GOVERNOR CARCIERI HAILS 8-MILLION DOLLARS IN GRANTS TO
BUILD NEW PLAYING FIELDS, RUNNING TRACKS AND OUTDOOR RECREATIONAL SITES
05-31-2006
Governor Donald L. Carcieri today joined with Rhode Island Department of
Environmental Management (DEM) Director W. Michael Sullivan to announce
$8-Million dollars in grants are being awarded for 65 projects in 31
communities around the state for acquisition and development of recreational
playing fields and open spaces .
“As we begin the summer season, I'm pleased to announce $8 million in
grants to help local communities throughout Rhode Island build new
recreational sites and playing fields of every kind,” Governor Carcieri said
during a ceremony held on the grounds of the Exeter/West Greenwich Regional
Track and Field Facility on Nooseneck Hill Road in West Greenwich. “I have
long argued that Rhode Islanders enjoy a tremendous quality of life. And over
the last three years, I have worked hard to make sure Rhode Island continues
to be a great place to live and work. By funding the upgrade and construction
of recreational facilities in 31 Ocean State communities, these grants will
help our citizens enjoy all Rhode Island has to offer.”
The Exeter/West Greenwich Track and Field Facility , where the grant
announcement was held, is the recipient of a $300,000 grant which will be used
to renovate the existing 25 year- old cinder track with a state-of-the-art
rubber based surface, allowing for year-round use. Other funding being added
to the renovation will result in a total project cost of $628,500.
The grants, which are targeted for communities from Woonsocket to South
County, will help construct everything from playgrounds and ballfields, to
walking paths, boat launches and picnic areas.
Other uses of the funds will include new tennis and outdoor basketball
courts, dog parks, landscaped garden areas, and hiking trails.
Of the total grants awarded, $7 million comes from state funding from the
2000 Open Space Bond and 2004 Open Space, Recreation and Clean Water Bond. The
additional $1 million is being provided by federal funds through the National
Park Service. The state grants will be matched by local bond funds and other
federal grants to generate $17 million in recreational project improvements
throughout Rhode Island.
A complete list of the projects slated for the grants in 31 communities is
enclosed.
2006 Rhode Island Open Space Grants Large Grants for Recreation
Development
- Bristol: Veteran’s Memorial Park, redesign two little league fields.
Open Space Grant Award $200,000. Total Project Cost $400,000.
- Central Falls: Higginson Ave. Sports Complex, little league field,
soccer, lights. Open Space Grant Award $300,000. Total Project Cost
$625,000.
- Coventry: Rice Memorial Field 8.8-acre playfield rehabilitation. Open
Space Grant Award $172,920. Total Project Cost $345,840.
- Cumberland: Tucker Athletic Complex, restrooms, multi-purpose field,
tennis, parking. Open Space Grant Award: $300,000. Total Project Cost:
$600,000.
- Hopkinton: Crandall Park, handicap accessible playground. Open Space
Grant $125,000. Total Project Cost $250,000.
- Little Compton: Commons Basketball Court, reconstruction of town outdoor
basketball court. Open Space Grant Award $50,000. Total Project Cost
$100,000.
- Middletown: Wyatt Road Soccer Complex, three soccer fields. Open Space
Grant Award $280,535. Total Project Cost $561,070.
- New Shoreham: Ball O’Brien Park, basketball and tennis courts. Open
Space Grant Award: $88,000. Total Project Cost: $176,000.
- New Shoreham: Heinz Field, multi-purpose recreation field. Open Space
Grant Award: $125,000. Total Project Cost: $250,000.
- 10. Newport: Cardines Field, safety improvements, fencing, walkways.
Open Space Grant Award $100,000. Total Project Cost $200,000.
- North Kingstown: Wasserman Recreation Land Acquisition, 36.27 acres for
active recreation. Open Space Grant Award $300,000. Total Project Cost
$1,200,000.
- Pawtucket: Thomas Duffy Complex, rehabilitation of four tennis courts
and one basketball court. Open Space Grant Award $75,000. Total Project Cost
$150,000.
- Pawtucket: Galego Soccer Facility, soccer field. Open Space Grant Award
$200,000. Total Project Cost $400,000.
- Providence: Meeting Street Athletic Facility, new multi-purpose field.
Open Space Grant Award $300,000. Total Project Cost $616,000.
- Scituate: Tasca Field, walking path, four soccer fields, parking,
restrooms. Open Space Grant Award $236,000. Total Project Cost $472,000.
- South Kingstown: South County Commons Bike Spur, bike path connection.
Open Space Grant Award $169,725. Total Project Cost $339,450.
- Warren: Jamiel’s Park, restrooms, lighting, skatepark, tennis. Open
Space Grant Award $300,000. Total Project Cost $610,000.
- West Greenwich/Exeter: Regional Track and Field Facility, development of
new facility. Open Space Grant Award $300,000. Total Project Cost $628,500.
- West Warwick: Riverpoint Park, tennis and basketball courts and a dog
park. Open Space Grant Award $300,000. Total Project Cost $600,000.
- Woonsocket: Municipal Soccer Complex, recreational complex. Open Space
Grant Award $300,000. Total Project Cost $825,000.
- Woonsocket: Cass Park, improvements to the pond, landscaping, restrooms,
multi-purpose field. Open Space Grant Award $300,000. Total Project Cost
$820,000.
2006 Rhode Island Open Space Grants Small Grants for Recreation
Developmen
- Burrillville: Branch River Park, track resurfacing. Open Space Grant
Award $26,000. Total Project Cost $52,000.
- Charlestown: Ninigret Park, two tennis courts. Open Space Grant Award
$40,000. Total Project cost $80,000.
