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Library insurance jumps and parks ask for added staff as Naragansett works through capital priorities
Summary
Library staff told the council a $172,791 increase in property insurance tied to the new, larger library building; Parks & Recreation requested a full‑time heavy‑equipment operator and outlined playground, court and skate‑park priorities, including pursuing grants and local fundraising after a state grant denial for the skate park.
Library and parks officials presented department budgets and capital requests at the council’s FY2027 work session, highlighting increased operating and insurance costs tied to new buildings and accelerated programming demand.
Library: a library representative said the new 18,000‑square‑foot facility doubled the building size and moved the property into a FEMA flood zone, which has driven property‑insurance estimates up by about $172,791, the largest single increase in the department’s request. Library staff reported program and visitation growth — visits rose to about 81,000 in the last year from roughly 50,000 previously, and program attendance also increased — and said staffing levels are currently full. The library manager said the board is exploring whether to maintain or extend weekend hours; the library will expand Saturday hours during the summer.
Parks & recreation: director Michelle Kershaw asked for one additional full‑time heavy‑equipment operator to support parks maintenance work and promoted in‑house advancement for candidates who hold or can obtain CDL qualifications. Capital priorities noted in parks included playground renovations (Christopher Park phase work), court resurfacing and a community push for a skate park. The town learned this week it did not receive a $300,000 open‑space grant for the skate‑park project; staff said they will pursue other grants and consider phased, lower‑cost structures or a fundraising campaign as alternate paths.
Pickleball and courts: staff described longstanding deterioration at Clark Road courts (original Army Corps construction) and projected that rebuilding on modern materials or post‑tension concrete would be costly; the town plans to study options, phase work and pursue funding in coming budgets.
Beach and enterprise funds: Parks staff also reviewed beach enterprise items — building maintenance, sand replenishment, North Pavilion roof work and potential concession arrangements at Middlebridge (engineering an RFQ to solicit a small food‑service vendor). The parks director described plans for improved event and facility scheduling if a year‑round HVAC solution is approved for the Kenny Bungalow community facility.
Next steps: Parks and library staff will pursue grant and fundraising options for priority projects, return with more detailed cost estimates and, where possible, phase projects to match available funding. Councilors asked staff to convene neighborhood stakeholders for the skate‑park planning and to consider staged improvements that can start smaller while fundraising proceeds.
Speakers quoted or referenced include the library representative and Parks & Recreation Director Michelle Kershaw, along with council members. Direct quotes in the meeting were used where speakers were identified.
