The 82-page grant application was submitted to the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management on December 11th. The total project cost is estimated at $545,550 and the grant request is for $375,000. The remaining $170,000 is slated to come from the following areas:
-$50,000: Town budget
-$45,000: Local In-Kind Services and Equipment
-$15,000: Grants
-$60,550: Contributions and Sponsorships Here is the Project Description from the application:
Tiverton Town Farm is an outdoor community center that has provided recreational activities for area residents for over 30 years. Located on approximately three-square miles, it houses tennis courts, a softball field and baseball fields. Until recently, it also housed a wooden playground which had been maintained via dedicated town funds and volunteer support. However, during the summer of 2018 the primary playground structure was removed due to age and structural concerns, leaving a substantial void where a vital resource once existed.
This application seeks to replace that playground with one that provides play areas for children aged 2-5 and 5-12 and adds two additional recreational elements for older groups. Specific focus will be given to using sustainable and eco-friendly materials as part of the construction. Additionally, we also would incorporate accessible equipment and sensory elements to create a fully inclusive environment that will be enjoyed by people of all ages and abilities.
The first additional element would be a fitness park at the south end of Town Farm, adjacent to the tennis courts. This location is ideal as the lighting located at that location can be turned on at any time, providing opportunities for exercise at any hour of the day or night.
The second additional element would be the modification of two of the four existing tennis courts into six full-time pickleball courts. There is already an active pickleball community in Tiverton and while pickleball is one of the fastest growing sports in the country, the availability of permanent facilities is limited. It is our expectation that this resource would be utilized by residents from other communities as well.
It should also be noted that the Tiverton Recreation Commission fully intends to develop ongoing, town-supported, recreational programs that can be used to support these new resources and encourage use by residents.
A big thank you to fifteen (15) organizations that provided letters of support for this application.