Providence gearing up for NYE celebration at Waterplace Park

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WLNE) – The city of Providence and Skyline at Waterplace are gearing up for the third annual “One Providence” New Year’s Eve celebration at Waterplace Park.

The event has been plagued with bad weather, as its first year was bitter cold and last year saw wet weather.

“It’s a beautiful day out finally, three years in the making,” said Skyline’s CEO Michael Mota, who had dozens of workers getting ready for the big night Tuesday.

Mota said they’re expecting thousands to come out this year for the countdown. With safety a concern for some, Mayor Jorge Elorza assured that they’re prepared.

“We’re anticipating a safe and happy New Year’s Eve, but of course we’ve gotta be prepared for whatever may come,” said Elorza.

Skyline has hired their own private security, and Providence Police officers will be at the event, both undercover and in uniform.

The free event will have live entertainment, fireworks, a laser light show right before the countdown, and of course a ball drop at midnight.

The ball, provided by a company in Pennsylvania, was installed Tuesday afternoon by local workers who put it in place with a crane.

“There are only two of these things in the country, we have them both and it just so happens to be that it’s only here in Providence. There’s no other ball like this in the country today anywhere,” said event manager Kyle Kelly.

This year, the ball will be in a more prominent place across the river from Skyline and will project flashback videos from the decade.

Mota said the ball will be raised 100 feet in the air, unlike previous years when it was just 25 feet off the ground, to make this countdown bigger and better than ever.

“Why watch people at times square? Come and do it here in Providence!”

© WLNE-TV 2019