The town of Warren, Rhode Island has been named one of America’s 5 Great Neighborhoods. The American Planning Association on Monday recognized Warren’s downtown for its “foresight, innovation, and cooperation” in building a better place to live. It’s part of APA’s Great Places in America program, to recognize streets, neighborhoods, and public spaces in the United States demonstrating exceptional character, quality and planning.
Warren’s town planner, Kate Michaud, says Warren was celebrated for its walkability and bicycle friendliness, with the East Bay Bike Path running through downtown. Warren’s community involvement was a key factor as well, says Michaud, as were its green energy efforts, like the Solarize Warren program.
“We came up with a collective buying program, for people who wanted to install solar on their homes,” Michaud explained. “We had 39 homeowners who signed up through the program. Which doesn’t sound like a huge number, but for a small town, it’s a really good response.”
Warren was also recognized for its local food scene. Warren is home to many farm-to-table restaurants, and also to Hope & Main, a food startup and incubator space for new restaurants in town. As the APA press release puts it, “local foods have set the stage for a story of urban renewal”.
Town Planner Michaud says a special ceremony is scheduled for 1 pm, Friday, October 28th, for presentation of the Great Neighborhoods citation.
Besides Warren, the APA’s other great neighborhoods for 2016 were;
● Downtown Santa Ana – Santa Ana, California
● Midtown Atlanta – Atlanta, Georgia
● Old Louisville – Louisville, Kentucky
● Nob Hill – Albuquerque, New Mexico
