Community urges City Council to protect Veterans Memorial Parkway from development changes

The East Providence City Council meeting on February 4, 2025, focused on the preservation of the Veterans Memorial Parkway and the ongoing concerns regarding the Metacomet area. Community members expressed their disappointment over the council's lack of response to a previously submitted paper advocating for the parkway's protection.

During the meeting, it was highlighted that several council members had previously served on a council that limited traffic on the parkway, suggesting a vested interest in its preservation. The community urged the council to engage with state agencies regarding proposed alterations to the parkway, particularly a controversial 21-foot high monument sign planned for a nearby development.

The discussion emphasized the council's responsibility to advocate for the community, despite their claims of limited authority over the Metacomet matter, which had been delegated to the Waterfront Commission. Community representatives called on the council to collaborate with Mayor Da Silva to renew the application for the parkway's nomination to the national register, stressing the historical significance of the area.

The meeting concluded with a call for the council to recognize their role in protecting the parkway, warning that once lost, its scenic value would be irretrievable. The community remains hopeful for a more proactive stance from the council in the future.