Lakeshore Drive fields

Posted 12/31/13

There’s no argument. Children, or everybody else, should not be placed “in harm’s way.”

On this point, we agree with Ward 4 Councilman Joseph Solomon. There could be better places to …

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Lakeshore Drive fields

Posted

There’s no argument. Children, or everybody else, should not be placed “in harm’s way.”

On this point, we agree with Ward 4 Councilman Joseph Solomon. There could be better places to relocate the softball and soccer fields that make up Winslow Park than land next to Green Airport in the Lakeshore Drive neighborhood. It’s not an easily accessible site, but to Solomon’s point, it is land where houses once stood, houses that the Rhode Island Airport Corporation (RIAC) bought because they were in an area of high noise.

If the area is unfit for habitation, why then is it any better for playing fields for hundreds of children?

In Solomon’s words, the children are going from “the frying pan” [Winslow Park that is at the end of the runway to be extended] “into the fire” [open space alongside the same runway.]

Solomon has suggested City Park or Rocky Point would be preferable locations for RIAC and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to spend about $7.5 million. He has asked for studies from the Department of Health and Department of Transportation on the health, safety and access plan to the fields.

Who can argue?

But while the reasoning is logical, the timing is terrible. One has to ask, if Solomon is so concerned about keeping children out of “harm’s way,” why didn’t he raise this issue when the Lakeshore Drive site was first proposed more than two years ago?

Relocation of the fields is one element to a formal agreement that closed the door on the City Council’s appeal of the FAA’s approval of a runway extension, enabling that project and the extension of runway protection zones to move ahead. The council, including Solomon, approved the agreement that gave the city until Sept. 30, 2012 to find a site for the fields; otherwise they would go to Lakeshore Drive.

Relocating the fields is a step in the schedule to have the runway extension operational by December 2017. Under the timetable, RIAC plans to have the relocated fields operational by July of 2015 so it can then bulldoze the existing park for a relocated Main Avenue and the runway extension.

The idea is to provide leagues with uninterrupted play and a facility that is comparable or better than what they have now. It is difficult to imagine that could be accomplished at the other sites Solomon mentions, assuming adequate land could be found at City Park and the state of Rhode Island sanctioned league-operated fields at its Rocky Point property.

The design of the Lakeshore Drive fields is 90 percent completed and RIAC is working with the State Department of Transportation on an access road and an Airport Road intersection. A plan is not only in place, but is in the process of unfolding.

Should we be concerned about potential traffic problems on Airport Road and aircraft exhaust fumes and noise on kids on playing fields in sight of Green’s major runway?

Yes, we should.

But to suggest the fields go elsewhere now is as likely as moving Green Airport to Quonset Point.

The leagues are getting what they want and, it seems to us, if they thought they were leaping from the frying pan into the fire, they would be the first to yell.

Comments

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  • Michael2012

    Winslow field is the worst location. It is directly under the wheels of the planes as they land. Lakeshore however is off to the east and and is indirectly effected. People should look at a map if they do not know how the runways look and where Lakeshore neighborhood is located. They will have a lot less noise, and pollution at Lakeshore. Furthermore, there games will be less effected as they won't have that sonic air swirl that happens after the airplane lands. I don't know the technical term for it but it happens when they land. The timing of this is highly questionable regarding Solomon making noise.

    Thursday, January 2, 2014 Report this

  • markyc

    This should have all ready been addressed. The Lake Shore Drive location is NOT the best location. However, the City Council signed the MOA agreeing to the terms that the relocation WOULD BE the Lake Shore Drive location unless a suitable alternative was found by 9/30/12. The City Council had enough time to plan for this(they could have formed a committee including Winslow Field members). RIAC has met the terms of the MOA regarding the field location. If the City Council/Warwick wants to put it elsewhere, they have that option(Warwick may be responsible for any additional cost). However, don't expect RIAC to stop with their plan to have the present fields NO LONGER IN USE-the City Council can't expect a delay in the runway expansion/Main Ave. reconfiguration.

    What would the City Council do now? Have numerous locations to provide for all the activities that were held at the Winslow Fields?

    Warwick City Park is probably too small; it's unlikely to provide all the activities/uses for the fields as well as all the additional current uses for Warwick residents/visitors.

    Rocky Point-someone needs to inform Councilman Solomon that the additional Rocky Point property is State of RI property; Warwick doesn't have exclusive rights to its uses( I personally believe plans are all ready in the works for a combination commercial use-for a possible tax revenue source as well as public access use & I don't believe that will include a field complex SOLELY for Warwick use.

    Monday, January 6, 2014 Report this