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Kennedy Plaza

1 Kennedy Plaza, Providence, RI 02903

clear skies (59°F)

Last Updated: 9:15pm

Kennedy Plaza is modern Providence’s main hub for transportation — as many as 69,000 people move through this site daily. Created as Exchange Place in the 19th century, this plaza has always served transportation needs. Thousands of people stood here to see President Theodore Roosevelt, Harry Houdini, and presidential candidate John F. Kennedy. Today Kennedy Plaza remains a gathering place for the community, anchored by three city parks, including The Providence Rink, which features ice skating, recreation, music and arts.

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#kennedyplaza

The BEACH BADGE your mother warned you about. Literary driftwood from the shores of Jersey, available now at Asbury Book Cooperative, Atomic Books, Cats Luck Vegan, and EightStonePress.com.

Submit or query your own Jersey Shore-related creative non-fiction (250 - 2,000 words), photography, or other artwork for the next issue of BEACH BADGE to wpt@eightstonepress.com by May 26, 2025. Pending acceptance, all contributors will receive two (2) copies of the issue when published (summer 2025). Learn more at EightStonePress.com.

Praise for BEACH BADGE:

"The irreverent, sophisticated, salt-encrusted zine the Jersey Shore has always needed - written for us, by us." - Craig Dowd, Edgewood Used & Rare Books

"The quintessential Jersey Shore literary magazine…a lot like our coast: salty, unapologetic, and delicious." - Elaina Battista-Parsons, Author, ITALIAN BONES IN THE SNOW 

"Collectively and intelligently expresses aspects of the Jersey Shore that are rarely explored. It’s a treasure.” - Michelle Moon, Public Historian 

"A fun read…I couldn’t be more proud of my home state and the writers who also love it.” - P.F. Kluge, Author, EDDIE AND THE CRUISERS

#kennedyplaza #atlanticcity #jerseyshore #newjersey #gardenstate #creativenonfiction #beachbadgezine
So many amazing artists are part of the line-up for the pvdpageant project!! 😍👋🏾👏🏽 Keep an eye out for my poem/spoken word piece “Kafka, Keats and Kennedy Plaza” which describes my feelings around the pandemic lock-down and the many stages of the crazy year! 
🪲🕊🚍🌳
Almost done! Full size photo. Eclipse 2017 Providence RI View 2:35 Pm 70% 24mm ND double composition. #eclipse #eclipse2017 #onecutproductions # #kennedyplaza
Winter walks in downtown Prov. #Downcity #Providence #PVD #kennedyplazapvd #lookingood #ig_rhodeisland #johnnyclamcakes
#providence #kennedyplaza #pvd #downtownprovidence #latergram #rhodeisland #supermanbuilding
I can't stop making things. Kennedy Plaza book available. 5.00 in person or Venmo. Ademuth@gmail.com or ourfavoritestore.bigcartel.com Local delivery available. Probably available at Ada soon. #kennedyplazapvd #kennedyplaza #burnsidepark #bestofrhodeisland
6/11/2013 | iPhone 4S | Providence, RI
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#screamsfromasiren #photography #architecture #artdeco #clouds #skyscraper #kennedyplaza
Feeding the less fortunate 
ngcri #helpinghands #kennedyplazapvd #saturdays
It hurts to laugh. 💪💪💪💪💪💪 #coretraining 
#gym
#workout
#fitness
#bodybuilding
#health
#fatloss
#providence 
#rhodeisland
#vpfitness
#downtownpvd
#kennedyplaza
#unicorn #pride #pridefest #lovewins #providence #prideparade2016 #nofilter #kennedyplaza
Rocking our #lillebaby in downtown Providence to check out the various festivals this holiday weekend #columbusday #federalhill #kennedyplazapvd #alexandanicenter

History

A Civil War memorial, the Soldiers and Sailors Monument currently sits in its third location, which is approximately the same as its original location when dedicated in 1871. When the monument was relocated to the center of Exchange Place in 1913, the height of the pedestal was doubled, from 5 steps to 10, and the cannon balls were separated from the canons. In 2001 the monument was returned to its original height when it was moved back to the west end of what is now Kennedy Plaza, but the cannon balls went away. Photo is circa 1925.

Historical context courtesy of @pvdnowandthen.

Map

Kennedy Plaza is owned and managed by the City of Providence.

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Contact Information

Rhode Island Department of Transportation (RIPTA)

705 Elmwood Ave.
Providence, RI 02907
ripta.com
(401) 781-9400