To the editor:

I had the opportunity to drive through the Commons in Little Compton not so long ago, and I’ll admit that a tear came to my eye when I saw the amazing progress made on the new recreational facilities. Many people don’t realize that this complex project started in the mid-1990s with the concerted efforts of myself and other hard-working individuals on the school committee.

At that time, it was obvious that the recreational facilities were inadequate and in a woeful state of disrepair. Being on the school committee provided me with the opportunity to address this issue. I, and others, started the process of providing Little Compton’s residents and youth with safe, modern, and fully-functioning recreational facilities.

There were numerous challenges, starting with the need to establish a Recreation Committee as well as the policies that would govern it. Budgetary worries are baked into any major town project like this. But we also had to contend with the fact that much of the property in question was surrounded by protected as well as private property. All of this contributed even more complexity to a daunting web of zoning and code issues.

At that time, we were fortunate to have the volunteered services of Al Veri, a landscape architect who entirely donated his services in terms of coming up with plans, proposals, and navigating through all of the zoning and code issues. Without the donation of his time and knowledge, we might never have left square one.

Even with a limited project scope at that time, the price tag on our initial package proved to be too exorbitant for Little Compton’s town budget. Over and over, we had to revise our goals and scope in hopes of putting together a package that was both affordable and would produce a real upgrade to the town’s recreational facilities. That said, we were able to get the basketball court built, which has seen a lot of use over the years.

Through a multi-year effort on our part, we kept the project alive and moving forward, refusing to give up on what we saw as a pressing need for the town and its youth. It was rewarding work, but I’d be lying if I said that it wasn’t also frustrating. I’ll admit that there were times when I thought the project would never actually start, let alone be completed.

I was on the Little Compton School Committee for a bit over a decade, and there came a point where I felt the need to move on and let new blood take over this and other projects that I’d worked on. Though I miss the work, I’m glad that I let others take the reins. What we started in upgrading the recreational facilities, they have pushed to completion.

And not only are they completing the project, but they’ve done so at a scale that is amazing. Never in my wildest imagination did I think that the recreational facilities project would reach its current level. By piecing together grants, individual donations, state funding, and town funding, they have gone above and beyond what I thought was possible.

I’d like to specifically commend the efforts of the Little Compton Recreation Committee, including Patrick McHugh (chair), Ronald Bogle, David DeSouza, Thomas M. Grimes, and Edward Maiato.

And, I’d like to personally thank everyone in the community and Little Compton town government who participated, volunteered, supported us in the earliest days of this project. Many people in town may not realize that this has been a team effort going back many years. Thanks again for making this challenging project a reality.

Sincerely,

N. Darrell Harvey III
Former Little Compton Recreation Committee chairman and School Committee member.