May is here, and warmer weather has officially settled upon Warwick’s shoulders. Although April was rainy, May flowers have begun to bloom throughout the city. Like the changes in weather and landscape, many changes continue to happen across Warwick. 

We recently welcomed Duluth Trading Company to the city. Located on Rte. 2 in Warwick, the clothing store, which was founded in 1991, brings a variety of clothing and tool options to for those in the construction business. Created by two brothers who were working in the construction industry at the time, they wanted to simplify how to carry and maneuver tools from work site to work site. The brothers developed a series of tool storage, organization and transport products. Over the years, the company continually expanded their product line to include clothing, as well as other products. The new location in Warwick is Duluth’s 20th store nationwide. In addition to the excitement surrounding the store, the new location also brings 40 new jobs to the city of Warwick. For more information about Duluth visit www.duluthtrading.com 

As the air continues to warm, for the first time the Warwick Wildlife and Conservation Commission will be hosting a series of four unique natural location tours during the month of May. Attendees are welcome to participate in the free tours to learn about the rich ecology and history of each location, and what makes each particular site unique. The chairwoman of the Warwick Wildlife and Conversation Commission, Anne Holste, spearheaded the project after the Rhode Island Wildlife Action Plan listed each area as distinctive. The Warwick Wildlife and Conservation Commission constantly strives to assist the planning department and the city to sustain a balance between residential and commercial development, while maintaining the integrity of the city’s wildlife and other natural resources. The tours are an opportunity for the commission to educate and engage residents and neighbors on the local ecological environment, and natural resources housed within the city. The site locations for the tours are Mary’s Creek, Greene’s River, Mill Creek and Cloud Hill Arboretum.

The city officially kicked of their Food Truck Nights during the first week of the month. The ever-popular, family-friendly outing kicked off the season at the Norwood Public Library. Food Truck Nights will also make stops at Warwick City Hall, Conimicut Point, Pawtuxet Village and Rocky Point this season. For a full list of dates and locations visit www.warwickri.gov 

In addition to all the exciting new events that we welcome back to the city as the weather heats up, one of the biggest changes in Warwick continues to take shape. The Apponaug Circulator project is now mere months away from completion. During the month of May, sidewalks and crosswalks continued to be installed, as well as curb work and drainage installation. As the final pieces to the project come together, Apponaug will soon be the pedestrian-friendly, seaside village it was always intended to be. 

This is an exciting time for Warwick. If you are interested in becoming part of our success story, please contact the Warwick Planning Department or the Department of Tourism, Culture and Development.

Scott Avedisian is the mayor of Warwick.