What Grows From Urban Renewal? Skateboarding & Local 3 at Cathedral Square

Through the mid 1970’s the Bricklayers and Allied Trades Local 3 trade union built the paved landscape descending from David Gavitt Way to the entrance of Saints Peter and Paul Cathedral, continuing down the footprint of Westminster Street across Greene Street and ending at Empire Street. This guided walking tour, led by Will Cornwall, will explore the cultural influence of this brick, concrete, stone and steel landscape on the local skateboarding subculture. There will be five stops at architectural features in the Cathedral Square space. At each stop tour attendees will have smart phone access to a brief archival film showing the skateboarding history specific to that respective architectural feature. The tour will conclude with a skateboarding demonstration at the Trinity Skatespot on Adrian Hall Way.

Will Cornwall is a community-minded builder who acquired fifteen years of hands-on construction experience before returning to University of Rhode Island to earn a civil engineering degree (Class of ’26). His construction experience is a unique blend of the contemporary building practices for concrete skate parks and the traditional carpentry and masonry techniques for the restoration of historic architecture in and around Providence. Will was born and raised in the Smith Hill neighborhood and has now been skateboarding for over 25 years.

This tour is part of Providence Preservation Society's week-long Festival of Modern Design, from October 5 - 11, 2025. The Festival website has information about all events associated with the Festival.

Ticket Price: $15 Students / $30 PPS Members / $35 General.

This walk departs from Cathedral Square and ends at Adrian Hall Way near Trinity Rep. Please be aware that this walk covers uneven ground. Visitors may find street parking or paid parking at the LAZ Parking - Empire Lot (209 Fountain Street) very close to where the walking tour ends.

Host or Publisher Providence Preservation Society