Courtesy: Providence Journal


Two Providence parks get a boost

by Mark Reynolds

PROVIDENCE -- Over the past two days, Mayor Jorge O. Elorza has celebrated the arrival of new features at two city parks, including an artificial, mini-sized soccer field and slides built into the landscape.


The improvements and new equipment at Donigian Park and Ascham Park cost more than $340,000 altogether and reflect an initiative to provide children with interesting playing opportunities unique to their neighborhoods, said the city’s parks director, Wendy Nilsson.

The project at Donigian Park, paid for by $299,000 in federal block grants, brought another futsal field to the city.

Futsal is a derivative of soccer played on a basketball-style court, with five people to a team, and with a smaller, low bouncing ball, according to USA Soccer. Soccer greats like Pele and Ronaldo grew up playing the game.

It takes far less organization for kids to get a game of pickup futsal going on the much smaller field with fewer players needed, Nilsson said, adding that maintenance costs for the artificial field are far less.

The improvements at Donigian, she said, also encompass lights, for playing until 9 p.m. when the park closes, and special drainage features, including a rain garden, to filter rainfall and protect the nearby Woonasquatucket River from runoff. The light installation should reach completion by the end of next week, she said.

Meanwhile, at Ascham Park in the North End, the parks department has added about $42,000 in federally funded playground equipment, including two slides built into the landscape.

The play equipment works for young children and also offers opportunities for older children interested in using their imagination, taking some risks and even competing if they want. The playground can serve as an obstacle course with children deciding for themselves how to approach it.

The city’s parks department contributed about $20,000 to $30,000 in labor to the project.

“A lot of our playgrounds look the same and we’re really trying to make things that are unique for our neighborhoods,” Nilsson said.


Posted by Luca Ranocchiari --> luca.ranocchiari@futsalplanet.com