Progress in Providence

Livable Providence 2000: In 1999 UEP partnered with the City of Providence and the Brown University Center for Environmental Studies to produce a first-of-a-kind report titled, "Livable Providence 2000" which collected information on a broad range of topics that affect the quality of life for Providence residents. Topics in the report included: environmental justice, rivers & ponds, vacant lots, environmental health, greenspace / openspace, respectful society, solid waste, contaminated soils, transportation, New Cities plan, and climate change. The primary purpose of the report was to give Providence residents and community stakeholders a common base of information to facilitate discussions at the the Livable Providence 2000 Conference held on October 23, 1999 to gather community input on these topics and provide input into the City's update of the Comprehensive Plan. All of the information from the conference, including the contents of the briefing book and top action steps recommended can be accessed at the Livable Providence 2000 web page or by contacting the Providence City Program Manager.

Providence Environmental Strike Team (PEST): UEP supported the creation and operation of the Providence Environmental Strike Team -- a program through the City of Providence that tackles a wide range of environmental issues. Accomplishments to date are summarized below.

• Over 10,000 tickets for violations have been issued. 4,000 cases have been adjudicated. 500 cases have gone to trail with a 92% conviction rate. $140,000 in fines have been collected, $1.2 million outstanding. 595 Clean and Lien actions taken, with approximately 250 owners making voluntary compliance.

Keep Providence Beautiful: UEP has supported Keep Providence Beautiful in their efforts to revitalize open or abandoned space in urban neighborhoods. Design plans for three sites in the West End, Lower South Providence, and Smith Hill neighborhoods are complete and revitalization and public outreach have been initiated. The Smith Hill site is scheduled for completion by the end of 1998.

Soil Sampling & Special Vacant Lot for $1 Program: UEP partnered with Direct Action for Rights and Equality (DARE) and the Department of Planning to finalize the Special Vacant Lot for $1 Program which allows qualified local residents to purchase select vacant lots for the cost of $1. In exchange for the reduced price, residents agree to maintain the lot. In 1998-1999 the UEP worked with EPA staff and volunteers to conduct soil sampling for lead on priority Special Vacant Lots. To date, over 100 lots have been sampled and the sampling results are available to the public. Education and outreach brochures on lead in soil were produced in English and Spanish and distributed to the public through community meetings hosted by DARE in partnership with the Department of Planning and the Rhode Island Department of Health.

Providence Lead Task Force Steering Committee: The Providence Lead Task Force Steering Committee successfully implemented the Goals Management Plan in 2000 to reduce childhood lead poisoning through education and outreach, improving housing quality, and funding. A periodic "report card" is released to show progress.

Soil Sampling: Conducted soil sampling in fall 2000 for lead contamination on 65 vacant lots in South Providence, Federal Hill and West End neighborhoods.

Goals Management Plan: Final Report and Goals Management Plan for implementing recommendations from the Mayor's Safe Housing Lead Task Force was issued, which produced recommendations on how to reduce childhood lead poisoning through education and outreach, improving housing quality and funding.

UEP supported and participated in 1997, 1998, and 1999 community conferences on issues related to Childhood Lead Poisoning.

Childhood Lead Action Project: Supported work of organization to disseminate information on lead poisoning, testing and prevention to residents in 25 sites in urban neighborhoods, held 3 Lead-Safe House parties, and made 5 community presentations to local residents.

Brown University, Center for Environmental Education: Supported design and completion of an environmental indicators project to create a model for identifying housing with high risk of lead poisoning for children. Brown University staff and students have completed a first draft of its project and is targeted to complete the study by the end of 1998.

Mayor's Safe Lead Housing Task Force: Participated on 50-member Mayor's Task Force and its sub-committees on Finance, Housing, and Health and Education. This task force is modeled after the success of the Vacant Lot Task Force described above. The Task Force produced a final report with recommendations for comprehensive action steps in 1998. In 1999, a Steering Committee developed a Goals Management Plan to track implementation of all of the recommendations in the final report. In 2000, the Steering Committee will continue to meet quarterly to track progress in reducing lead poisoning rates through the Goals Management Plan.

Do's and Don't's for the Woonasquatucket River: Expanded the "Do's and Don't's for the Woonasquatucket River" outreach program in fall 2000 to include targeted adult audiences in Providence, Smithfield, North Providence, and Johnston.

Do's and Don't's Campaign: A 30 member stakeholder group implemented a "Do's and Don't's for the Woonasquatucket River"education and outreach campaign.