$44.7M Community Center Proposal

Mayor’s proposal offers 4 options for twice approved voter project

The East Providence City Council received a long-awaited proposal at its February 21st meeting, to build a Community Center. Mayor Bob DaSilva has been a major proponent of the project since being elected as East Providence’s first-ever full time Mayor. “Based on community input over the last several months, we have put together a plan on what we envision as a community center,” said Mayor DaSilva. “Twice in the past, the community voted to have a community center,” said DaSilva. “We’re looking at the grass field behind the senior center and across from East Providence High School.”

DaSilva is referring to a twice approved bond issue for a recreation center in the years 2002 and again in 2004. Although the voters approved the bonds, the then City Council refused to release the bonds which was a required step in the total process. The center was never built as costs have escalated. “Our proposed center is centrally located on a bus route, across the street from the high school and will serve multiple purposes. The pool will be available for the high school to use as well as the community in general,” added the Mayor. Although twice approved by voters, the original plan was for a basic recreation only center to be built on land at Pierce Memorial Field. The original price tag was around $6 million. Twenty-one years later the plan has grown to a full Community Center for considerably more money but with many more amenities including a pool.

The project was broken down in a way in which some or all of the project can be built. The cost for the entire 61,310 square foot site to be completed is $44,725,455. The project can be built in increments as follows: The Auditorium cost is $7M; Fitness & Administration Center is $19M; Aquatic Center (pool) is $7.2M; site costs for electrical, concrete, utilities, etc. is $3.2M; Contractor related costs are $3.9M and Design fees are $4.5M.

The proposal offered four alternative options:

• Option 1. Delete the pool at $8.5M, new total project cost $36.3M.

• Option 2. Delete the auditorium at $7.1M, new project cost $37.7M

• Option 3. Delete the walking track at $550K, expand first floor to include track for $2.8M, new project cost $31.4M.

• Option 4. Delete 1st floor shower rooms and entire 2nd floor at $6.6M, new project cost $25M.

The outside patio/amphitheater area could be deleted for additional savings of $370K.

Currently the city’s recreation department has offices and some services housed at the Rock Senior Center building. The recreation center moved there after the city closed the decades old Recreation Center at 100 Bullocks Point avenue. The Bullocks Point building was the site of the original Riverside Junior High which closed in 1967 upon the opening of the new junior high in its current Forbes Street location. The old center was in dire need of remodeling, repairs and accessibility. It wasn’t centrally located and had limited parking. Basically, the City has been without a recreation or community center since the closing of the obsolete old Junior High site.

The near $45M price tag is steep, on top of the two recent bond issues for schools which were overwhelmingly approved by local voters. DaSilva told the council that he envisioned using some of the American Rescue Plan or “ARPA” funds, state and federal grants, a little bit of police “Google” funding (only available for police planning) and possibly a small bond issue request before the public. The city currently has $3 million put aside for the project, thanks to a project grant from soon to be gone, Congressman David N. Cicilline. That leaves just shy of $42 million to be raised if the entire project is built.

Mayor DaSilva explained that the different areas of the site would “most likely be used by different segments of the population at different times. Senior citizens during the daytime, after school by students, seminars and training also in their own areas.” continued on next page...

“Do we have projections on staffing costs,” asked Council President Bob Rodericks. “For instance, with the pool. I assume we’ll need a certified lifeguard on duty, that people can’t just come in off the street and swim unsupervised,” he added.

“We’re looking at two models,” responded DaSilva. “One where we hire an aquatics director to run the pool. We can also rent it out and make money to cover costs in areas like this. We are also looking into going out to RFP’s (proposal requests) and seek someone or group to run it as a concession. Schedules would be developed to allow for the high school to use it for their needs and seniors during senior center hours as well as rentals,” added DaSilva.

“I want to assure that local taxpayers who will pay for this are not excluded from using any of the facility by outside rental groups,” said Councilwoman Anna Sousa. “I want to make sure that the pool, theater or any community space is available to our general public.”

