The mission of the East Providence Parks Division is to develop and maintain safe and enjoyable parks and recreational facilities for citizens of all ages and abilities. The Parks Division is committed to help enhance community pride by setting a high standard of quality for our parks, playgrounds, recreation areas, landscapes and programs.
Division Staff
The Parks Division is managed by the assistant superintendent, who reports to the Director of Public Works. The crews are supervised by two lead workers. Grounds maintenance at parks, public buildings and athletic fields is provided by four landscape laborers and three drivers/equipment operators. Our urban forest is sustained by two, Rhode Island -licensed Arborists. Park playground equipment, shelters, structures, signage and other amenities are installed and maintained by a landscape construction/repair specialist. Customer service for all division services is provided by our clerk.
Parks Division Functions
The Parks Division is responsible for the planning, maintenance and improvement of approximately 320 acres that include:
- A total of 15 neighborhood parks and playgrounds
- A sports field maintenance for 20 ballfields
- A total of five outdoor tennis courts
- A total of 17 outdoor basketball courts
- A total of nine youth soccer and football fields
- Agawam/Mello Softball Complex, Hunt's Mills Recreation Area, Crescent Park/Looff Carousel grounds
- Conservation areas
- Two historic cemeteries
- Traffic islands
- A total of 11 large flower planters
- Part of the Blackstone Valley Bikeway
The Parks Division also currently provides complete landscape services for:
- City Hall, three library branches, Senior Center, Police Department and the Community Center in Rumford
- Parks maintains the right-of-ways along with city-owned property
- It also installs holiday lighting around City Hall
- Oversees and cares for approximately 8,300 public trees located in parks, playgrounds, schools, conservation areas and streets.
The Parks Division works extremely closely with the Recreation Department in the scheduling of athletic and special events throughout the City's park system.
During winter snow events the Parks Division assists the Highway Division with snow clearing from roads and public buildings.The Division is also responsible for snow removal of three miles of sidewalks that abut city and state property.
