More than $300,000 in grant money will pave the way for improvements at Barrington's Latham Park and Police Cove Park.

The Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management announced last week that it was awarding $3 million in matching grants to 15 towns. Barrington was one of the few communities to receive two grants — the town was awarded $95,280 to make improvements to Police Cove Park, and another $234,400 for upgrades to Latham Park in Bay Spring.

Barrington Town Manager Jim Cunha said the town planner, Phil Hervey, played a key role in helping Barrington secure the grant money. Mr. Cunha said Mr. Hervey did a stellar job creating the grant applications and project proposals.

"Phil Hervey does a remarkable job," said Mr. Cunha. "He does it quietly. He doesn't like the spotlight, but he deserves the spotlight. What he's done in the last 10-plus years has been remarkable."

Mr. Cunha said securing grant money to help with park improvements is a great way to stretch each local tax-dollar.

"We're getting four dollars for every dollar we invest," he said

Latham Park

The Latham Park upgrades are part of a larger project. 

This phase of work will include the installation of a new playground, pedestrian walkways, fitness trail, handicap accessible viewing areas, a stage, rain gardens and plantings, and renovations to the existing sand volleyball court and parking area.

"We're going to add 21 parking spaces," said Mr. Cunha. 

The additional parking will run perpendicular to the street and offer more people access to the park. There will be new parcour climbing equipment added as well as new swing sets. 

"We will be putting in some more benches," said Mr. Cunha. 

The new walking path will be made of a bituminous concrete material and will have solar-lit bricks embedded in it. The solar bricks will light up at night so that the walkway remains lit without the need for overhead or low-set lighting. 

A new berm will be built at the park and flat granite boulders will be situated across the property. A rain garden and bio-retention area will be built featuring new plants and native pollinators to support the local honey bee population. 

Mr. Cunha, a Bay Spring resident, said Latham Park is already one of the most heavily-used parks in Barrington, and he is happy that DEM officials decided to fund the next level of improvements. He also said Bay Spring is a densely populated neighborhood, where house lots usually have very small yards, increasing the need for a larger public space.

"The use that park gets is amazing," he added. 

The town is required to offer a 20 percent match for the $234,400 grant.

Police Cove Park

Nearly $100,000 from the state will bring a series of improvements to Police Cove Park, which is located on the land just west of the Barrington River Bridge.

Planned upgrades include a new splash pad park, where periodic streams of water are shot out of the ground, allowing children to run through them and cool off in warm weather. The splash pad will be installed where there is currently a sculpture located.

"I'm not sure what we're going to do with that sculpture," said Mr. Cunha. "We may relocate it."

Town officials will also install new outdoor games tables at the park, the plans also call for a shade structure.

"There's not a whole lot of shade there right now," said Mr. Cunha.

Officials may install signs on the East Bay Bike Path alerting walkers and bicyclists to Police Cove Park's offerings. 

"Unless you know the area well, you don't know Police Cove Park is right there," he said. 

DEM grants, by the numbers

• $3 million: Total grants awarded by DEM to support healthy communities and promote outdoor recreation

• 15: Municipalities that will receive grants

• 19: Projects that will be funded by grants

• $77,600: Lowest grant awarded

• $300,000: Largest grant awarded

Project details

Barrington Town Manager Jim Cunha said the Police Cove Park and Latham Park improvements will go out to bid within the next three to four weeks. He expects work to begin in May or June and be completed sometime this fall. 

Grant applications were evaluated and scored by the Rhode Island Recreation Resources Review Committee, consisting of government and non-profit members, using the Open Project Selection Process developed under the 2009 Statewide Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plan. This is one of the “Green Space” grants DEM offers to local communities.

"Having clean, safe and attractive parks and recreational facilities in our communities provides tremendous economic, health, and environmental benefits for Rhode Islanders,” said RI Governor Gina M. Raimondo.  “Modernizing playgrounds, sports fields, and walking trails will encourage people to get outside, get active, and explore our beautiful state.”