Pawtucket committee reviews safety, enforcement and homelessness outreach at Slater, Sunset parks

The Pawtucket Joint Recreation and Property Committee on Aug. 26 continued a discussion about safety and maintenance at Slater Park and Sunset Park, focusing on speeding, alcohol use, vandalism and people living in the parks, while city staff described recent physical changes and outreach efforts to the unhoused.

Committee members said the parks' location near residences and heavy pedestrian use makes the issues urgent for families and park users. The committee heard that staff and police have deployed physical measures and periodic patrols, and learned that the city's new unhoused-coordination efforts are working with dozens of people across the city.

City parks staff and the Pawtucket Police Department described traffic-calming and site-control work already completed or planned. Staff said the city installed two speed tables (one at the park office and another near the carousel), repainted and restriped crosswalks, replaced faded speed-limit signs, placed boulders to block parking on lawns near ball fields, and added small roadway “rumble” features to slow drivers. The city also intends to relocate one of its portable solar speed-sign trailers into the park and has used temporary trailer-mounted signs in multiple locations.

Police staff said patrol coverage has been intermittent because…