East Greenwich approves $395,000 park lighting and $1.8 million ladder truck orders

At its Sept. 9 meeting, the East Greenwich Town Council approved two capital purchases intended to support parks use and public safety.

The council awarded a contract to Musco Sports Lighting (Oskaloosa, Iowa) to furnish and install LED sports lighting and remote control technology at Eldridge Park for an amount not to exceed $395,000, which includes a 15% contingency. Recreation staff said the lights will be tightly controlled to limit off‑site light spill and comply with the town’s dark‑sky preferences; staff also noted plans to provide a nesting platform near the replacement tower after the prior osprey nest was lost.

Separately, the council approved a purchase order to Greenwood Emergency Vehicles (North Attleboro, Massachusetts) for a model‑year 2027 rear‑mounted ladder truck (100‑foot reach) at $1,798,434. The new ladder will replace a 2004 vehicle that has exceeded its useful life and will increase the department’s reach; expected delivery is approximately three and a half years. Officials discussed mutual‑aid arrangements with neighboring towns and whether large new structures (for example campus dormitories) require additional access or impact‑fee considerations to help fund service capacity.

Both awards were approved by unanimous vote. The manager said the Musco contract will be ordered quickly so foundations and conduit work can proceed concurrent with ongoing field work; the ladder truck order will be placed and budgeted over the multi‑year delivery timeline to match capital‑equipment bond funding.