The City of Newport has installed its first parklet on the corner of William Street and Bellevue Avenue. This mobile park was designed to fit in the area of a parking space to provide additional relaxing space for a passerby to sit, rest and just enjoy the environment of the city around them. Parklets help extend the public space while creating more passive recreation opportunities in busy city areas AND Newport’s parklet is solar powered to provide re-charging stations for laptops and cell phones.
“We are excited to unveil Newport’s first parklet,” said William Riccio, PE, Director of Public Services, for the city. “Parklets have been enthusiastically embraced in communities as an additional way to relax and regroup for residents and visitors. In the tradition of all the great Newport builders that came before them, the staff of the Public Services department did a masterful job building this parklet using the Haven Designers plans. We are looking forward to seeing both residents and visitors enjoy using it.”
Newport’s parklet was created by a partnership of public, private and non-profit entities working together. Local businesswoman Kim Salerno, from Haven Designers, spearheaded the effort which was funded by the Rhode Island Foundation’s Centennial Grant Program, supported by the Newport Tree Society and built by the City of Newport’s talented Public Services staff. Newport in Bloom will also assist with installing plant materials into the parklet in the coming weeks.
