Bally's Event Lawn at 195 Park Opens with Ceremony and Live Music

Bally's Event Lawn at 195 Park Opens with Ceremony and Live Music

 

Bally’s — one of Rhode Island's largest employers — officially opened the Bally’s Event Lawn today, a 45,000 square foot area of open space located within the seven-acre 195 District Park and, in so doing, helps to preserve a critical area of downtown open space for generations to come.

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On hand to participate in the official ribbon-cutting ceremony were Governor Dan McKee, Lt. Governor Sabina Matos, Speaker of the House K. Joseph Shekarchi, Senator Frank Ciccone, City of Providence Mayor Brett Smiley, Senator Tiara Mack, Marc Crisafulli, Chair of the I-195 Redevelopment District Commission and Craig Eaton, President of Rhode Island Operations for Bally’s. 

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“Bally’s is pleased to sponsor this section of the 195 District Park and preserve it as open space for all to enjoy,” said Eaton. “In addition to serving as an outdoor area for workday respite and neighborhood gatherings, it is our hope that the space will serve as an ideal location for special events, a celebration of the diverse Providence culture and a center of downtown outdoor activity.”

 

Last week GoLocal first reported on the opening of the adjacent Point Street Park and now residents and visitors can walk along the river from Fox Point to Smith Hill on both sides of the river.

 

 

“We know consumer demand for vibrant, walkable downtown cities in which to live and work is a key criteria to not just relocation, but to keep Rhode Islanders in Rhode Island,” said McKee. “The success of the Redevelopment District is a result of its unique public-private partnership and a cornerstone of the State’s revitalization strategy to attract new industry and new housing to our capital city.  I am grateful to Bally’s for its commitment to preserve this beautiful open space and help to fulfill the mission of the I-195 Redevelopment District Commission.”

 

 

“One of the many reasons why Providence is such a great city is its incredible mix of office space, downtown housing opportunities and thriving open space," said Smiley. "The 195 District Park is arguably one of downtown’s most precious jewels and it is reliant on public-private partnerships supported in part by neighbors in the District. I thank Bally’s for being one of those partners who, through its 20-year naming rights, helps to ensure the vibrancy and viability of this park.”

 

 

Entertainment was provided by the GoLocal Bally’s Lounge and included Mark Cutler, Rhode Island Music Hall of Fame - often called the Bob Dylan of Rhode Island; Rhode Island artist DJ ShureLive, who along with Joe Bruce recently came off a European tour; and country artist Kevin Herchen, a prolific songwriter and performer who appears regularly in Rhode Island and Nashville.  

 

 

The Bally’s Event Lawn is bounded by the Providence River and the Michael S. Van Leesten Memorial Pedestrian Bridge, Peck and Dyer streets and marked by colorful banners bearing the Bally’s name. The Guild PVD Beer Garden is located within the Event Lawn.  Bally’s committed to naming rights for the park as part of the 2021 Marc A. Crisafulli Economic Development Act, a $225 million capital infusion and jobs development act, for a period of 20 years (through June 2041) at an investment of $2.2 million.

 

 

Shekarchi added, “This new Event Lawn, along with the company’s corporate offices in Providence, two casinos and a Technology office located in Warwick certainly signals a deep and ongoing commitment to the State of Rhode Island, not just as an important source of revenue for our State but as an active corporate citizen deeply ingrained in the fabric of our community.”

 

“195 District Park has become a vibrant center of activity in downtown Providence,” said Crisafulli, Chair of the I-195 Redevelopment District Commission. “The Bally’s Event Lawn will continue to feature cultural, musical, and community events to further enhance the experience of the more than 5,000 daily park visits and we are excited to celebrate this sponsorship today.”