EAST PROVIDENCE — The third and final year of East Providence’s current $12 million street repaving plan started in recent days, the City Council heard at its meeting Tuesday night, April 20.

New Director of Public Works Dan Borges led the update, telling the council the program contractor, Pawtucket Hot Mix Asphalt Inc., began the processes of milling down roadways, preparing driveway aprons and resetting manhole covers on April 15.

The director said the plan was to actually start repaving the surfaces by the end of last week, April 23. The seasonal project, Mr. Borges continued, is beginning in the north end of the city in Rumford, will works its way south until completion in Riverside.

At-Large member Bob Rodericks asked Mr. Borges if there would be any potential conflicts between the paving plan and the upcoming water connection project being paid for by the Bristol County Water Authority at the Kent Heights facility.

The director said as part of the some $7 million effort to provide its customers with an emergency supply line, which includes significant construction on Dover Avenue, BCWA is contractually obligated “to pave curb to curb.” Mr. Borges added, the city does not “intend to pave where utility work is required in the future.”

Live Nation contract
The council approved a resolution authorizing the administration of Mayor Bob DaSilva to re-up a lease agreement between the city and Live Nation Worldwide, Inc./R.I. Waterfront Enterprises for the use of Bold Point Park once again this year as an outdoor concert/events site.

Just how many shows occur in 2021 remains to be determined. Live Nation/RIWE has already announced one concert for the season, the Country Music band “Brothers Osbourne” on August 1, though a representative from the company said the vagaries still surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic continue to make it difficult to book artists and festivals.

Grassy Plains Park update
Both during public comment and an update on the current city finances, planned and completed updates to the Grassy Plains Park in Riverside were mentioned.

The co-director of the community group Friends of Grassy Plains Park, Dr. Alan D’Aiello, was one of the speakers to provide insight into updates done at the playground.

Dr. D’Aiello, also a member of the city’s Planning Board, highlighted completed work on renovating both the basketball and tennis courts at the park, a skateboarding area and the pending arrival of new playground equipment.

Also discussed was the repaved parking lot and walk/pathways making site handicap accessible.

Dr. D’Aiello added the desire of his group for the city to re-established water and electrical lines to Grassy Plains. He cited estimates for both made by DPW Director Borges, pegging the numbers at $10,000 for the electrical supply and $20,000 for the water.

In his monthly update to the council, city side Finance Director Malcolm Moore said of the Fiscal Year 2020-21 Capital Improvements Budget earmarks for Grassy Plains, some $67,000 remains. The park line item for the year began with a total of $147,000.

Also on Grassy Plains, the council passed a resolution renaming the location in the honor of a deceased child from the neighborhood.

The new name going forward will be “The Blake Costa Playground At Grassy Plain Park.” Blake passed away in May of 2020 at age 5 from pediatric brain cancer.

Agawam park dedication
The council approved another resolution sponsored by Councilor Rodericks, renaming the softball field at the Agawam recreational park off Pawtucket Avenue in honor of famed team sponsor and manager Bob Clark.

The resolution requested changing of the name to the Francis Finn/Robert O. Clark Field at the Harry C. Mutter, Jr. Athletic Complex.

Mr. Clark’s “Clark & Sons Locksmiths” teams of the 1970s were among the best men’s adult softball sides in the state and region, culminating in the local entry winning the American Softball Association (ASA) National Championship in 1979.

More resolutions
The council passed a host of other resolutions last week, including one proclaiming April 24, 2021 as “Armenian Genocide Remembrance Day” to commemorate the Armenian Genocide of 1915-1923. The sponsor was Council President Britto.

The council as well backed a resolution in support of a bill co-sponsored by the city’s State Senate delegation which would provide artists with personal income tax exemptions if plying their crafts within the East Providence Arts District located in and around the Watchemoket Square area at the Warren Avenue basin. Companion legislation is being sponsored in the State House of Representatives.