This is John Taylor’s last effort.

The longtime Barrington resident and former director of the town’s recreation department recently approached a member of the town council with an offer to tour and talk about some of the recreational facilities in Barrington. Mr. Taylor’s message to Councilor Jacob Brier: Creating more athletic fields and recreation facilities is good, but Barrington needs to do a better job maintaining what it already has. 

“Listen, I’ve been through everybody. This is my last effort,” said Mr. Taylor during a recent interview with the Times. “I’ve volunteered for all these things in town. I was a Little League coach. I was on the substance abuse task force. I’ve been on the park and recreation commission. I was head of the committee that built (the first Peck Center) playground.

“They build things in this town and then they don’t take care of it. They just go on to the next thing. ‘Let’s put in a turf field’ — but other things are falling apart.”

Mr. Taylor shared some of this message with Mr. Brier during the tour of some parks and athletic fields in town in early January. They stopped by Kids Kove Playground behind the town hall. Mr. Taylor said the town needs to do a better job preserving the wooden structure, replacing the broken and missing playground pieces, and not just removing features when they fall into disrepair. 

The next stop was the Kent Street tennis courts. Mr. Taylor said the municipal courts needed to be resurfaced years ago. He said there are weeds sprouting up in the cracks in the asphalt, a problem that has also surfaced at the courts across from Barrington High School. Mr. Taylor said the high school track oval needs attention also. 

The final stop on the tour was Chianese Park — Mr. Taylor spoke about problems with the asphalt courts and the athletic fields built atop the capped landfills, and the need for some work with the playground.

“People need to take ownership of these things. No one owns anything,” he said, adding that the weeds in Wood’s Pond near the town hall need to be removed, and the dirt and sand run-off from nearby County Road have impacted the pond. 

“People need to get involved,” he said. 

During his meeting with the town council member, Mr. Taylor expressed his thoughts on how the town needed to find someone who has a keen interest in recreation, and in a follow-up interview, he questioned whether the town should have a full-time recreation department director. Currently, Michele Geremia splits her time serving as senior center director and recreation department director. 

“She’s wearing two hats,” Mr. Taylor said. “It’s hard to do the job.

“Even Jamestown has a full-time director. East Greenwich has a full-time director. I was part-time, but I worked full-time.”

Mr. Taylor said a full-time director could expand programs in town, adding activities for high school-age kids and older folks. He said a full-time director could become more involved. 

“You really have to get involved,” he said. 

Mr. Brier said he appreciated Mr. Taylor’s interest in the subject and willingness to meet and discuss the parks, playgrounds and athletic fields. He said he shares Mr. Taylor’s interests in those areas. 

“I care a lot about recreational opportunities, from athletic fields to bocce and croquet courts, and everything in between,” he said. 

Mr. Brier agreed that the upkeep and maintenance of recreational facilities is crucial. He said understanding how parks, playgrounds and other facilities figure into the larger picture is important. 

“That’s what he (Mr. Taylor) is pushing for, and I agree,” Mr. Brier said.

The council member said he was happy to discuss the issues with Mr. Taylor, and was impressed with the resident’s eagerness to get involved even though he will not directly benefit from the fields or playgrounds. Mr. Taylor no longer coaches sports teams in town — he is just a resident who cares about his community, Mr. Brier said. 

“It’s just a genuine desire to improve the town,” Mr. Brier said of Mr. Taylor. 

The former director of the recreation department is 84 years old and has always had an interest in athletics and recreation. He said developing strong programs for every age group — he mentioned tennis and basketball for children and adults, and walking and wellness programs for older residents — is important for a community. 

“Recreation makes a community,” he said. 

Mr. Taylor said he was thankful that Mr. Brier was able to take time to speak and visit the facilities.

“I’m hopeful he can come forward and make some of these things happen,” Mr. Taylor said. 

Parks, fields and courts

Following are some of the current discussions, initiatives and plans for parks, athletic fields and recreational facilities in town:

• Chianese Park: The town recently submitted a grant application to the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management to build four pickle ball courts at Chianese

• Haines Park: Town officials also submitted a grant application to the state for proposed changes to Haines Park — two new lacrosse fields and a new Little League baseball diamond.

• Artificial turf: The Ad Hoc Athletic Fields Advisory Committee submitted a report to the town council and school committee; it includes a proposal to install more than eight acres of artificial turf at the high school campus. 

• Town hall park: Officials are exploring the possibility of creating a new park near Wood’s Pond on the town hall property. Some boards and commissions are reviewing the idea. 

• Bocce and croquet: A resident proposed — and the town is considering — the creation of bocce courts and a croquet playing surface near the Peck Center building.