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Town seeks state grant to add basketball courts and pickleball at Avenger Drive easement fields
Summary
East Greenwich staff outlined a proposed $500,000 DEM large-recreation grant application to install two basketball courts, four pickleball courts and limited parking at the easement fields on Avenger Drive, noting a required 25% local match and constraints related to electric-company easements.
The East Greenwich Town Council heard a public-participation presentation from Andy Wade, director of community services and parks, on a proposed application to Rhode Island’s Department of Environmental Management (DEM) for a large recreation-development grant of up to $500,000. Wade said the grant requires a 25% local match and described the town’s plan to locate two basketball courts and four pickleball courts on the easement fields along Route 4 (Avenger Drive).
"This year, in this round, the the large grant application will be, up to $500,000, with also still a 25% match," Wade told the council, explaining the state increased the maximum award this cycle. He said the easement fields are already used for varsity and youth sports but that Easement 3 is often unplayable because of proximity to the Hunt River watershed; the proposed installations would concentrate more active use at the north end while avoiding structures in areas reserved for utility access.
Councilors and members of the public asked about daytime resident access and parking. Wade said the easement fields are public and proposed adding "some small parking about 8 to 10 parking spaces on the Route 4 side of the installation that would be specific to any kind of daytime users." He also described prior coordination with the electric company about access and said the utility had expressed willingness to assist in some site access work.
Wade emphasized that this meeting was the public-participation stage and that, if generally supported, he would return on November 10 to seek formal approval to submit the application and to present more detailed plans.
Why it matters: The project would add recreation amenities used by school and community teams, address unsafe on-street parking near varsity fields, and require the town to commit matching funds if the state awards the grant. The council requested further study of access, parking circulation and easement constraints before final approval.
