World War II Veterans Memorial State Park is a public recreation area located in the city of Woonsocket, Rhode Island.[4] The park occupies land known as the Social flatlands where textile mills operated along the banks of the Mill River until the early years of the 20th century. Since 1979, the park has hosted the three-day Autumnfest celebration held annually on Columbus Day Weekend.[3][5]
In 2012, the city and state governments were embroiled in a controversy over who should take responsibility for future maintenance of the park. The director of the Department of Environmental Management announced that a $2.6 million plan to refurbish the park, which had fallen into a state of disrepair, would be put on hold until a long-term agreement regarding park maintenance and staffing could be reached with the city.[6] In 2014, the state legislature budgeted moneys for the park's redevelopment and maintenance over a five-year period beginning in 2015 with the aim of allowing "the state ... to turn the land over to the city so it can take charge of its maintenance."[7]
The agreement ultimately reached saw the Department of Environmental Management providing an improvement grant of $2.6 million with the city making an in-kind contribution of preparation work done by the Public Works Department. Improvements under the project saw redesigned grounds with splash park, playground and outdoor activities area, basketball courts, and the new little league baseball field near Social Street.[8] A reopening ceremony for the city-owned and -operated park was scheduled for early 2016.[9]
Activities and amenitiesedit
The park offers a splash park, baseball field, basketball courts, playground, picnic tables, walking paths, performance stage, and veterans monument.[10]
^. State of Rhode Island Division of Parks & Recreation. Archived from the original on February 3, 2005. Retrieved January 25, 2023.
^ ab"World War II Veterans Memorial State Park History". State of Rhode Island Division of Parks & Recreation. Retrieved August 24, 2014.
^"World War II Veterans Memorial State Park". State of Rhode Island Division of Parks & Recreation. Retrieved August 24, 2014.
^Russell, Dave. . Autumnfest Committee. Archived from the original on October 8, 2014. Retrieved November 6, 2015.
^Olivo, Russ (October 12, 2012). "WWII Park renovation plans on hold". The Call. Woonsocket, RI. Retrieved August 24, 2014.
^"World War II park, Woonsocket schools receive aid in House-approved FY2015 budget" (Press release). State of Rhode Island General Assembly. June 13, 2014. Retrieved August 24, 2014.
^Nadeau, Joseph B. (August 19, 2017). "City preps park for Autumnfest". The Call. Woonsocket, RI. Retrieved October 22, 2017.
^Seoane, Sandy (May 18, 2016). "City takeover of WWII park set for end of month". The Valley Breeze. Lincoln, RI. Retrieved January 8, 2018.
^"World War II Veterans Memorial Park". City of Woonsocket. Retrieved January 8, 2018.
External linksedit
World War II Veterans Memorial Park City of Woonsocket
World War II Veterans Memorial State Park Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management Division of Parks & Recreation
November 01, 2023
world, veterans, memorial, state, park, public, recreation, area, located, city, woonsocket, rhode, island, park, occupies, land, known, social, flatlands, where, textile, mills, operated, along, banks, mill, river, until, early, years, 20th, century, since, 1. World War II Veterans Memorial State Park is a public recreation area located in the city of Woonsocket Rhode Island 4 The park occupies land known as the Social flatlands where textile mills operated along the banks of the Mill River until the early years of the 20th century Since 1979 the park has hosted the three day Autumnfest celebration held annually on Columbus Day Weekend 3 5 World War II Veterans Memorial State ParkLocation in Rhode IslandLocationWoonsocket Rhode Island United StatesCoordinates42 00 31 N 71 30 37 W 42 00861 N 71 51028 W 42 00861 71 51028 1 Area14 acres 5 7 ha 2 Elevation138 ft 42 m 1 Established1960 3 AdministratorCity of WoonsocketWebsiteWorld War II Veterans Memorial State Park Contents 1 Redevelopment 2 Activities and amenities 3 References 4 External linksRedevelopment editIn 2012 the city and state governments were embroiled in a controversy over who should take responsibility for future maintenance of the park The director of the Department of Environmental Management announced that a 2 6 million plan to refurbish the park which had fallen into a state of disrepair would be put on hold until a long term agreement regarding park maintenance and staffing could be reached with the city 6 In 2014 the state legislature budgeted moneys for the park s redevelopment and maintenance over a five year period beginning in 2015 with the aim of allowing the state to turn the land over to the city so it can take charge of its maintenance 7 The agreement ultimately reached saw the Department of Environmental Management providing an improvement grant of 2 6 million with the city making an in kind contribution of preparation work done by the Public Works Department Improvements under the project saw redesigned grounds with splash park playground and outdoor activities area basketball courts and the new little league baseball field near Social Street 8 A reopening ceremony for the city owned and operated park was scheduled for early 2016 9 Activities and amenities editThe park offers a splash park baseball field basketball courts playground picnic tables walking paths performance stage and veterans monument 10 References edit a b State Park Beach Geographic Names Information System United States Geological Survey United States Department of the Interior World War II Memorial State Park State of Rhode Island Division of Parks amp Recreation Archived from the original on February 3 2005 Retrieved January 25 2023 a b World War II Veterans Memorial State Park History State of Rhode Island Division of Parks amp Recreation Retrieved August 24 2014 World War II Veterans Memorial State Park State of Rhode Island Division of Parks amp Recreation Retrieved August 24 2014 Russell Dave Autumnfest Reflections Autumnfest Committee Archived from the original on October 8 2014 Retrieved November 6 2015 Olivo Russ October 12 2012 WWII Park renovation plans on hold The Call Woonsocket RI Retrieved August 24 2014 World War II park Woonsocket schools receive aid in House approved FY2015 budget Press release State of Rhode Island General Assembly June 13 2014 Retrieved August 24 2014 Nadeau Joseph B August 19 2017 City preps park for Autumnfest The Call Woonsocket RI Retrieved October 22 2017 Seoane Sandy May 18 2016 City takeover of WWII park set for end of month The Valley Breeze Lincoln RI Retrieved January 8 2018 World War II Veterans Memorial Park City of Woonsocket Retrieved January 8 2018 External links editWorld War II Veterans Memorial Park City of Woonsocket World War II Veterans Memorial State Park Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management Division of Parks amp Recreation Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title World War II Veterans Memorial State Park amp oldid 1168488700, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
