On June 25th, the Newport HEZ hosted a Creativity Lab for local residents – to envision the future of our built and natural neighborhood environment.
Numerous community organizations were present with engaging and interactive activities to inspire community ideas and feedback, including:
- Aquidneck Island Land Trust
- Aquidneck Resilience
- Bike Newport
- Eastern RI Conservation
- FabNewport
- Newport HEZ
- Newport Mental Health
- Newport Open Space Partnership
- Newport Restoration Foundation
- Newport Tree Conservancy
- RI Coalition Against Domestic Violence
Bike Newport brought an interactive map and invited participants to use stickers,markers, and other indicators to share where they see the need for sidewalks, bike lanes, bus stops, street lights, and tree cover. A sensory-focused activity asked participants “What do you wish you could: see, feel and hear in your neighborhood and around Newport?” Residents shared what was pleasant, what was unpleasant, and what would make traveling around Newport more enjoyable.
Common themes emerged from these activities.
- Participants talked about seeing more plant life. Adding trees and flowers for shade and natural beauty along the shared-use path and neighborhood streets were solutions that residents offered.
- Participants want to hear more laughter and music as they moe about.
- When asked what residents want to feel, the overwhelming response was safety and love. They shared that these go hand in hand – when they feel safe on local streets, they are more likely to travel, play, laugh, and relax in these public spaces.
Some ideas resonated with many participants:
- In the mapping activity, Maple Avenue, Girard Avenue, and Sunset Boulevard raised concerns about speeding traffic and lack of lighting.
- Several residents proposed putting speed bumps, like the ones on Hillside Avenue, onto Girard Avenue, Maple Avenue, and Sunset Boulevard.
- Residents also want more street lights on Girard Avenue, Maple Avenue, and Riggs Road near Bayside Village.
- Other resonant recommendations included more trees along the shared-use path adjacent to the Walmart shopping center, crosswalks at the intersections of Gould Street, Tilley Avenue, and Congdon Avenue; and bike infrastructure on Admiral Kalbfus between Miantonomi Park and the Broadway intersection.
We look forward to sharing more results and recommendations from the Creativity Lab as we compile responses and as partner organization reports roll in.
Bike Newport