A neighborhood people choose to come back to.
Riverside has a unique history — families who have stayed for generations, intermingled with a steady stream of new neighbors. Our vision is to make Riverside an increasingly desirable place to live, work, and visit, so the next generation wants to come back to it too.
What we're working toward
We're invested in community safety, beautification, cohesion and social connection, health and wellness, and preserving our parks and natural resources well into the future. We envision a thriving "small town" economy that celebrates Riverside's own local culture — including its nautical and amusement-park past — where residents and visitors can shop local and feel proud to do it.
Riverside also has real potential to strengthen education at every level, from elementary through secondary and beyond — improving graduation rates and access to trade and post-secondary credentials for local youth.
Part of that vision is revitalizing Riverside Square and our "Main Street," Bullocks Point Avenue, as an arts district: live-work spaces, galleries, restaurants, independent retail, and music venues, complementing the historic and recreational resources already here — Crescent Park, the Looff Carousel, Sabin Point Park, and the Pomham Rock Lighthouse. The East Bay Bike Path runs directly through Riverside Square and already draws some of the state's largest road races and recreational riders.
Community-wide goals
Our long-term vision for the whole Riverside neighborhood.
- Improve public safety across Riverside, including advocating for a police substation in Riverside Square, so it's an inviting destination for tourists, homeowners, and businesses alike.
- Improve public access to the waterfront, including upgrades to Crescent (Rose Larissa) and Sabin Point Parks, better water quality for recreation and beach use, and ongoing support for the East Bay Bike Path.
- Grow community programming — concerts and festivals across the neighborhood, especially at our waterfront parks.
- Advocate for a comprehensive plan to address coastal erosion — including mitigation, stabilization, and improved stormwater drainage — and its effects on homeowners and public parks.
- Reopen or repurpose Oldham Elementary School in a way that promotes community engagement, recreation, and the arts.
- Increase retention in secondary education among Riverside youth, and improve access to affordable secondary, trade, and post-secondary opportunities close to home.
- Increase investment in and awareness of services for those most in need — including soup kitchens like Good Neighbor and Riverside Congregational Church, and affordable health and mental health clinics like the East Bay Community Action Program.
- Maintain close working relationships with the East Providence Planning Department and Office of Community Development, the East Providence Chamber of Commerce, the Riverside Branch Library, and the nonprofits serving our neighborhood.
Riverside Square specific
Focused goals for our village center and "Main Street," Bullocks Point Avenue.
- Preserve the "downtown" character of Riverside Square — attracting developers invested in historic preservation and the arts, and promoting mixed-use development aimed at artists and small independent business owners.
- Improve streetscapes in Riverside Square — upgraded lighting, pedestrian-friendly features like bike racks, bike lanes, and crosswalks, off-street parking, coordinated design themes, and better upkeep of existing housing and commercial properties.
- Advocate for commercial loan programs and tax benefits with local and state officials, to promote Riverside Square as a hub for small independent businesses.
- Keep promoting public and environmentally friendly transportation through Riverside Square.
Want the fuller picture?
A market analysis for Riverside Square, prepared to support this vision, is available from Riverside Renaissance Movement on request — reach out and we'll share it.
This vision only moves with more hands.
Bring an idea to a meeting, or tell us where you'd like to help.