City of Woonsocket awarded $500K to improve Truman Drive

October 25, 2023 3:55 pm

Alex Dube,

The city of Woonsocket shared this rendering of the proposed Truman Drive Project.

WOONSOCKET, R.I. (WLNE) — The City of Woonsocket’s Mayor, Lisa Baldelli-Hunt announced Wednesday that the city received a $500,000 grant to improve Truman Drive.

According to the city, the $500,000 Southeast New England Program Watershed Implementation Grant builds upon a plan made back in 2021 to turn the roadway into a two-lane road with a park that runs along the current bikeway.

Officials said adding benches, plants and trees to the parkway will increase greenery in the area and enhance the conditions of the Blackstone River to improve resilience against flash-flooding.

The updated park will also provide improved scenery for visitors traveling by foot, bicycle or car, the city said.

“I am excited about this grant award because it will help move our Truman Drive Project forward to protect our watershed environment while expanding recreation opportunities for residents and visitors and enhancing the area’s aesthetics,” Mayor Baldelli-Hunt added.