Update: Riverside Park Planting is ON tonight (paddle is OFF)
Colleen Keenan
Hey neighbors,
Unfortunately, we have to CANCEL tonight’s Community Paddle due to CSO overflow in the Woonasquatucket River yesterday evening.
Instead, come help us plant a meadow! Come join us for our the Riverside Park Friends Group happening tonight at the same time and place, Riverside Park, 4-6pm.
This group is for gardening newbies, river lovers, and community stewards alike! We’ll have snacks and some activities for kids to join in as well.
More information on heavy rain and the Woonasquatucket:
Heavy rain events can cause sewage overflow into our urban rivers and waterways, and it is advisable to stay away from the water for recreation like paddling for at least 48 hours. You can view where and when these overflow events happen on the CSO Alarm Map from Narragansett Bay Commission. CSO stands for “Combined Sewage Overflow” and is the system that Providence currently has for stormwater and sewage storage and drainage. From the Narragansett Bay Commission: “At the turn of the century, most urban areas across the nation built sewer systems to carry rain water and sewage in the same pipe. This is called a combined sewer. During dry weather conditions, the sewer system works fine. But, during heavy rain storms, these combined flows frequently exceed the capacity of the sewer system and overflow into local rivers and Narragansett Bay. This is a combined sewer overflow or CSO.” Read about how the CSO system works here.
Our next community paddle is currently set for the Kinsley Ave Boat Launch on July 22, 4-6pm
We will be adding dates to the end of the summer paddle series to account for our rain cancellations. Keep an eye out, we’ll be adding a paddle at Riverside for late August or early September.
The Greenway is for friends
We’re looking for Providence friends and neighbors to join us for our monthly garden club and Greenway Care days. Together, we’ll keep this beloved stretch of the Woonasquatucket River Greenway clean, green, and welcoming for everyone. Join a growing community of gardeners to learn from the River Ranger team, our Greenway maintenance crew. Together, Riverside Friends will help plant a new meadow in this park while learning about native plants, integrated pest management, and other skills you can apply in your home garden!
Location:
Aleppo St, Providence, RI 02909
Time:
4:00 PM – 6:00 PM
2026 Dates:
June 10
July 8
August 12
September 9
October 7
We’ll be outside working unless extreme weather requires cancellation. Please dress appropriately for outdoor work, including sun protection, long pants, and closed-toe shoes. Bring water and a snack if you’d like. We’ll provide all tools and equipment needed for the day’s projects.
