Woonsocket's Main Street Livability Plan Honored by Smart Growth RI

Two days after the Woonsocket Budget Commission made the Main Street Livability Plan official with their approval, the playbook for downtown's revival has won Smart Growth Rhode Island’s sole “Outstanding Smart Growth Policies and Plans” Award for 2013.

The award annually honors individuals, plans and projects that strengthen, generate economic benefits and improve communities, according to Mayor Leo Fontaine's office.

The plan is the brainchild of City staffers Jennifer Siciliano, city planner, and Paulette Miller, acting director of planning & development, who identified project funding by writing a winning Statewide Planning Challenge Grant application.

Once funded, Siciliano built a 13-member steering committee, procured a professional facilitator (the Cecil Group), and coordinated multiple work sessions. The draft plan was presented to the public on April 3 at Ciro’s Restaurant. It was also a major component of the Main Street assessment and recommendations Roger Williams' graduate program in historic preservation students provided in their May 13 presentation. Succinctly, the students told officials and the public Main Street requires more residents, teamwork, organization and a full-time manager.

The plan guides and coordinates public and private investments toward a vibrant downtown Woonsocket where a revitalized Main Street becomes a more attractive and inviting place to live, work and shop.  The plan includes a number of recommendations that aim to leverage the City’s success with arts and entertainment and calls for a number of policy changes including changes in land use and zoning, streetscape improvements, creation of dedicated bikeways, improved pedestrian connections, and a reconfiguration of traffic patterns. Subcommittees are currently working to implement it, according to the Mayor's office.

The Woonsocket City Council approved a resolution adopting the plan May 20. The Woonsocket Budget Commission also approved the plan near the end of their June 3 meeting. During the Commission meeting, Council President and Commission member John Ward said making the plan official lends credibility to requests for grants needed to get the plan rolling. "You can't just go begging for money if you don't have a plan," Ward said.

The Smart Growth award ceremony is being held at Hope Artiste Village in Pawtucket on June 10 at 5:30 p.m.  Tickets to attend are $50 and can be reserved at www.GrowSmartRI.org.  

For additional information about the plan, the public can contact Siciliano at 401-767-1418 or jsiciliano@woonosocketri.org.