This summer, you may have noticed an abundance of flowers in Burnside Park. In May, the park exploded in color from red geraniums, and now fall mums are blooming around the Imagination Center. Special thanks to The Cove Center for working with us on this project.
Local organization The Cove Center works with adults with intellectual developmental disabilities. Their mission is to “support adults with autism and other developmental disabilities and behavioral challenges to lead productive, dignified and satisfying lives.” One of the ways they do that is by actively integrating the adults they work with into the community through vocational training and employment.
The Cove Center works with over 100 adults, with a wide range of skills, and develops relationships with these clients that can last for decades. Partnering with over 20 different companies throughout the state, they train their clients in valuable work skills for offices, restaurants and other vocations. They work to make good matches for their clients, and build up individual skills as well as group collaboratives.
All summer long, the DPPC has had a group of 6 – 8 adults come to Burnside Park to help our staff with planting and maintaining of the park’s plants. They also worked closely with our staff to set up the park for our weekly children’s programming by setting up tables, chairs, and benches and getting the park ready for the kids. Mike Smith, from The Cove Center, explained that an important element of the work they do with the Downtown Providence Parks Conservancy is about building social integration skills.
These types of collaborations are important to us and the work we do at the DPPC to make the parks a safe and clean environment for all the citizens of our city to enjoy. “It takes a community to care for an urban park and we are elated to have the Cove Center as a partner in revitalizing Burnside Park. These parks belong to everyone. Cove Center, through the plants they grew and their volunteerism at public events, have made the park a more welcoming place for all Rhode Islanders,” said DPPC Assistant Director Geoff Kish.
Thank you so much to the Cove Center for partnering with us and making Burnside Park more vibrant and colorful for all of its visitors.
The Cove Center is part of The Groden Network. If you’d like to learn more about The Groden Network, you can do so at their website.
We work with many volunteers throughout the year to keep our parks beautiful for everyone. If your organization is interested in supporting the work we do with our community, please consider making a donation.