Historic Market Square Has Turned Into a Parking Lot for RISD Vendors

Historic Market Square Has Turned Into a Parking Lot for RISD Vendors

 

 

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One of Providence’s most historic spots is the brick Market Square that sits between the Market House and the Rhode Island School of Design Auditorium.

 

It is located at the bottom of College Hill between North Main Street and the Riverwalk.

 

The pristine area has become a daily parking lot for maintenance crews working for RISD.

 

The illegal parking has gone on for months. 

 

 

 

Despite the vehicles all being associated with RISD, the school has claimed no responsibility.

 

Danielle Mancuso, the spokesperson for RISD, told GoLocal, “Market Square is officially a Providence Park that RISD helps maintain and steward in partnership with the City. Maintenance includes graffiti removal, brick repair in the park and along the River Walk, tree maintenance, snow removal, and oiling of the Bannister statue.”

 

"No parking is allowed in the area and we've communicated that, but we have no jurisdiction over enforcing it given it's City property. If there were any damage to bricks, given that's part of what we maintain, we'd certainly repair as needed,” she added.

 

When GoLocal asked, “Vendors, specifically maintenance and construction firms, all working for RISD, are parking there. It is RISD-related folks. So RISD is saying Providence needs to tell RISD not to park there?”

 

RISD did not respond.

 

 

 

Designed by Joseph Brown in a restrained Georgian manner, the Market House (1775) was intended as a magnificent landmark to the wealth of the colonial city at the heart of the bustling waterfront. It has been a pillar of historic Providence for hundreds of years.

 

 

Market Square was the site of a colonial tax protest against the British on March 2, 1775, when the people of Providence burned tea. On September 7, 1897, Emma Goldman, a noted anarchist and feminist, was arrested for unlawful “open air speaking” and charged with attracting a crowd in Market Square.  

 

Despite its historic importance, today, due to the lack of enforcement by the City of Providence and the misuse by RISD, the area has become a parking lot.