Council approves $600K-range contract to rebuild Bishop Park playground after neighborhood campaign

The council approved awarding the Bishop Park playground reconstruction to the lowest responsible bidder after years of neighborhood organizing and several community meetings.

Chief staff and community development program manager Bill Vicente told the committee that the low bid was submitted by Skirkah Construction of West Warwick and that the city received three bids ranging from about $604,000 to about $727,000. He asked the council to approve award of the lowest responsible bid to Skirkah Construction.

Councilman Michael Foley, who led the neighborhood effort, described how residents and local leaders first raised concerns about the park five years ago and then worked with the mayor's office and city staff on a plan. He said: "We had 3 meetings in the neighborhood asking for ideas. The mayor came out, and again, it was a beautiful community real effort that got us to the point we're at tonight." Vicente and Foley credited neighborhood volunteers and staff coordination for assembling funding.

Funding and scope: Vicente said the majority of the project funding is from the Community Development Block Grant program because the park sits in a low- and moderate-income census tract; he said the project also included an allocation of roughly $80,000 previously held from Opera funds to help match grants. The scope described by staff includes two playground structures (2'5 and 5'12 age ranges) with ADA-accessible ground components and rubber surfacing, ADA parking and walkways, site furnishings (tables, benches, trash receptacles) and improvements to site access. A full basketball-court rebuild was not included in the base award.

Public comment: Multiple residents who said they had organized neighbors and attended community meetings spoke in favor. Amanda Cantrell, a nearby homeowner, said the park is an important neighborhood green space and urged council support. "This little park may be small, but it makes an important space for recreation and for families to play," she said. Another nearby resident, Amanda Malkovich, said she had been skeptical the project would happen but was "heartened" that the city followed through.

Timing and next steps: Staff said bids opened in mid-February, are still valid, and that, if awarded, the contract documents will be executed and construction mobilized with anticipated completion in late 2026. The council moved and approved the award during the committee session.

What was decided: The council approved the bid award to the lowest responsible bidder for the Bishop Park playground project and authorized the city to proceed with contract award as presented by staff. The committee recorded no detailed roll-call tally in the transcript; the motion passed by voice vote.