Town Parks and Recreation Department Director Tara Thibaudeau approached the council at its April 8 meeting with a series of announcements and requests, including an appeal to back a bid to drill a well to irrigate the new community garden set to open this year on the lot at the intersection of Kinnicutt Avenue and Schoolhouse Road

As Thibaudeau has mentioned previously at council meetings, a request for proposal process (RFP) initiated by the Parks and Rec Department turned up empty with no firm submitting an estimate to perform the work.

Instead, Thibaudeau recently asked for and was granted permission by the body to seek out a vendor directly, which she did and presented to the council last week an agreement with Well Works LLC., of Jamestown, to perform the required construction at a total estimated cost of $18,931.

Thibaudeau said after soliciting two vendors, seeking to have the well done in this manner ultimately "would be less expensive and a better situation."

The council unanimously approved the item with an addendum suggested by Councilor Louis Rego, allowing for "up to" $18,931 be allocated towards the well.

The deal includes the following: digging the well at a depth between 300-500 feet at $21 per foot or between $6,300-$10,500; casing $1,440; drive shoe $300; lines to the shed $2,000; 15 gallon tank $1,780; pump $2,500; and water testing $411. Depending on the depth required to strike the water table, the depth amount could theoretically come in lower.

The well is needed to irrigate the grounds, which measure 120-foot by 100-foot and include 30 stainless steel beds for residents to plant flowers, fruits and vegetables, etc. The garden is fenced in using 440 feet of 8-foot high black coated mesh on 5'x5" cedar posts and is accessed by 8'x10' double drive gates and a single 8'x4' gate.

The aforementioned shed is a wooden storage unit once used at Burr's Hill Park for the town beach and that is being renovated, at just cost for materials, by Mt. Hope High School Career and Tech Center construction students, including several pupils from Warren.

Parks and Rec received $80,000 in state department of environmental management and Rhode Island General Assembly grants to fund the entire endeavor.

Summer concerts
Thibaudeau publicized the schedule for the 2025 Warren Summer Concert Series, which takes place annually at the Burr's Hill Park bandshell. Concerts are held Sundays July through August.
The schedule is as follows:
July 6: Back in the Day, 1980's tribute
July 13: Rude Boys, reggae
July 20: Steppin' Out, R&B
July 27: East Bay Wind Ensemble, Classical
August 3: Steve Anthony & Persuasion, Classic Rock, Top 40, oldies, jazz, country
August 10: Goat Ropers, Country
August 17: The Catnip Junkies, New Orleans style Jazz & swing, Dixieland
August 24: Crushed Velvet, 1970's Rock

Concert beer garden
Thibaudeau put forth a request to the council, seeking its approval to potentially allow for a "beer garden" to be made available to concert patrons.

The beer garden would be situated at Burr's Hill Park in some sort of "Snow Fenced area: Tent or other designated area," as written in the director's submission. It would be open concurrent with concerts from 5:30-8:30 p.m.

Operations, in part, would require "TIPS certified bartenders serving alcohol in designated areas at the 8 week summer concert series on Sundays" and could be offered in "partnership with local breweries and restaurants in Warren and Bristol." Also, "additional police detail will be added to the event."

Thibaudeau noted similar beer gardens have been operated by organizations who have rented space from the town such as for the quahog festival and family fun days.

She continued, "So before I kind of really went into the process, I wanted to know what the council's purview was and how they felt about offering or selling alcohol at concert series."

Thibaudeau said the vendor would be responsible for the insurance, paying the detail officer(s) and securing the liquor license from the town. The TIPS certified bartenders are also a requirement.

The director stressed it was something her department would not oversee, adding, "If the vendor feels that it is something that they want to do...we're going to give that option to a vendor to see if that is something that's feasible for them."

Town Solicitor Anthony DeSisto said the vendor would need to seek a Class F license depending on what would be served. The vendor would also be responsible to have the proper insurance.

"This is something that happens in a number of communities," DeSisto expounded. "The vendor typically comes in, and there are costs involved. And I think they do it more as an opportunity to get their name out."

Councilors John Hanley and Rego, who sought some clarification on there not being associated costs to the town, expressed their support of the proposal.

Added Councilor Derrik Trombley, "I think I support in concept and will certainly have the opportunity as council to review when they come before us for a specifics, make sure that they are responsible vendors. So I also echo my support for this."

The item was up for discussion only. No action was taken at this time.

Said DeSisto at the conclusion of the talks, "I think what Tara was looking for was how to go forward on it. Now she knows how to push that forward, knows what she's got to do."