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Parents urge town to fix River Point soccer fields, cite safety and contamination concerns
Summary
Parents and youth-sports advocates told the council River Point Park soccer fields are uneven, contain glass and buried debris, and pose safety risks; council and staff discussed high remediation estimates, regulatory triggers, and interim relocation options.
Parents and community volunteers urged the West Warwick Town Council to prioritize repairs at River Point Park, saying the current soccer fields are uneven, contain shards of glass and other debris, and create safety risks for young players.
Megan Valentine, a Ward 5 resident and parent, told the council the West Warwick Soccer Association is a 40-year‑old community program and said coaches and parents inspect fields before games because rain can surface shards of glass. Valentine asked the council to identify immediate funding for repairs, interim safe playing options while fields are fixed, and a plan for long-term maintenance.
Council members and staff said River Point has long had maintenance challenges and that a full remediation and engineered reconstruction could trigger state environmental (DEM) rules that raise costs substantially. Officials cited a wide range of estimates: a minimal fix (grading/topsoil) might cost a “half‑million” dollars, while full remediation and engineered reconstruction could approach $6 million, depending on what environmental testing and permitting require. The council noted the town has sought grant funding and that Wakefield Hills and other school-managed fields might be available for temporary use.
Parks and recreation staff and council members encouraged the soccer association to meet with Parks & Recreation and the town manager to explore interim playing fields, scheduling at other town or school sites, and to pursue potential grant or multi-source financing for a comprehensive solution. The council noted an outside project (URI/Central Falls riverwalk example cited in the meeting) demonstrates the complexity of combining stormwater mitigation, contamination remediation and turf installation and stressed a coordinated funding and engineering plan is needed.
No resolution or contract was approved at the meeting. Council members asked Parks & Recreation staff to convene meetings with the soccer association and the school department to identify short-term relocation options and to continue exploring grant funding and an engineered plan for River Point.