Councilman Rick Lawson lauded the plan as “absolutely gorgeous” but had some reservations about the pool. “We have the Barrington Y, the boy’s club (EP) and P.O.D.S (private pool nearby). “When I look at Option 4, I think that’s what Townies voted for twice, that’s a rec. center. The other parts, let’s let the Townies decide. If we’re going to need a bond, it has to go on a ballot. I’m one voice, something like this is what we’ve been talking about for years, but I’m one of 47,000, let Townies decide,” added Lawson. “Let’s start the process.”

“The only holdup right now is how much the state will fund us. The Governor has $47M set aside statewide for community centers. Once we know the figure for us, we’ll come to the council with a funding plan,” DaSilva advised. A bond issue could be brought to the public as early as August because of the special election needed at that time, due to Congressman David Cicilline’s resignation.

“When you get those numbers, it will be best to present them in a public hearing format,” advised Rodericks. The Mayor said that he will put together a resolution with a funding plan and be ready to go. “I am committed to getting this done for our community,” DaSilva said.

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By Bob Rodericks

Aiden Correia is a 13-year-old boy who was born with a condition that affects 1 in 200,000 births. He was born with Proximal Femoral Focal Deficiency (PFFD). PFFD is a rare, non-hereditary birth defect that affects the pelvis, particularly the hip bone, and the proximal femur. The disorder may affect one side or both, with the hip being deformed and the leg shortened. “We were told Aiden would never walk, run, ride a bike or play in sports like other kids unless he had an amputation. Deciding against amputation, we found a world-renowned orthopedic surgeon named Dror Paley, who could correct the deformity and help Aiden lead a normal, healthy, happy and functional life,” said Aiden’s mom Brittney Crevier. Brittney along with Aiden’s grandmother Jane Brindisi-Crevier and other family and friends are hosting a fundraiser to help with medical costs not covered by health insurance. His 15th surgery, a major leg lengthening surgery, will take place this May 2023, at the Paley Institute in Florida. The Paley Orthopedic & Spine Institute offers patients and visiting surgeons the most technologically advanced limb lengthening and deformity correction treatments available in the world today.

Aiden currently attends Riverside Middle School in East Providence and has been catching up on school assignments in-between his many surgeries and treatments through the years. “While insurance pays for many of the medical costs, there are extenuating expenses associated with living arrangements, transportation and other medical equipment not covered by insurance. This fundraiser will be held to help cover those extenuating costs and to help relieve the financial burden that comes with helping Aiden achieve having his own 2 feet on the ground,” said event organizers. Aiden and his mom will have to be housed near the Paley Center for the duration of the treatment. During this time, he will be undergoing a complicated lengthening process as well as receiving complex specialized physical therapy. Prior surgeries have required Aiden to undergo at least one 8 month stay at The Paley Institute. He made significant progress but had missed a lot of school. His surgeries began when he was a student at Silver Spring Elementary School. The next surgery in May will require a six-month stay in Florida for Aiden, siblings and mom.

The family experienced further stress when Aiden’s dad, Joseph “Joey” Crevier died unexpectedly in November of 2020 at the age of 30. Joey Crevier attended East Providence High School and was a proud U.S. Army Sergeant and veteran of the war in Afghanistan. With all that 13-year-old Aiden has faced in his young life, he has come a long way. Fourteen – soon to be fifteen serious surgeries, missing a lot of school and youthful activities and the passing of his father; yet Aiden moves forward with a positive attitude and has generally caught up with much of his education.

The fundraiser for Aiden and his family will be on April 15, 2023, from 12 to 4 p.m. The event will be held at the Columbus Club, 3200 Pawtucket Avenue in Riverside, RI. The event is free to attend and supporters are asked to stop by and purchase raffle tickets or make a donation. Many people have donated raffle baskets and gift cards for the cause. A prior scheduled fundraiser was cancelled at the height of COVID but organizers are hoping for big turnout on Saturday, April 15th. “I thank contributors with all my heart,” said Jane Brindisi-Crevier. “Please stop in to say hi, for a chance to win great things and wish Aiden well!”

If you would like to help support Aiden and family but can’t attend the April 15th fundraiser, donations can be made out to: Aiden Crevier Fund, c/o Jane BrindisiCrevier, 33 Cobb Street, East Providence, RI 02914. There is also a Venmo address: @limbitlessproject.