike Doctor in Park Residence

Walking Tours

Partner with Pedestrian + Bike Advocacy Organizations

Walking Tours Make appreciation of cultural assets, history and amenities an active activity

Family Scavenger Hunt with Roger Williams National Memorial Park Revealed local history, natural assets, and public art on walk to our sister park

Walking Tours Help reinforce connections between places and walkability

Dont have to wait for redesign to catch up

+ Where do users of The Imagination Center come from?

Who Mostly an adult with their kid(s) (64.3%), followed by adults going with other parents (10.7%). Very small percentages go alone, with friends, or co-workers. How often The preference is to visit two or three times a week (36%) on weekdays (70%), and during programming time during lunch and early evening (60%). People tend to spend around 1-2 hours there (39.4%), or a little less (32.42% stay 30 min hour).

Where do users of the Parks come from?

+How do people get to the Parks?

+What do people who visit the Burnside do in the park?

+ Which events are people attending when visiting the Parks?

+[Burnside Park] is a desirable destination and a safe place to take my family. That's pretty amazing considering how a few years ago it wasn't a place I would venture on my own, let alone with a child. Your work is revitalizing our downtown and I cannot thank you enough. - survey respondent