RI Pride Announces New Festival Location for 2007
Rhode Island Pride received notification from the Department of Administration, the state entity that oversees the management of Station Park, that a moratorium has been placed on the use of the park by all groups for the entire year of 2007. The reason cited was to allow for improvements to the park. Pride is disappointed at the loss of its premier festival site, especially in light of the effort undertaken by Pride Co-Chair Rodney Davis in 2006 on behalf of all organizations which use Station Park, to come to agreement on its use after an announcement of a proposed Polo field brought up concerns over the ownership of the land. We hope the state is successful with the improvements and that the Pride Festival will have the option to return to Station Park in 2008.
In the meantime, the 2007 Pride Festival will take place in Downtown Providence at Burnside Park and the Bank of America Skating Center. Plans are still being finalized, but the Festival will offer the same level and quality of activity that attendees have enjoyed throughout the years. The Festival will feature amazing entertainment, the Beer, Wine & Spirits Garden, the Kids Pride Zone, and well over 100 vendors.
The route of the Illuminated Night Pride Parade will be slightly shortened to begin at the intersection of Dorrance and Fountain Streets. The route will remain the same, continuing from Dorrance to Washington, Empire and Weybosset streets and will end following the reviewing stand at the Providence Performing Arts Center.
Please continue to visit www.prideri.com for more details as they become available.