June 5, 2006
Contact:
Sue Baker, 738-2000
Meg Brugeman 732-0670
For Immediate Release
City receives $150K grant for handicapped accessible fishing pier at Gorton Pond
WARWICK – Mayor Scott Avedisian said that the city has received a $150,000 grant from the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management to construct a handicapped accessible fishing pier and beach boardwalk at Gorton Pond. The funds will come through DEM’s Open Space and Recreation Capital Development program, funded from a 2004 statewide bond.
In addition to the new pier and boardwalk, the funding will help offset costs of refurbishing existing handicapped accessible restrooms on site and the redesign of the parking lot to allow for more vehicles and additional handicapped parking spaces.
In his letter of support for the city’s application, Avedisian noted that Gorton Pond, in Apponaug, is one of Warwick’s most frequently used recreational facilities, attracting “both Warwick residents and people throughout Rhode Island who enjoy a serene, family-oriented atmosphere for swimming and fishing.”
Avedisian noted that the new facility will add to the city’s ongoing efforts to provide a wide range of fully accessible facilities and programs for residents.
“Fishing is a popular pastime in Rhode Island, but there are very few handicapped accessible fishing piers in the region,” he said. “With this grant, we’ll be able to offer anyone the opportunity to enjoy the sport.”
Avedisian lauded Mickey Rooney, Parks and Recreation deputy director, who recognized the need for more handicapped accessible facilities and proposed the idea, and grant writer Meg Brugeman and Rick Crenca, principal planner, for securing the funding.
“I would also like to thank our Congressional delegation – Senators Lincoln Chafee and Jack Reed and Congressman Jim Langevin – our City Council, and Chris Horton, the associate director for BASS Conservation/ESPN Outdoors, who wrote in support of our grant application,” Avedisian said.