A large pile of ground up asphalt recently appeared in the dirt parking lot at Haines Park.

The new addition to the state-owned and town-maintained park drew some quick interest from neighbors.

"I am very much hoping that it is not simply for spreading out on this already dusty road," wrote one resident in an email to Barrington Town Manager Jim Cunha. "Instead of just plain dust, as is commonly generated in large quantities as cars drive along this road, we will then have large quantities of black (toxic) asphalt dust instead."

Mr. Cunha wants to put residents' fears to rest, however. The town manager said on Wednesday that there are no plans to spread the pile of old asphalt waste onto the dirt parking lots at Haines.

"It’s from the grading on Lincoln and Federal," he said, "temporary storage. It will be disposed of within the next few weeks. It will not be spread on the dirt road as some have said."

The town recently hired JH Lynch to repave 19 roads, including Lincoln Avenue and Federal Road. The project cost taxpayers $1.516 million and also included the construction of a new bus and emergency vehicle access road at the high school.