Federal funding and surplus bond money could bring a number of park and recreation projects to life in Barrington. 

At the March 24 Barrington Park and Recreation Commission meeting, Chairman Mike Seward spoke about the Commission’s 2022 recreation improvement recommendations. 

The list, which includes the redevelopment of Haines Park, a new shade structure at the town beach, and the construction of a bocce court and kayak launch at the property behind the Peck Center, hinges on a number of factors and funding sources, Mr. Seward said. 

He said the town has about $4 million in funding from the American Rescue Plan, and there’s another $4 million in surplus money from the Barrington Middle School construction bond. (A commission member said there was actually $5 million in surplus money from the middle school, but the school department was withholding $1 million for another project.)

Mr. Seward said town leaders had reviewed the list and OK’d the projects, although he cautioned there were a number of additional hurdles to clear before the projects would move forward. 

The projects range in scope and cost estimates. At the high-end is the redevelopment of Haines Park; the project includes construction of new athletic fields and parking areas and carries an estimated cost of $1.8 million. Town officials have already submitted a grant request to the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management, which could cover about $400,000 if received. 

There are some smaller projects on the list also: Dugout covers for the baseball diamond at Chianese Field would cost about $13,750; a new shade structure at the town beach has an estimate of $97,077; and resurfacing the Legion Way ice rink would cost about $39,875.

Some of the proposed projects drew questions during the Commission meeting. One official asked why the tennis courts on Lincoln Avenue (located across from Barrington High School) needed to be repaved. Commission members said the courts were cracked and uneven. There were questions about whether it would be better to re-surface the courts for $64,350 or completely rebuild them at a greater cost.

Some people asked about the proposed artificial turf project which had been referenced in the recent Barrington Ad Hoc Advisory Athletic Field Committee report. Mr. Seward said some town officials did not support the artificial turf, adding that the proposal had placed the turf field in a flood plain. 

Mr. Seward said using the surplus money from the middle school bond for a purpose other than the school project would require approval from voters at the May financial town meeting.

Safety first

Barrington Town Manager Phil Hervey said the federal American Rescue Plan funding and middle school bond surplus money may be used for other projects in town.

During an interview last week, Mr. Hervey said officials are discussing infrastructure improvements in town, including the construction of new sidewalks. He listed a few areas in Barrington where pedestrian safety would be greatly increased if new sidewalks were constructed. 

At the top of his list were roads near some of Barrington’s public school — Lincoln Avenue, sections of Upland Way and Federal Road, and Lamson Road. He also listed Maple Avenue and Bay Spring Avenue. 

“There’s plenty of need out there,” Mr. Hervey said, adding that safety is the highest priority for the town.