Narragansett council approves submission of RIDEM grant for Cristoforo skate park; residents push for concrete slab

The Narragansett Town Council voted 5-0 to authorize submission of a 2026 Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management recreational development grant application and to approve the town’s matching contribution for a project to revive the skate park at Dominic Cristoforo Park.

Parks and Recreation staff described ongoing renovations to Cristoforo Playground (Phase 1, $200,000) and said the grant application would fund a new skate surface and above-ground features as part of a broader park revitalization. Parks staff said the grant would support resurfacing with Macadam and new features; a separate second phase would be considered in the next fiscal year.

During the public hearing, skate‑park advocates and local skaters urged the council to prioritize a concrete base rather than asphalt or solely prefabricated features. Conrad Ferla (self‑described as vice president and sales director of a skateboard distribution business) and professional skateboarder/instructor Evan Mansolillo both recommended a concrete slab for durability, lower long‑term maintenance and better user experience. Ferla said prefab elements placed on asphalt can degrade and create safety gaps; Mansolillo warned that asphalt or temporary surfaces could become “obsolete in 5 to 7 years.”

Parks staff said the proposed location is the same spot as the previous skate park: entering Cristoforo past the tennis and pickleball courts, turning toward the upper fields and using the existing old Macadam pad to the right of the field. Staff said the prior equipment was removed between 2015 and 2019 for safety reasons and that vandalism and wear contributed to its removal.

Director Michelle (Parks and Recreation) said the town previously applied for a similar grant without success and that the current application would proceed whether or not additional applications (e.g., a Knatchet Farm linear-path proposal) are pursued separately. Director Michelle said if the town receives the DEM award (notifications expected April 2026) the demolition and resurfacing work would begin as quickly as possible; if the grant is not received, the town will consider capital-funding options.

The council also heard that several families (estimated 5–7 direct contacts and a prior meeting of roughly 40 attendees) voiced interest in restoring the skate park. Staff said the town’s insurer previously covered the park and that the town would coordinate with its insurer for any new facility.

Following the public hearing the council moved to close and then to authorize the grant submission and matching contribution; both actions passed 5-0.

Several public speakers and councilors urged staff to pursue a concrete slab as the preferred long‑term approach and to consider phased fundraising or donor partnerships if full funding for a concrete design is not available immediately.