Kennedy Plaza

The remodel of Kennedy Plaza is more aesthetically pleasing. However, RIPTA service has not improved. I recently waited more than 40 minutes for a bus that is suppose to come every 15 minutes. Anyway, some of the terminals now have digital signs saying how far away the bus is from the Plaza. Still, Kennedy Plaza doesn’t feel any less shady. This is the one place in town I do not like to be alone, after dark. I am not saying low income people are, but there is a lot of drugs circulating on the Plaza.

Kennedy Plaza is functional. That’s about all.
The improved aesthetic since reopening adds a more modern appeal to the old, decrepit KP.
Unfortunately, so many of their upgrades failed to work on day one and are still out of commission.
The electronic next-​arrival notifications were a good idea… But they don’t all work.
They didn’t clean it up very well after the snowstorms.
People don’t obey the smoking rules, which is irritating when they are smoking in an enclosed bus terminal.
It still does the trick, though!

It really saddens me to read the comments in some of the previous reviews. This place is not scary/​sketchy, nor are the people who frequent here. You’re just simply seeing some of the working poor and low/​no income people who live in Rhode Island. Poor people and homeless folks are allowed to exist.
As far as the actual bus station goes… When they redesigned the place, for some reason they made the benches pretty high up and I can now swing my legs with out touching the ground when I sit.
They also made the roofs on the enclaves clear so they won’t help with shield you from the hot sun in the summer.
I take the 60 to Newport and it runs pretty regularly (every 15 min.) during peak hours. Try to be there a few minutes early because some of the drivers seem to have watches that run fast.

Kennedy Plaza is poorly maintained and tends to be dirty. No shade often makes it a hot, uncomfortable place to wait for transit in the summer.

Currently Kennedy Plaza is a mixed bag… bus transfer point, food truck central, winter skating locale, summer concerts at Burnside Park, homeless people hanging out at different times of day… It is located in the heart of downtown, across from CIty Hall, which makes it very prominent… Even though it could be scary… it is an up and coming section of our city. There are plans to make this area better.
Mayor Angel Taveras said a few months ago. that the idea is to turn Kennedy Plaza into a destination. «When you think about great cities around the world from Rome to Florence, they have great squares and public spaces, and that’s what we want Kennedy Plaza to be,» Taveras said.
The plans call for more open space, an open market — perhaps a café and gardens. Plans also call for changes with the bus routes. Some bus routes will be moved from the center of the plaza to other areas, and some stops will be removed altogether.
The city will invest more than $ 1.5 million into the project. Part of the restructuring plan calls for connecting the skating center with the plaza. The plan is to make our Plaza more like Bryant Park in NYC, a center of events, markets, festivities.
This would be a great improvement for our great downtown area…

I’m not saying that this is greatest place in the whole wide world, but it does what it is intended to do.
Are there people who hang around more than they should? Yes, but this a city. There are going to be a large variety of people here from all walks of life. Not everyone is going to be of the same social standing as you, get over it. It’s part of city life.
During the day, it’s generally pretty busy with people trying to get to work or school. Like in any city, I would advise you to be aware of your surroundings and know where you’re belongings are, but I disagree with assertion that other reviewers have made that this the like the one place in the whole city you have to do that.
I used Kennedy Plaza throughout college and never had anything strange happen and I was typically traveling alone, sometimes after dark. RIPTA stops running after like 8 anyway, so your chances of being here alone, really late at night are not super great anyway.
Mind your surroundings and your stuff, like you would in any major metropolitan city and you will be fine. I would say that you be wise to wise your surroundings and your stuff anywhere in Providence, because it’s just good urban life practice.

I’m sad to say that Kennedy Plaza is actually Scaryville. It’s totally a shame, as it’s quite lovely and, seeing as it’s abutted by a beautiful park and one of the most charming streets in Providence, quite the loss. You see, Kennedy Plaza is in all seriousness the place you should not go at night. It’s scary and dangerous. There are even strong men in uniforms stationed there in case you need to be there for some reason. They’re there to protect you!
Busses run in and out of Kennedy Plaza, so if you’re there during the day for a quick transfer or to walk a few blocks, then you’re fine. This just isn’t the place you want to set up in for a picnic or wait to meet up with friends. There are people there who are dangerous or less than savory — you catch my drift.
The architecture surrounding the plaza is quite gorgeous — some of the most iconic in the city, actually and really impressive and it should be seen if you’re visiting the city. Just don’t hang around here after dark or by yourself.

Don’t spend any more time here than is absolutely necessary. You’re better off hanging out in the 7 – 11 across the street.

This is more critique/​open letter than review.
Oh Kennedy Plaza… all your renovating and initiatives and you are still the worst transportation hub I have ever seen. Seriously, get your sh*t together. I have frequented this place through high school and most of my college life. And in all my times I have visited, there is always an argument/​fight, bums begging for money or smelling generally unpleasant, and rowdy crowds of people just wasting away and using Kennedy Plaza as a hang out spot. The pigeons are… excusable. I mean it IS an outdoor transportation hub. But the pathetic excuse for a display of bus times and the uncomforting setting of your inner building needs to be rectified. SOON!

Kennedy Plaza can be crazy at times. There are obviously people there waiting for busses an any given time. The problem is the people who are there all day everyday. It evenly divides in three. ¹⁄₃ are homeless and begging for change. ¹⁄₃ are trying to sell you sneakers/​jewelry/​drugs etc. The last 3^rd won’t approach you but you see them acting shady.
There’s one thing I must add. Keep your wallet or any other valuable items on you. I had my wallet taken from my backpack once. I didn’t notice till I arrived at work. Luckily, it was only a half hour later. Whoever took it had already spent almost $ 200 by then. It isn’t something I hold against Kennedy Plaza because they can’t control who’s there. It’s just a warning.

Kennedy Plaza to me is not a comfortable place to be. I have be here every morning to go to work and afternoon to go home. i don’t like how there are so many people who are on some sort of drug are out and about waiting around the city. i feel as though it creates a bad image to downtown. i dont enjoy men gawking at me at every single moment. the police staff that patrol the area have always seemed nice.
unfortunately the small park constantly smells like urine and you always seem to spot mice — too bad, the water fountain is so pretty :\
the one thing i do enjoy about kennedy plaza: in the summer they host many fun events. one of them being the farmers market and musical outdoor events.
I do think it should clean up its image some more to attract more people.