Future of Small Cities Working with Pawtucket on Riverfront Visioning

Reif Larsen, Executive Director of the Future of Small Cities Institute, will be speaking at the Tidewater Riverway Symposium on May 14 in Pawtucket, joining regional leaders, designers, and community members to explore the future of the Blackstone River corridor.

The symposium brings together a diverse group of stakeholders to consider how the riverfront can serve as a catalyst for economic development, environmental restoration, and public life. Larsen will co-present with Ethan Kent, focusing on participatory approaches to shaping shared civic spaces.

The session will emphasize hands-on engagement, inviting attendees to map local assets, identify challenges, and collaboratively reimagine key sites along the river. Through a mix of discussion and interactive exercises, participants will explore how small, community-driven interventions can unlock broader possibilities for the region.

This work aligns closely with the Institute’s broader mission: helping communities surface their existing strengths, build shared narratives, and translate big ideas—around climate, resilience, and public space—into grounded, actionable strategies.