Town Meeting funds pavilion for Apponagansett Park; transfers custody to Parks Department
Town Meeting voters on Tuesday approved the use of $270,000 of Community Preservation Act funding to build a pavilion in Apponagansett Park.
The handicap-accessible structure will be located adjacent to the town-operated Gulf Hill Bucket, will stretch 40-by-20 square feet, and be installed over a concrete pad installed last summer.
Parks and Recreation Director Tim Lancaster said 25 to 30 handicap vans bring visitors to the park daily, and the existing patio built last year is in need of shade.
“These folks were just dying in the heat,” said Lancaster.
Lancaster said he worked with specialists to design a pavilion suited for coastal weather.
“This is really a structure designed to handle the requirements of being by the water,” he said. “What we’re looking at is a rubber roof with two canvas tops that allow water to come through instead of ripping the roof off.”
Community Preservation Act funds are raised through a 1½ percent property tax surcharge, and can be only used for open space, recreation, affordable housing, and historic preservation projects.
Renovation started at the park last year, when the Parks Department started managing the property, including the Gulf Hill Bucket ice cream stand. Tables were added last fall, and the $16,000-profit brought in by the concession stand purchased three new fryers and an expanded walk-in freezer.
An on-site ATM will also be installed this year for the cash-only stand.
Another Town Meeting measure, which officially transferred management of the property from the Select Board to the Department of Parks and Recreation—passed without debate.
The move gives the Park Department full care, custody, management, and control of Apponagansett Park, as well as formally designates the area as public parkland and open space.
Apponagansett Park is located on Gulf Road near the Padanaram Bridge.
The Summer Concert Series—a revenue generator for the Parks Department— begins there on June 15, and continues every Wednesday night throughout the summer.