- Coventry: Paine Field, parking and skate park. Open Space Grant Award
$26,000. Total Project Cost $52,000.
- East Providence: Hull Street Playground, playground replacement. Open
Space Grant Award $20,000. Total Project Cost $40,000.
- Foster: Isaac Paine little league field. Open Space Grant Award $40,000.
Total Project Cost $149,000.
- Glocester: Skatepark development. Open Space Grant Award $20,000. Total
Project Cost $40,000.
- Hopkinton: Crandall Park, tennis court and skating liner. Open Space
Grant Award $20,000. Total Project Cost $40,000.
- Jamestown: Recreation Field Improvements. Open Space Grant Award
$10,000. Total Project Cost $20,000.
- Newport: J.T. Braga Park, soccer fields. Open Space Grant Award $40,000.
Total Project Cost $80,000.
- North Smithfield: Primrose Recreation Area, playground equipment. Open
Space Grant Award $25,000. Total Project Cost $50,000.
- Pawtucket: Smithfield Ave. Playground development. Open Space Grant
Award $40,000. Total Project Cost $80,000.
- South Kingstown: Old Mountain Field, basketball court. Open Space Grant
Award $25,000. Total Project Cost $50,000.
- Tiverton: Bulgarmarsh Basketball Courts. Open Space Grant Award $18,000.
Total Project Cost $36,000.
- West Warwick: Amby Smith Baseball Field. Open Space Grant Award $40,000.
Total Project Cost $80,000.
2006 Rhode Island Open Space Grants Distressed Community Grants for
Recreation Development
- Central Falls: Playgrounds. Open Space Grant Award $55,000. Total
Project Cost $155,000.
- North Providence: Stephen Olney Park, skate park. Open Space Grant Award
$55,000. Total Project Cost $89,968.
- Pawtucket: Marconi Gardens rehabilitation. Open Space Grant Award
$55,000. Total Project Cost $100,000.
- Providence: George West Water Park development. Open Space Grant Award
$55,000. Total Project Cost $228,000.
- West Warwick: Natick Ballfields development. Open Space Grant Award
$55,000. Total Project Cost $73,500.
- Woonsocket: Soccer Golf Complex development. Open Space Grant Award
$55,000. Total Project Cost $155,000.
2006 Rhode Island Open Space Grants Historic and Passive Parks Grants
for Recreation Development
- Bristol: Thomas Park at Silver Creek, stone wall, planting, parking,
overlook. Open Space Grant Award $150,000. Total Project Cost $226,529.
- Burrillville: Pascoag Village Riverwalk. Open Space Grant Award
$150,000. Total Project Cost $390,000.
- Burrillville: Fireman’s Memorial Park, picnic tables, seeding, railing.
Open Space Grant Award $20,700. Total Project Cost $23,000.
- Charlestown: Mud Cove Project, picnic area, parking, pavilion, boat
launch. Open Space Grant Award $150,000. Total Project Cost $450,000.
- Coventry: Anthony Village Green, flagpoles, sidewalks, fences, benches.
Open Space Grant Award $150,000. Total Project Cost $170,000.
- East Greenwich: Greenwich Cove Recreation Area, walking paths, benches,
parking. Open Space Grant Award $150,000. Total Project Cost $165,000.
- East Providence: Hunts Mills walking trail, benches, parking, signs.
Open Space Grant Award $148,500. Total Project Cost $165,000.
- East Providence: Sabin Point Park, walkways, parking, benches,
landscaping. Open Space Grant Award $150,000. Total Project Cost $300,000.
- Jamestown: Fort Getty Park, restrooms, parking, pavilion. Open Space
Grant Award $150,000. Total Project Cost $190,000.
- Little Compton Agricultural Trust: Marvel Land passive park development.
Open Space Grant Award $40,000. Total Project Cost $107,000.
- Middletown: The Valley, trails, dog park, gazebo, picnic area. Open
Space Grant Award $150,000. Total Project Cost $166,700.
- Middletown: Demery Memorial Park, walkways, stone wall repair. Open
Space Grant Award $36,775. Total Project Cost $73,550.
- Middletown: Dunlap-Wheeler Park, landscaping. Open Space Grant Award
$40,000. Total Project Cost $81,445.
- Newport: Washington/Long Wharf Passive Park, seawall, benches. Open
Space Grant Award $135,000. Total Project Cost $150,000.
- Newport: Rochambeau Historic Site Restoration, seawall, other repairs.
Open Space Grant Award $150,000. Total Project Cost $167,000.
- Newport: Van Zandt Pier, rehab existing fishing/pedestrian pier. Open
Space Grant Award $150,000. Total Project Cost $325,000.
- North Kingstown: Yorktown Park, trails, bridge, parking. Open Space
Grant Award $123,814. Total Project Cost $137,571.
- Pawtucket: State Pier. Open Space Grant Award $150,000. Total Project
Cost $1 million.
- Pawtucket: Slater Park Band Stand, restoration of band stand and
boathouse terrace. Open Space Grant Award $150,000. Total Project Cost
$195,000.
- Portsmouth: Sandy Point Trail, walkway. Open Space Grant Award $13,752.
Total Project Cost $27,504.
- Providence: Roger Williams Landing, monument restoration, fencing,
landscaping. Open Space Grant Award $76,950. Total Project Cost $85,500.
- South Kingstown: Village Green, gazebo, bandstand, lighting, walkways.
Open Space Grant Award $150,000. Total Project Cost $250,000.
- Warwick: Gorton Pond fishing pier and beach boardwalk. Open Space Grant
Award $150,000. Total Project Cost $315,200.
- West Warwick: Phenix Square Park, fencing, lighting, walkways. Open
Space Grant Award $72,000. Total Project Cost $80,000.