The Burrillville Town Council voted on Nov. 12 to authorize the town manager and staff to file three Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management grant applications for outdoor recreation and acquisition funds, and then set a priority ranking for those applications.

Administration presented three projects the town intends to apply for: a Spring Lake development/parking project (development grant request $500,000; estimated project cost about $675,000; town match about $166,667), a Freedom Park playground replacement (grant $125,000; town match roughly $41,000), and a Mapleville acquisition and remediation effort for a former Brownfield site (acquisition tied to EPA/DEM assistance and remediation funding). Town staff emphasized that all DEM grants require a local match and that acquisition of Brownfield property would be contingent on environmental safeguards and additional funding sources.

Council members discussed scoring and strategy; members noted DEM scores projects higher when they fill geographic gaps in recreation access. After deliberation, the council moved, seconded and approved three resolutions to submit the grant applications, then voted to prioritize Mapleville as the town's first choice, Spring Lake second and Freedom Park third.

The meeting also included a separate motion to provide a letter of support for NeighborWorks Rhode Island's grant application to extend water utilities to the proposed Stair Farm senior‑housing project; the council approved the support letter.

Votes at a glance:
- Resolution to submit three DEM outdoor recreation/acquisition grant applications: approved by voice vote.
- Grant priority ranking (Mapleville #1, Spring Lake #2, Freedom Park #3): approved by voice vote.
- Letter of support for NeighborWorks RI water‑utility extension (Stair Farm senior housing): approved by voice vote.

What comes next: Council staff will file the DEM applications before the program deadline and return to the council with any negotiated purchase terms or further details if Mapleville acquisition proceeds. Town staff noted grant matches will need to be identified in future budgets if applications are successful.