Great Places
GREAT PLACES
APA’s Great Places in America program celebrates special places in all 50 states. The full collection of awards can be viewed on an interactive website here. If you’re interested in making a nomination, check out the process here.
Here in Rhode Island, we’ve already had four places successfully nominated!
College Hill - Providence
APA selected this area of Providence as a “Great Neighborhood” in 2011, stating: “College Hill brings the past into the present. Its history reaches back to 1636 as the site of Rhode Island's first permanent Colonial settlement. Cobblestoned Benefit Street, known as the Mile of History, is lined with 18th, 19th, and 20th century municipal structures, churches, and gracious homes. Two educational institutions - Brown University and the Rhode Island School of Design (RISD) - have contributed to the neighborhood's vitality and character together with residents and organizations, including the Providence Preservation Society (PPS).”
Click here to see more information about College Hill’s award.
Downtown Warren
APA selected this area as a “Great Neighborhood” in 2016 stating: “The eco-haven of downtown Warren is ideal for bikers and foodies alike. The tiny downtown area and its highly involved community have set the green standard for active living, while local foods have set the stage for a story of urban renewal.”
Click here to see more information about Downtown Warren’s award.
Waterplace Park – Providence
APA selected the award-wining Waterplace Park as a “Great Public Space” in 2008 with the following description: “Lending a multi-faceted, urban panorama and feel of Venice to Rhode Island's capital city is Waterplace Park and Riverwalk, a remarkable collection of cobblestone walkways, plazas, pedestrian bridges, gondolas and other features intertwined with the Moshassuck, Woonasquatucket, and Providence rivers. The park and riverwalk have been central to the revitalization of one of the largest and fastest growing cities in New England.”
Click here to see more information about Waterplace Park’s award.
The Cliff Walk – Newport
The Cliff Walk was recognized in 2014 as a “Great Public Space” with the following summary: “The 3.5-mile "National Recreation Trail" spans the southeastern shore of Aquidneck Island, providing spectacular views of the Atlantic Ocean. The paved public access walkway connects visitors with beautiful vistas, tunnels, and long winding pathways. The rock formations along the coastline create one of the most unique natural environments in the Northeast and attract upwards of 1 million visitors annually. In addition to its seaside location, the Cliff Walk runs through the backyards of impressive residential Victorian architecture of the Gilded Age.”
Click here to see more information about the Cliff Walk award.