Pedestrian bridge could be renamed after civil rights leader

The pedestrian bridge over the Providence River is seen soon after its completion in 2019. Photo by Steve Klamkin WPRO News

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) – The Providence City Council has introduced a resolution to rename a bridge to honor a local civil rights leader.

The Providence Journal reports that the Providence River Pedestrian Bridge could be renamed after Michael Van Leesten, who died last year.

Van Leesten helped co-found and served as CEO of the Opportunities Industrialization Center of Rhode Island. That’s a nonprofit which provides job training, career counseling and other programs for people from underserved communities.

The resolution will go before the Committee on Urban Redevelopment, Renewal and Planning for approval.

Before the Board of Park Commissioners can rename the bridge, it must be officially received from the state as a park.

 

More from 630WPRO.COM