The gap to funding $5,280,000 in improvements to the gateways to Rocky Point got smaller last week with the board of the Rhode Island Infrastructure Bank approving a $500,000 grant for the project.
The award is one of 12 resiliency municipal infrastructure projects totaling $3,341,918.
The city had requested...
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The gap to funding $5,280,000 in improvements to the gateways to Rocky Point got smaller last week with the board of the Rhode Island Infrastructure Bank approving a $500,000 grant for the project.
The award is one of 12 resiliency municipal infrastructure projects totaling $3,341,918.
The city had requested $880,000 as its match to a $4.4 million federal earmark grant approved last summer.
Now the question is how the city will come up with $380,000 for the full match of the federal grant. The city is exploring options including funding from the Department of Environmental Management, which is a co-owner with the city of the 120-acre former shoreline amusement park property.
Mayor Frank Picozzi raves about the Infrastructure Bank grant.
“Building a gateway entrance to our beautiful Rocky Point State Park has been a top priority of my administration, and thanks to this $500,000 Municipal Infrastructure Grant Program award we’ll be able to move forward with this and other park improvements. Investing in recreational infrastructure is an investment in the quality of life for our Warwick residents and for all Rhode Islanders who visit Rocky Point State Park,” he said in a news release.
Conceptual plans for the park gateways were developed by Stantec in a joint effort between the city and DEM with input from local officials and members of community groups including the Warwick Neck Improvement Association and the Rocky Point Foundation. The foundation was supportive of the Infrastructure Bank application writing, “ [the park} suffers from not having welcoming and accessible entrances.”
At the time of the announcement of the federal grant, Picozzi said the grant would also fund drainage, walkways and pedestrian safety on entering and leaving the park.
Picozzi said Tuesday he has talked with DEM Director Terry Gray.
He said the two grants to the city have more than brought the cost of the giving the park functional and attractive entrances to a “reasonable amount” and he feels the DEM should make up the difference. He pointed out that the city and DEM jointly own the property.
“They get a deal with us; we maintain,” he said.
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