Council backs Cherry Hill Cowboys' bid to use school campus fields; urges district talks

The Richmond Town Council adopted a resolution expressing support for the Cherry Hill Cowboys football and cheerleading organization and urging the Chariho Regional School District and the organization to discuss use of appropriate space on school campus property (including, but not limited to, the main playing field) for a limited number of home games.

Supporters described the team as a regional youth organization that draws participants from Richmond, Charlestown and Hopkinton and said the current game/practice arrangement at parish facilities creates traffic and parking congestion and limits concessions. Several speakers, including the Charlestown council member and the team's representative, said the high-school campus is commonly used by other towns' youth programs and would be a safer, more manageable venue for occasional home games.

Some councilors urged the schools and the team to work out logistics directly — including field wear-and-tear and any fee for use of school turf — before the council’s resolution would be persuasive. The council amended the resolution language to encourage dialog and to request that the district and the team pursue mutually beneficial arrangements rather than to direct a specific operational change.

The amended resolution passed by roll-call vote; the council asked the town clerk to transmit a copy to the Chariho Regional School District, the team and neighboring towns that have already passed similar measures.