City preps park for Autumnfest
WOONSOCKET — It wasn’t so long ago that city workers would be faced with a major challenge right about now getting World War II Veterans Memorial Park off Social Street ready for another Autmunfest Festival over Columbus Day weekend.
But go down to World War II Park today and you will find it is already in good shape to host another edition of the city’s premiere northern Rhode Island festival.
The park’s lawns are mowed, its grounds clear of the litter and debris so prevalent in the past and there is also a new attitude of pride among those who use its facilities on a regular basis.
All of that is direct result of the commitment the state Department of Environmental Management and the city made several years ago to complete a renovation of the longtime urban green space between Social and East School Street, according to Mayor Lisa Baldelli-Hunt.
The DEM’s $2.6 million improvement grant combined with the city’s in kind contribution of Public Works Department preparation work for the project has resulted in the centrally-located city park now offering local residents redesigned grounds, a splash park for children looking to beat the heat of summer, a playground and out-door activity area, a set of basketball courts, and the new Napoleon Lajoie Little League Field near Social Street.
Since she began to push for the state’s upgrade work, Baldelli-Hunt said World War II Park has gone from being a neglected area of the city hosting substance abuse activity, petty crime and even a homeless encampment at times, to “a recreational facility where people feel comfortable going there and feel safe,” she said.
The city maintains the grounds now and members of the Woonsocket Police Department make regular visits to the park to enforce city ordinances and make sure that everyone has an enjoyable experience there, according to Baldelli-Hunt.
Following completion of the renovation, the city has continued to carry out additional improvements such as upgrades to lighting near the baseball field and basketball courts and most recently a resurfacing and expansion of the park parking area off Veterans Way that is used for the food court area of Autumnfest.
Public Safety Director Steven D’Agostino took care of that project with his road repaving crew in the highway department and some features such as improved lighting, electrical connections and hook ups for city water that can be used by food vendors during Autumnfest or even food trucks stopping in for other events.
“If they need potable water, they will be able to hook-up right there,” D’Agostino said.
The project, which cost the city about $60,000 in materials and supplies to complete, also included the clearing of brush and overgrown shrubs between the side of the parking area and properties between it and Pond Street and the construction of a new concrete block retaining wall and fence against that border. “We know how to stretch a dollar, you know,” BaldelliHunt said of the locallycompleted work.
The parking lot was also expanded 12- 15 feet down its width to make it easier for cars to park and to provide more space when it is used for other activities like Autumnfest.
The pavement was installed by the same highway department crew that is paving city roads under its ongoing road improvement program. The city spent $634,245 on self-paving projects last year under a program that saw 11 local roads repaved for a total 2.3 miles of improvements that D’Agostino estimates would have cost more $2.1 million if private contractors conducted the work.
Now that the food court area has been upgraded for Autumnfest, Baldelli-Hunt hopes there will opportunities to schedule other events there with the intent of bringing in more people to use World War II Park. She might even try to convince some of the food trucks visiting Market Square in the past, and who faced negative responses from some members of the council and neighboring businesses, to give WWII Park a try.
“It’s a popular event, the residents of the city enjoy them, and there is a solution to every problem,” BaldelliHunt said of her interest in inviting the food-truckers to World War II Park.
Chief Thomas F. Oates III said local residents can expect to see police officers at World War II Park on bike and on foot patrols as part of the police department’s move to enforce local ordinances and correct the problems of the past.
“I think it is much better,” Oates said. “We have increased patrols in there and seen a lot of improvement as a result. When you have a presence there, people respond and take more pride the facilities they use,” Oates noted. The increased patrols are scheduled on both the day shift and night shift and the city’s ordinances allow the police to issue municipal court citations for entering city parks after hours when necessary, according to Oates. “We have foot patrols and drive throughs but it’s been good,” Oates said while noting there have been no significant concerns at World War II more recently.