Barrington has moved one step closer to building a new skatepark.

At its meeting on Monday, Nov. 6, the Barrington Town Council voted 3-1 in favor of submitting a grant application to the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management to construct a new skatepark. 

The grant, if awarded to Barrington, would be for $280,000 and require a town match of 20 percent or $70,000. 

The Barrington Park and Recreation Commission recommended the Council approve the request to submit the grant, and proposed the park be built next to Kids Kove Playground behind the Barrington Town Hall, or possibly at Haines Park.

About midway into the Council discussion, Barrington Town Manager Phil Hervey began voicing concerns about the two possible locations. 

Hervey said putting the skatepark next to Kids Kove Playground behind the Town Hall would eliminate 14 parking spaces from the lot that is located just north of the playground. He said those spaces are important, especially during the larger, well-attended events hosted at the library. Hervey also said that there are three small school buses that are kept in that section of the parking lot, as well as a large trash container, and a donation bin from Big Brother, Big Sisters.

Hervey also voiced concerns about the Haines Park location, which would be in a parking lot located in the western section of Haines, abutting the Cove Haven Marina property. 

Hervey said the town would need install some lighting at Haines for security purposes, and increase police patrols in that area as well. Hervey then said he wanted to do a deeper dive into skatepark locations and suggested the item be paused and re-examined as part of the town’s comprehensive plan update. 

Council member Kate Berard said the timeline did seem fast — the application deadline is Dec. 6. Council member Rob Humm agreed with Berard, and asked if it would be possible to table the skatepark discussion to next month. 

Barrington Park and Recreation Commission Chairman Mike Seward said that pushing off the discussion a month would delay the possibility of receiving a DEM grant until 2025. 

Humm opened up the discussion to public comments, and Matt Amaral was the first to speak. 

Amaral, who serves on the town’s Economic Development Commission, said his oldest son had helped create the skatepark at Legion Way as part of his high school senior project in 2016. But, Amaral added, his son never wanted to locate the skatepark at Legion Way — his first choice had been Chianese Park. Amaral said Chianese was a better location, as it already had other amenities such as a playground and a tennis court. 

Amaral then directed his comments to Councilor Annelise Conway, who, during an earlier Council item, discussed the importance of building community in Barrington. Amaral said creating a skatepark in town would help build that sense of community. 

Amaral closed by stating that he fully supported the construction of a high quality skatepark in Barrington. 

Barrington Park and Recreation Commission member Tom Rimoshytus criticized the Town Manager for suggesting the town delay the skatepark project. He said the Commission is working hard putting forth ideas for more recreation in Barrington and Hervey keeps putting it back in their faces. 

Rimoshytus offered remedies to the challenges poses by building a skatepark behind the town hall — he said the school department could relocate its buses to the middle school, where it already keeps other vehicles; he said the town could move the trash container and donation bin. 

Berard then asked Hervey what he thought the likelihood was that the DEM would award two recreation grants to Barrington; the town also plans to apply for a grant to expand its splash pad at Police Cove Park. Hervey said it was not very likely. 

Berard said she believes the Park and Recreation Commission did its due diligence researching the skatepark proposal and suggested that the town submit the grant application and let the state decide if it is awarded. 

A short time later, Conway made a motion to submit the grant application, with the skatepark located near Kids Kove Playground behind the Town Hall. Berard seconded the motion, which passed 3-1. 

Council member Braxton Howard Cloutier voted nay, and later explained his decision to do so.

“I voted no because I don't believe the Town Hall Campus is an appropriate place for it,” Cloutier said. “Had the motion before the Council been to place it at Haines Park, I would have voted yes! I am happy it's moving forward, and I hope Barrington secures the grant.”