“Tenants in my building have moved out because of … the noise from garbage and delivery trucks (full-size tractor trailers) that use parking lots abutting our building to access local restaurants / stores.” — Wayland Square resident
Testimonial Category: Quality of life
“It’s so stressful that I don’t know if I can deal with it for the remaining 6 months of my lease. It’s really affecting my quality of life.” — Self-identified African-American downtown resident
Responses to the Noise Project’s Community Noise Survey Q: How do you feel when you notice noise? A: Afraid to even go to my bedroom. Q: Do you do things to try to avoid noise? A: Take sleeping pills. — Self-identified Latino resident of South Providence
“I don’t know who to contact and don’t feel anything can be done to change it. It has become a sad fact of my existence that has negatively impacted my anxiety, stress, and irritability levels.” — Downtown resident at Memorial and Westminster Streets
“I have been very surprised by the amount of noise since moving to Providence last year and highly affected. I had no idea about the health perspective and the way in which residents are affected systemically in Providence. I recently moved to a new house with higher rent in a different neighborhood in large part … Read more
“Noise violations are so frequent in Elmwood … if I reported every time, I’d be calling daily. I’ve gotten to the point where I leave the neighborhood on weekends just to avoid the loud noise all day and into the night. It’s not the music that’s off-putting, it’s the volume of the music. The birds … Read more
“I lived in central Paris in Spring [2022], and the noise there came nowhere close to the level of disruptive noise in Providence. The street noise — motorcycles, unregulated car engines, I-95 — here is deafening. Add to that the summer rock concerts, college parties, and of course insufferable fireworks, and this is the noisiest … Read more
“Throughout my campaign [for mayor], I have heard what a problem sound is in our city. Whether it is loud nightclubs, modified mufflers, or ATVs — we need to do a better job of respecting and enforcing our own sound rules … and will hopefully finally provide relief to our neighborhoods.” — Providence Mayor Brett … Read more
“What’s being done about cars blaring their music all hours? Police should be enforcing [noise limits], it is the worst form of noise pollution. People have to keep their windows closed in summer/spring and even then can’t sleep. You can hear the sound rattle windows.” — West End resident
“The best way to experience the pounding noise would be to come to Parkside Drive on a sunny day after 2:00 p.m., especially on a Saturday or Sunday. It sounds like Roger Williams Park is the Wild West of noise.” — South Elmwood resident