The Fall River Park Board of Commissioners on Wednesday tabled a request from Ripple Fiber to place four 5-by-5 telecommunications cabinets in city parks and asked the company to work with parks staff and the city’s historic review process on exact siting and design. Commissioners said they broadly supported adding broadband competition but wanted assurances about placement, aesthetics and permitting before approving permanent equipment in Olmsted-designated parks.

Ripple Fiber representatives told the board each cabinet would serve about 15,000 homes and described the company’s plans to use a mix of underground and pole-mounted infrastructure. The company said its baseline residential package offers symmetrical 500 megabits-per-second service and that a reduced-cost $45 monthly option would be made available for qualifying low-income households.

Parks staff and commissioners pressed the company on maintenance responsibility, visibility and alternatives to siting in historic Olmsted parks such as Kennedy and North Park. Parks staff member Darren Maderas and others described options including placing cabinets inside or adjacent to existing, underutilized park structures, moving proposed cabinets out of Olmsted-designated areas, or screening units with landscaping or community art. The company said it would be responsible for maintenance and would pour a concrete pad for each cabinet.

Board members also noted that pole-mounted installations require additional review by the City Council and by pole owners (identified in the discussion as Eversource and Verizon) for safety, while some Olmsted Park changes would trigger historic commission review. Ripple Fiber’s representative described a plan split of roughly 60% underground and 40% aerial work, citing utility permitting timelines as a factor.

After extended discussion the board voted to table the request. The motion, made by Commissioner Amber Burns and seconded by Commissioner Cecillio, carried unanimously. The board’s direction was that Ripple Fiber walk the proposed sites with Darren Maderas, identify alternative non-Olmsted park locations where feasible, consult the historic commission for Kennedy and North Park as needed, and return to the park board with finalized locations (the board suggested the November meeting on Nov. 3).