FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 17, 2025
Providence, RI—One Neighborhood Builders (ONB), one of the state’s leading nonprofit affordable housing developers and community development corporations, in partnership with the City of Providence Parks Department, held a ribbon cutting ceremony to celebrate the opening of public restrooms in the city’s Merino Park.
The installation of public restrooms at the park is a direct response to a community identified need during the Nine Neighborhood Fund participatory budgeting initiative led by ONB’s Central Providence Unidos, a Health Equity Zone and place-based initiative focused on increasing economic mobility and health equity in the nine neighborhoods of Central Providence. Over 1,200 community members cast votes to determine how to spend $1 million in their community to advance health equity.
“When members of the community came together to develop the projects that would be on the ballot, there was a desire to support families who use our local parks as they remain one of the few spaces where people can be outside of their home without needing to spend money” said Dominique Resendes, Associate Director of Community Infrastructure for One Neighborhood Builders & Central Providence Unidos. “Prior to today, many families faced the challenge of being at the park and needing to use the restroom which required them to find a local cafe or store where they can use the restroom only after making a purchase; with the installation of these restrooms, we have eliminated this burden. Participatory budgeting allowed us to use an innovative solution to address community priorities – both a need for restrooms in the park and a desire to promote environmentally sustainable practices.”
The investment in public restrooms complement the Providence Parks Department’s recently completed $200,000 improvements to the playground, guardrails, and parking lot. The cost of the restroom installation was paid with funds from ONB’s participatory budgeting initiative.
“I am so glad to join in celebrating these greatly needed improvements at Merino Park, particularly because they came as a result of a participatory budgeting process,” said City Council President Rachel Miller. “As city councilors, we know more than anyone the value of community input and partnership. Our neighbors know what they need, and this is a wonderful example of what communities can achieve when folks make their voices heard.”
The Nine Neighborhood Fund is the largest and one of the first participatory budgeting initiatives in the state of Rhode Island, where over 1,200 people who lived in or went to school in Central Providence determined how to spend $1 million in their community to advance health equity. Facilitated by Central Providence Unidos, the Nine Neighborhood Fund initiative was a multi-year process and made possible by the braiding of Rhode Island Executive Office of Health and Human Services (EOHHS) Medicaid funding with private, philanthropic funding from Blue Meridan Partners.
“Our parks are essential to our community, and we’re committed to making them more accessible, welcoming and sustainable,” said Superintendent of Parks Wendy Nilsson. “Whether it’s new infrastructure like these facilities at Merino Park, or expanding green space across the city, we’re focused on improving the quality of life for our neighbors and creating public spaces that serve everyone. I’m thankful to our community partners at One Neighborhood Builders for their support in building this facility to better meet the needs of our neighbors.”
This innovative installation marks a new chapter in public infrastructure for the state. Designed and operated by Wasted* PBC, a circular sanitation company, the toilet not only provides essential amenities for park-goers, but also turns human waste into high-value, locally produced fertilizer. The new sustainable, urine-diverting toilets are from Wasted*’s system that separates and collects urine on-site, which is then transported to their lab for treatment and transformed into an agricultural-grade fertilizer. This process not only supports local green spaces but also reduces nutrient pollution and the energy-intensive burden on wastewater treatment facilities. The addition of the Wasted* Donation Station restroom enhances accessibility and ensures the park is welcoming to all, while supporting the goals of Climate Ready PVD.
“Public bathrooms are a basic need, and this project is proof that communities can lead the way in making infrastructure both accessible and sustainable,” said Thor Retslaff, founder of Wasted*. “We’re honored to bring nutrient recovery to Merino Park and demonstrate what’s possible when cities and residents co-create the future of sanitation.”
In addition to the speaking program, the celebration brought together residents and organizations for a community focused event that included demonstrations of the Wasted* model, highlighting of other sustainability efforts taking place in the neighborhood and across the state, games, and food, including representation from the Olneyville Resilience Hub, Providence Department of Sustainability, Providence Neighborhood Planting Program, RI Food Policy Council, Rich Earth Institute, Sincere Multiservice, Woonasquatucket River Watershed Council, and Zero Waste Providence.
Seven other projects were approved by community members through the participatory budgeting process, including a peer mental health training program, a lead-free water project, a bike distribution and repair project, planting a community orchard of food-bearing trees, creating a youth soccer program, youth life skills classes, and improving bus stops. Many of these projects have already been successfully implemented. ONB is currently completing a case study on the Nine Neighborhood Fund participatory budgeting process that is expected to be released in the fall and will share findings on the lessons learned and outcomes of the implemented projects.
ABOUT ONE NEIGHBORHOOD BUILDERS
One Neighborhood Builders has been at the forefront of the fight to expand affordable housing and foster healthier and more equitable communities in Rhode Island for more than three decades. Since 1988, the organization has developed over 480 affordable apartments, 130 for-sale homes accessible to low- to moderate-income homebuyers, and more than 45,000 square feet of commercial and community space. These developments include the remediation of blighted and environmentally contaminated land and the preservation of historic buildings and represent a total community investment of more than $140 million.
One Neighborhood Builders is the convening backbone entity of Central Providence Unidos, one of the RI Department of Health’s Health Equity Zones. Central Providence Unidos, formerly known as Central Providence Opportunities: A Health Equity Zone, is a collective impact initiative of more than 60 stakeholders working to affect health and economic conditions across the nine neighborhoods of Central Providence (i.e., the 02908 and 02909 ZIP codes).
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MEDIA CONTACT
Kyle McKendall
Vice President of Resource
Development & Communications
One Neighborhood Builders
401-489-0951 | mckendall@nullonenb.org
