Recycling Rates
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The City of Providence contracts Rhode Island Waste Management to collect and dispose of its waste and recycling. Waste Management is responsible for bringing Providence’s refuse to the Rhode Island Resource Recovery Center in Johnston where it’s either processed at the Materials Recovery Facility (MRF) [...]

15
May
WaterFire
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Years ago, artist Barnaby Evans transformed the ancient elements of fire and water into WaterFire, today, one of Providence’s signature events.  WaterFire has had an extraordinary effect on the city.  Many Saturday evenings, starting at sundown, thousands of people stream into downtown Providence to watch [...]

08
May
Child Mental Health
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Mental health influences a child’s health and behavior, both in school and at home, and within their community. Mental health conditions are important to recognize as they can impair a child’s daily functioning, and academic achievements, as well as increase the child’s involvement in juvenile [...]

01
May
SNAP Benefits
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Many children suffer from food insecurity in Rhode Island. Between the years of 2018 and 2020, 8.2% of Rhode Island households were food insecure. Although this number is below the nationwide average of 10.7%, it is important to note that in 2017, the latest recorded [...]

17
Apr
Knight Memorial Library in Elmwood (vintage postcard)
Community Libraries of Providence
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In honor of  National  Library Week (April 7-13), we’re featuring information from the Community Libraries of Providence (CLP). CLP is the private nonprofit that operates the  neighborhood-based libraries closest to where most of us live. (The big downtown library is run by the separate Providence [...]

10
Apr
Providence Fire Department – Ready for Anything
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Our Fire Department was created in 1854, making it the second-oldest continuous professional fire department in the US. (Cincinnati set up a fully paid fire service in 1853.) Our Fire Department’s motto is “Omnia Paratus,” or “Ready for Anything”.  From dumpster fires and false alarms [...]

03
Apr
Photo courtesy of Dorcas International Institute of Rhode Island
Where We Come From
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We love to complain about how hard it is to live in Providence, yet our city continues to attract newcomers from around the US and abroad. New residents bring new ideas, new, foods, music and energy with them and have saved Providence and Rhode Island [...]

27
Mar
Our Water
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Cities need more water than they can find within their own borders. In 1871, Providence’s first municipal water system brought unfiltered water from the Pawtuxet River in Cranston to the city.  Later the city added sand filtering and elevated storage reservoirs at the current sites [...]

20
Mar
Providence Parks and Playgrounds
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Providence Counts assembles facts and figures from a variety of sources to illustrate different aspects of the city.  This week, we’re focusing on the Parks Department.  There has been an enormous investment recently in newly revitalized playgrounds and new programming throughout the city, but especially in [...]

13
Mar
How Does Our City Grow?
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Providence Counts assembles facts and figures from a variety of sources to illustrate different aspects of the city.  This year, the state-mandated once-in-a-decade Comprehensive Plan is being created in Providence.   The 2014 Comprehensive Plan encouraged growth in downtown, commercial corridors, and industrial and post industrial areas. The [...]

06
Mar