Coventry, W. Warwick awarded CDBG funds
More than $1M awarded to Coventry will support Quidnick Park improvements, public housing repairs
Coventry and West Warwick are among 14 Rhode Island municipalities slated to receive a total of $5.9 million through the state’s Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program, the governor announced this week.
“The quality of the applications received underscores the dedication Rhode Island cities and towns have to enhancing the quality of life and strengthening the housing opportunities for their residents,” Gov. Dan McKee said Tuesday.
Administered by the state Office of Housing and Community Development, the CDBG program aims to develop viable communities in Rhode Island by supporting a variety of activities, with priority given to housing, economic development and neighborhood revitalization projects benefiting low- and moderate-income residents.
In Coventry, more than $1 million will be put toward the rehabilitation of a park and making improvements to public housing.
“This is wonderful news for our community’s youth and vulnerable populations here in Coventry ahead of the holiday season,” Hillary Lima, president of the Coventry Town Council, said in a press release. “Our residents deserve safe and accessible facilities to live, play, and grow and we are incredibly grateful to Governor McKee and his team for awarding the town these much-needed funds.”
The Coventry Parks and Recreation Department was awarded $495,247 to improve Quidnick Park.
Renovations at the park are desperately needed, Parks and Recreation Director Raena Blumenthal said, and the improvements that have been planned are bound to “make a big difference in town.”
“Quality parks play a vital role in the health and well-being of residents,” Blumenthal said.
The work to be made at the park includes the installation of a new playground for children ages five through 12, the renovation of its basketball court, and the addition of lighting.
Located next to the Comprehensive Community Action Program on MacArthur Boulevard, the town-owned park previously had playground equipment removed for safety reasons, and its dilapidated basketball court is
in dire need of replacement.
According to Census data, the area in which the park is located is home to a high percentage of low- to moderate-income residents.
Construction on the park is slated to begin in the spring.
In addition to the money that's been allocated for Quidnick Park, the Coventry Housing Authority will receive $541,650 in CDBG funding over two program years.
The funds will support the North Road Terrace Exterior project, replacing roofs for 96 public housing units and the community hall.
“We’re thrilled to be awarded these much needed CDBG funds,” said Julie Leddy, the housing authority’s executive director. “The preservation of 96 affordable housing units for the elderly and disabled that have served this community for over 40 years will ensure this development’s continued viability for current and future residents.”
The town is proud to be among the 14 communities chosen to receive CDBG funds, said Daniel Parrillo, Coventry’s town manager.
“This will enable us to continue making necessary investments in our town’s infrastructure that have been neglected for quite some time,” he said.
Across the town line, West Warwick has been awarded more than $600,000 in funding through the CDBG program, including $500,000 to complete the installation and replacement of drainage pipes on Brayton Street.
Another $50,000 will support Saint Elizabeth Adult Day Services, ensuring access to services by low- and moderate-income clients and the education of caregivers; $81,500, meanwhile, will be used to make improvements to the local Looking Upwards group home.
In all, 31 grants, including the five between Coventry and West Warwick, were awarded to organizations throughout the state. The hope, according to Secretary of Housing Stefan Pryor, is that the funding will help recipients “foster vibrant neighborhoods, develop and preserve needed housing, and promote economic growth.”