LETTERS

Children not welcome

Posted 7/19/18

To the Editor: I should have known better, having lived here for over five years, than to walk my 2-year-old grandson to the play ground near the ball fields at Warwick City Park. I had hoped that things had improved from the previous years. From a

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LETTERS

Children not welcome

Posted

To the Editor:

I should have known better, having lived here for over five years, than to walk my 2-year-old grandson to the play ground near the ball fields at Warwick City Park. I had hoped that things had improved from the previous years.

From a distance the swing set and Jungle Gym (call me old-fashioned, but that is what they used to call them) beckons to a child. Well, lots of disappointment for our toddler. The swing set, that accommodates only two swings, had only one hanging and it was for an older child, nothing for a toddler.

The swing that was there was too high off the ground for even me to reach. The gym set looks like it was erected during WWI. Rusted, missing parts, holes in the plastic tubes, it’s a good example of what a younger mother should not allow her children on, but, equally dangerous for an unsupervised older child.

As a mother, grandmother and nurse, I realize that this area is a problem. Is anyone responsible for the care maintenance and removal of these items? Now the ballparks are beautiful and the dog area is great for the dogs and the solar paneled bathroom facilities are lovely, but this area of the park says, “Children are not welcome. Enter at your own risk.”

Before we suffer the burden of another child hurt in this park, I ask our new mayor to take that apparatus down or replace it with a new one that the kids so justly deserve.

Laura Willkomm

Warwick

Comments

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  • Thecaptain

    But Laura,

    Your city council just awarded $2.8 million in raises. That of course was after arguing for 30 minutes on how we could save 5 cents per can of spray paint for the ball fields. Call you city councilman and tear him apart.

    Thursday, July 19, 2018 Report this

  • JusthaFacts

    Great swings and play equipment for children at City Park Beach, and the remaining elementary schools in the city. Take my grandchildren all the time.

    Friday, July 20, 2018 Report this

  • richardcorrente

    I recently had a conversation with a lady friend about City Park and City Park Beach. Like you she is also a nurse. I will show her your letter. We will visit the jungle gym area this weekend., and I will ask for her honest remarks. I always thought it looked "good enough", but not great. I now have doubts. Thank you for opening my eyes. If you call me at 401-338-9900 anytime after Sunday 7-22, I will share my comments with you and I promise I will make it better as Mayor, even if it comes out of my pocket. I have three and a half grandchildren. I want to bring them to a park I can be proud of, and I believe we can make a lot of improvements without costing the taxpayers ANY additional money. Call your City Councilperson. .

    Happy Summer Laura.

    Happy Summer everyone.

    Rick Corrente

    The Taxpayers Mayor

    Friday, July 20, 2018 Report this

  • CrickeeRaven

    Laura, take my advice and stay as far away from the make-believe mayor as possible. He will never be elected, so his promises are empty. Also, what does "three and a half grandchildren" mean? Would you trust someone who speaks in such gibberish?

    "[E]ven if it comes out of my pocket."

    Do you know what hasn't come out of the make-believe mayor's pocket since 2014? Tax payments on his residence, and this year he had someone else pay the sewer and water fees on that same property.

    So how likely do you think it is that he'd pay for playground equipment if he can't pay his taxes and city utilities?

    Don't fall for his attempts to fool you, Laura. I invite you to join the thousands of honest, taxpaying voters who will reject his candidacy on Sept. 12.

    Sunday, July 22, 2018 Report this

  • richardcorrente

    Dear Laura,

    I went to the park as promised. You were right. It's awful! I am a member of the Warwick Lions. I reported your letter-to-the-editor to them at last nights meeting. (7-23-18) We discussed taking on your project, and are in the process of getting prices. I will let you know as your idea progresses. Whatever the end result, it was started by you, and you should be proud to be the catalyst. The Lions seem very willing to get involved it making City Park a better place for our children and grandchildren (I have 3 "and a half" because my younger son is about 4 months away from being a first-time father). You probably will see a bench with our name and logo on it.

    I will report more as it happens.

    Happy Summer.

    Rick

    Tuesday, July 24, 2018 Report this

  • Laurie

    Mr. Corrente, Thank you for following through on your promise. I am delighted that you took such interest in this problem so quickly! I was at Warwick City Park beach today. It was a beautiful day both in and out of the water. There was a couple, from Scotland, that stopped at the park for a picnic lunch. Someone at one of the airport hotels recommended the park to them. They marveled at what we had. There’s lots of Sea glass that washed up from the storm. My grand daughter shared it with them. They promised to take it home to Scotland to remember there visit with us. It’s a moment like that that truly makes you appreciate what we have. Thanks again.

    Tuesday, July 24, 2018 Report this

  • richardcorrente

    Dear Laura,

    Interest in the "Lauras' City Park Improvement Project" is growing with the Warwick Lions. I spoke with the President and his wife, Jason and Jennifer Hills, as well as several other members, and they have asked me to invite you to speak at our next meeting. We would love to hear from you and share your ideas with ours. Please call Jennifer at 401-871-8327. The Warwick Lions just finished our successful carnival at Saint Timothy Church and even after we donated proceeds to their charity, we have several thousands left over. Nothing would make me happier than to be able to say that I had voted to spending some of it to get your project off the ground.

    Happy Summer Laura.

    Rick

    Tuesday, July 31, 2018 Report this