Community Corner
Looking Back: Did America's Cup Avenue Change Newport's Walkability?
How did America's Cup Avenue change the walkabilty of the city? How could future projects get us back on our feet?
During the late 1960s, downtown Newport went through a revitalization that included the construction of America’s Cup Avenue, the four-lane highway that cuts through downtown.
Keith Stokes, Executive Director of Rhode Island Economic Development Corporation, said last September that he considers the road’s construction “one of the largest mistakes Newport has made,” because it cut off foot traffic from the commercial district to the waterfront.
he would like to see future revitalization projects bring back the city’s walkability through historic alleyways, better lighting and signage.
Did you live in Newport before the construction of America’s Cup Avenue? How did its construction change the city? How can future projects improve the walkability of the city? Tell us in the comments.
