Residents urge restoration of funding for Bradford Recreation Complex; council says project still funded but phased

A string of public commenters at the April 6 Westerly Town Council meeting urged the council to restore capital funding the Finance Board had trimmed from the proposed budget so work on the Bradford Recreation Complex can continue.

Dan King, representing the Bradford Community Association, described the project as a “universally accessible” playscape and multi‑use recreation area for all ages, and said the finance board’s elimination of a proposed $500,000 allocation threatens planned basketball/multi‑use courts and other phase‑one elements. King read the project purpose from contract materials and described planned site work including an accessible playscape, restrooms, parking, site utilities, walking paths and a multi‑use court.

Joanne Sadderly and other neighborhood speakers echoed the call to keep the project’s momentum, stressing the project’s role in creating multigenerational open space and meeting accessibility needs. Councilors responded that the council has already allocated $1.7 million to the project over prior budgets and that the finance board’s recommendation preserved much of phase one while trimming some elements this fiscal year; several councilors said up to $800,000 could be restored without changing the mill rate.

Councilors asked the school committee and project leads to provide permitting and progress updates; the council also encouraged residents to attend forthcoming budget hearings where the community can press to restore discrete elements if desired.