Pats sponsor local park
Patriots-themed playground opens at Corrigan Sports Complex; project aided by team’s charitable foundation
CENTRAL FALLS – If there’s one thing that the City of Central Falls shares with the New England Patriots, according to City Council President Robert Ferri, it’s their knowledge of comebacks.
One might say that emerging from bankruptcy and the precipice of financial ruin was the political equivalent to crawling back from a 25-point deficit in the Super Bowl.
“The theme today is comeback,” Ferri said from the Francis L. Corrigan Sports Complex Tuesday morning. Ferri was joined at the complex on Higginson Avenue alongside fellow elected officials, Patriots alumni, cheerleaders, and the Pat Patriot mascot to unveil a brand-new Patriots-themed playground.
“We’re fortunate to be labeled ‘The Comeback City’ and we’ve made many strides in many areas, including recreational areas,” Ferri said. As for the Patriots ability to pull
victory from the jaws of defeat, Ferri told the assembled crowd to look no further than Super Bowl LI, when the team stunned the Atlanta Falcons, charging back from a 28-3 third quarter deficit to win, 34-28, in overtime.
Ferri also asked that if the Patriots win Super Bowl LII next February, which would be the sixth in franchise history - tying an NFL record, the team comes back to Central Falls to show off their newly-won Lombardi Trophy and diamond-encrusted championship rings.
About 30 volunteers from groups including Navigant Credit Union, United Way, and Segue IFL battled bitter cold temperatures last Friday to help in assembling pieces of the playground, which is splashed in team colors and festooned in the famous “Flying Elvis” logo. The park incorporates five “hidden rings” for children to find, representative of the five Super Bowl championships won in franchise history.
Former Patriots linebacker and Pro Football Hall of Famer Andre Tippett explained that the New England Patriots Charitable Foundation last year held a series of raffles and thanks to the “incredible support” shown by fans and benefactors, the franchise was able to use those funds to make a positive, lasting impact on communities like Central Falls.
Saying there are “extremely dedicated fans in Rhode Island,” Tippett said that the Patriots organization was thrilled to be able to assist in the construction of a park that children of Central Falls and Rhode Island will be able to enjoy.
“As we all saw Sunday, the Patriots know how to play 60 minutes of football,” Tippett said, hearkening back to New England’s thrilling last-second victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers. “It’s very important that all of us get active and play 60 minutes every day.”
“We’re excited to be a part of this. Go Pats!” Tippett exclaimed, which drew a roar from the assembled crowd at the Corrigan complex.
Mayor James A. Diossa said it was an exciting day for the city, which followed an exciting weekend of football.
“I want to thank the New England Patriots organization for their generation donations...” Diossa said. “It’s a priority of Central Falls to create more green spaces.”
However, the mayor said there was one section of the park that he hoped to see change, perhaps as soon as next February. That would be a game that’s incorporated into the park, in which children and visitors are tasked with finding five “hidden rings,” symbolic of the five Super Bowl victories in Patriots history.
“Hopefully it’ll be six,” Diossa said.