EAST PROVIDENCE — The scale and scope of the original concept reduced significantly, the City Council at its Tuesday, Aug. 15, meeting took two actions towards regenerating the grounds surrounding the Crescent Park/Looff Carousel.

First, the Council approved the allocation of $124,250 to contract Northeast Collaborative Architects to draw up plans for, among elements, a new building on property.

Later, the body backed the first passage of an ordinance allocating $1 million of the city's remaining $14 million in American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds towards the plan.

Northeast Collaborative "will provide basic architectural services including landscape architecture, structural engineering and MEP/FP (mechanical, electrical, plumbing, fire protection) engineering."

The goal of the current effort is to lay a concrete pad suitable for use with a large tent, build a new concession stand and create new office/storage space as well as additional public restrooms.

"We're looking to finally get this over the finish line," said item sponsor Ward 4 Councilor Rick Lawson, in whose district the carousel is located. "We've been looking to do this for years. Crescent Park, historically, clam cakes and chowder has been part of the fabric of that park. So that's why we're really advocating to get this done."

As he explained before the body unanimously supported the measure, Lawson reminded the Council had reallocated the $124K sum in the current Fiscal Year 2022-23 Capital Improvements Budget from a line item in support of a proposed ice skating rink to the revised concept. Lawson said in total, there is now some $500,000 in Capital funds appropriated for the project.

The administration of Mayor Bob DaSilva had informed the Council the ice rink was no longer feasible. Much of the equipment that had been donated some six years to operate the seasonal rink was not in working order.

The current proposal would lay the pad to house an event tent with an electrical connection.

Lawson said because Blount Seafood, which for several years prior to the COVID-19 pandemic ran the concessions business at the site, "basically outgrew existing building" and declined to renew its contract with the city.

The new structure, he continued, would a bigger building than what is there now, would include storage and office space as well as restrooms.

Carousel manager Tracy Johnson, who has worked on the project since its inception several years ago now, said the new building would have limited indoor seating to allow a vendor year-round operation if desired.

"The goal is to start monetizing the park without utilizing staff except Tracy (Johnson) booking events," Lawson added.

Asked by a resident about any plans impacting trees at the site, Johnson said there is not currently a need to cut any down. However, she added some are diseased and dying and will have to be removed eventually, which is why part of the contract with Northeast Collaborative calls for a landscape design including replanting of new trees.