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Over the past seven years, the civic-scale restoration project, spearheaded by Warner, has uncovered the rivers, redirected their flow, and built walks and parks along the water's edges. In place of the asphalt and railroad tracks that once buried the rivers, footbridges sweep over them, kayakers paddle under the bridges, and pedestrians walk along the cobblestone sidewalks that flank the water.

Today, Rhode Island's capitol stands as a beacon of urban revitalization — an example of how to beautify without bulldozing, how to preserve and still prosper. Warner's vision is seen as an excellent example of river "daylighting," the practice of uncovering water flowing under built urban surfaces.

Urban Redesign

The parks and public spaces created along the water are a significant part of the redeveloping city character. Perhaps the most exciting part about Warner's "daylighting" project is the reconfiguration of the city in favor of the pedestrian.

The canals are flanked by river walks that serve both bike and foot traffic. Because the topography of the water dips below street level, citizens walking along the river enter a more peaceful realm as they step down and lose sight of the roads.

The material palette of the riverscape varies from warm, earthy stone in the parks to slate tile, redbrick, and gray granite in the heart of the city's downtown. These pedestrian-friendly textures are a stark contrast with the dull asphalt sidewalks that remain on some nearby streets.

The canals also celebrate Providence's community of artists. Beautiful aluminum wind sculptures spin in the breeze along the river at the base of College Hill, and Waterplace Basin is a hot spot for concerts and performances.

Waterplace is itself an artistic masterpiece: a curving waterway of canals, street lights, brick and stone steps, platforms for benches, restaurants, and small rotundas. One highlight of the linkage from city to river is that the transition is completely porous. Canals dissolve into buildings or spill out into Italian-style piazzas such as the plaza in front of the Rhode Island School of Design.

Summer Sets Water on Fire

On summer evenings, Waterplace Park fills with hundreds of visitors and locals for WaterFire, a citywide celebration of the rivers. The river basin is the central location for festivals, a summer-long concert series, and a romantic gondola tour along the canal. Providence artists have made Waterplace Park a summer gathering spot.

WaterFire provides live entertainment in the form of vessels gliding silently along the river while black-cloaked figures illuminate braziers surrounded by water. The braziers run through the center of the river, acting as a lane divider for boat traffic while illuminating the canal during the festival. This spectacle and civic happening is a community event, with an irresistible allure to visitors.

The braziers were designed by artist Barnaby Evans. His artwork has been credited with reigniting the downtown scene in Providence. On nights when the fires are ablaze, the streets, river walks, and footbridges surrounding Waterplace Park bustle with people.

Thousands flock to the park's amphitheater, which surrounds a river tidal basin. The smell of wood smoke awakens old memories while mesmerized onlookers marvel at the reflection of flames like mirrored pools of light in the ripples of the canal.

Setting the Stage for More

Unearthing the buried rivers is only the first step in rejuvenating downtown Providence. The city is striving to become a destination between Boston and New York instead of just another freeway exit. The recent addition of Providence Place Mall, a six-story shopping center across the street from Waterplace Basin, has attracted commerce from around the state.

Efforts to clean the polluted river and build bike paths will enable the city's underdeveloped neighborhoods to share the benefits of the restoration movement and link to the entire region.

Plans for more development are on the drawing board, including a mixed-use project featuring apartments, offices, hotel, and retail stores near Waterplace Park. Most recently, GTECH, one of the largest lottery corporations in the world, has decided to place their headquarters adjacent to the park.

There is still work to be done to restore the beauty of the city and give public space back to its citizens. But Providence is beginning to emerge as a vibrant place to live and work as well as to visit or attend conventions.

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Becky McWilliams is a fourth-year architecture student at Roger Williams University in Bristol, Rhode Island. After graduation, she plans to work at a firm in Boston and pursue her favorite hobby, architectural photography.

Sinuous wrought-iron rails and staccato Renaissance evening lights hug the amphitheater basin. Photo: Becky McWilliams A line of braziers running through the river acts as a lane divider for boat traffic, and they illuminate the canal during the WaterFire festival. Photo: Becky McWilliams The site map shows the two Providence rivers that have been unearthed. The railroad tracks moved underground, allowing views to and from the State House. Image: City of Providence, Rhode Island The topography level change between the street and the canal blocks out noise from cars and creates a more intimate space. Photo: Becky McWilliams Metal sculptures spin in the wind on the riverfront across the street from the Rhode Island School of Design. Photo: Becky McWilliams Traditional stone walls and native plants show sensitivity to Rhode Island history. Photo: Becky McWilliams Choice of materials and landscaping elements separate the path from seating areas nestled beneath shade trees. Photo: Becky McWilliams The multilevel river walk circulation paths accommodate several different modes of transportation. Photo: Becky McWilliams   Click on thumbnail images to view full-size pictures.