Noise Pollution in Providence Makes San Francisco Seem Quiet

A team of people studying noise pollution in Providence says the city is inordinately loud for its size – a problem that impacts public health as well as the environment. They’re asking residents about what they hear, and what solutions they’d like to see.

By Luis Hernandez

Cars and trucks rush along I-195 behind Vartan Gregorian Elementary School in the Fox Point neighborhood of Providence. Highway sounds are just one example of some of the noise you can hear throughout the city of Providence. John Wilner is among a group of Providence residents behind the Providence Noise Project, a volunteer group conducting a community noise survey. The project recently collaborated with the Community Noise Lab at Brown University to capture new data that shows noise levels in city neighborhoods.

JOHN WILNER: The first thing that we thought was important was to show that there are actually high noise levels in the city – high, high levels of ambient sound. And we wanted to establish sort of a baseline to say where is it particularly loud? Where is it somewhat quieter? In part to reflect that back to the community to say, “This is what you’re living with.” Is this healthy? Can we determine what levels are really unhealthy?

Wilner moved to the west end of Providence in late June when fireworks season was already underway.

WILNER: And then they continued past July 4, for some time after that, and my girlfriend and I were just both astonished by the the amount, the date, you know, the number of days how late in the day, it would go, you know, two o’clock in the morning, three o’clock in the morning, four o’clock in the morning, and just the volume, both in terms of sound level, and just the sheer number of fireworks being set o , day after day after day, night after night.

Before moving to Providence, Wilner lived in San Francisco’s Mission District – a place most people wouldn’t describe as quiet.

WILNER: It has a lot of bars, a lot of restaurants, it’s a very popular area for people to go out. And I certainly heard noise in the Mission District, but never at these levels. Not with the same intensity as Providence. It really does stand out.

And it’s not just the fireworks in the summer.

WILNER: The things we hear about the most are vehicles, modified exhaust systems, stereos playing very loud, people using leaf blowers, ATVs, the all-terrain vehicles, the motorcycles without mu ers.

Those are some of the sources that people have reported to the noise project. But why is it important to pay attention to all of this noise?

WILNER: The World Health Organization says that after air pollution, after like particulates and di erent kinds of chemicals in the air, the second most unhealthy form of pollution is noise pollution.

A noisy city can lead to sleep deprivation, which has many negative health e ects. Just the presence of noise pollution can lead to your body releasing stress hormones. It’s also a big contributor to hearing loss. Wilner says that the biggest pushback he hears is from people saying “Providence is a city, and cities are noisy, you should just get used to it.”

WILNER: It seems to me that, when we get that response, it’s from people who don’t really want to discuss it, but want to shut it down.

If there’s pollution of a di erent sort, people don’t say hey, it’s the city you know, the infrastructure is old, pipes have lead in them, get used to it, deal with it. It only seems to be with noise that people have decided that that’s the thing that people have to deal with, live with. Accept it, or they have to move somewhere else.

If you don’t want to move somewhere else, what can be done about noise pollution?

WILNER: Paris, and France in general have a whole section of their environmental agencies – the environmental authorities there that look at noise. And Paris has gone to great lengths to reduce noise in the city. They use noise cameras. London has started using noise cameras. So this sense that oh, foolish complainers – cities are noisy. Well, apparently the people in Paris and London don’t know that. Maybe people from Providence [need] to go over and explain to them how loud cities are. Providence could only be improved by being quieter. Learn more about the Providence Noise Project at ProvidenceNoiseProject.org.

This article was originally posted on January 30, 2023. Luis Hernandez can be reached at LHernandez@ThePubicsRadio.org

Courting Success

Ed Cooley is a man on a mission. The 2022 Naismith Men’s College Coach of the Year, who led the Providence College Friars to the Big East Conference championship and deep into the NCAA tournament in 2022, has a greater goal in mind. “The reason why I coach is to win a national championship,” says Cooley, widely known for his commitment to both his players and his community.

No doubt, Cooley’s vast knowledge of the game and ability to inspire young men from diverse backgrounds is the key to his success on the hardwood. O the court, Cooley’s gregarious personality and winning attitude have made him one of the most popular and respected figures in the state. “When I was a young kid, I always wanted to be a head coach. When I went to college, I always wanted to come to Providence College to be the head coach. Talk yourself into existence to give yourself an opportunity to be great,” he says, believing every word.

The coach won’t be completely satisfied until the Friars take home a national championship, one that he will undoubtedly share with the city he loves. Although that goal may have seemed like a pipe dream just a few years ago, it is a very real possibility with Cooley’s leadership and the support of the college.

Cooley grew up in Providence, where he overcame challenges that still face inner-city youth. “Being born and raised here, seeing the Friars my whole life, going back to when I was at Central High School, trying to get to a game wasn’t easy… I couldn’t afford it, so I would sneak in the back,” he recalls. “When coach Rick Barnes was there, I’d play pick up sometimes in the summer with Dickie Simpkins, Eric Murdock… we became friends. A girl I was dating went to Providence College, so I was on campus a lot.”

His advice to the present generation? “I always try to give inspiration to young men and women that come from disadvantaged backgrounds,” he says. “Regardless of your circumstance today, I tell them, how do you make tomorrow better? It’s gratitude, it’s appreciation, it’s meeting people, it’s going out of your way

March 1: Xavier at Providence

March 4: Seton Hall at Providence to help others, letting people know who you are as a person, and taking advantage of opportunities that come your way.”

Cooley recalls support he got from teachers and coaches growing up. “My 8th grade science teacher and I are really close, my 9th grade English teacher and I are really close. Those relationships fostered growth; they came to my graduations in prep school, in college,” he notes.

Cooley is known for recruiting top athletes, many of whom are also pursued by larger schools in cities like New York and Los Angeles. His strategy in bringing them here is to first sell Rhode Island’s beaches and “unbelievable” food. “I talk about how diverse the city is, the di erent communities. I talk about how downtown Providence has really grown. Then, I talk about the school and its diversity.”

Cooley credits PC’s administration with the program’s success. “The leadership of [PC President] Ken Sicard has been amazing. His presidency, and the things he’s done there have been amazing. Players and coaches win games; administrators build championships.” Equally important to the team’s success – the city of Providence. The team’s motto is “Us We Together Family Friars.”

While today’s games see sellout crowds almost every night, Cooley explains that it took a lot of work and support from their fanbase, local businesses, and community to create the family atmosphere you’ll now find watching a Friars game.

“When I got hired in 2011, I said we came here to win, and we came here to win big. Everybody thought that was an arrogant statement,” recalls Cooley. “You have to have a vision, you have to have a dream, you have to be driven, you have to be surrounded by people that share the same vision, and that give you the resources to build an organization. As long as you are aligned with your administration, with your board, and then your community comes in and supports it, to me, that is the recipe for success.”

His message to supporters: “Dream big, believe big, give to others, and make Providence the most special place in the world.”