Urban Coastal Greenway Ribbon Cutting

BETA Group, Inc. was thrilled to attend the ribbon cutting ceremony to celebrate the completion of the Urban Coastal Greenway project in Providence, Rhode Island on August 17, 2023. Led by Wexford Science + Technology (Wexford) and in conjunction with Rhode Island Energy and the I-195 Redevelopment District Commission, BETA provided master planning, permitting, civil/site engineering, landscape architecture, and stormwater management services throughout this four-phase project.

The Urban Coastal Greenway is nestled behind Wexford’s South Street Landing Redevelopment properties in the Providence Innovation and Design District. BETA’s master plan encompassed all four phases of the project, which included the South Street Landing parking garage and educational facility, Rhode Island Energy facility, and River House Residential apartment complex. The redevelopment project was submitted for permit approval to Coastal Resources Management Council (CRMC) under the Urban Coastal Greenway (UCG) Policy for the Metro Bay Region. BETA’s master plan ensured that all phases met the necessary requirements for permitting.

In order to meet approval requirements, the Urban Coastal Greenway had to include 15% vegetation throughout the entire development site, offer twice the public access as typically required, and include stormwater management infrastructure. To meet these conditions, BETA included pathways and a pedestrian bridge in their design to connect the greenway to the 195 District Park, a seven-acre waterfront park on the other side of the South Street Landing development. Benches, plantings, and a dock on the Providence River were also added to increase public access to the Greenway.

Green infrastructure components were carefully selected to improve drainage and address environmental concerns. The stormwater management infrastructure includes a porous concrete path and vegetated bioretention swales.

“The completion of the Urban Coastal Greenway marks the start of an exciting new chapter for Providence’s future,” said Mayor Brett P. Smiley. “This project has achieved a decades long vision to transform our City, revitalize our greenspaces, and make our beautiful waterfront accessible to all.”