What Grows On in Rhode Island ~ News Blog

Neutaconkanut Hill Conservancy

Ed. note: The Neutaconkanut Hill Conservancy urges all Providence residents to attend the public meetings about the Hartford, Silver Lake and Manton Neighborhoods from September 14 to 17.

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Neutaconkanut Hill is a hidden treasurer. Owned by the City of Providence, the park was ‘forgotten’ for many years. Through the efforts of the Neutaconkanut Hill Conservancy, Inc., in cooperation with the Providence Parks Department, the Hill has been making a ‘debut’ these past few years.

The Hill is a place where archaeology, geology, history and nature intersect, a multi-faceted and natural classroom for all, rich for research and discovery.

All aspects of this Hill...impact on Man in his pursuit for community, history, health, knowledge and beauty. No other ‘natural woodland’ such as this exists in Providence nor can it be recreated if the land were to be developed.

RI DEM Seeks Seasonal Staff for Fall Positions ~ August 28, 2009

DEM SEEKS SEASONAL STAFF FOR FALL POSITIONS AT STATE PARKS AND CAMPGROUNDS

The Department of Environmental Management is seeking applicants to fill 20-30 seasonal positions at state parks, campgrounds, and the Goddard Park golf course this fall.
 
             Positions are available for seasonal groundskeepers, laborers, park rangers, clerks, and campground clerks for the first, second and third shifts.  The positions will be available for approximately two to three months, beginning on Labor Day and ending no later than November 30.

RI DEM Hearing on Proposed Waterfowl Season, Falconry, Park, and Management Area Regulations ~ August 27, 2009

DEM TO HOLD PUBLIC HEARING ON PROPOSED WATERFOWL SEASON, FALCONRY, PARK AND MANAGEMENT AREA REGULATIONS ON AUGUST 27

PROVIDENCE - The Department of Environmental Management will hold a public hearing on proposed regulations governing the upcoming migratory waterfowl hunting season and the practice of falconry, and park and management area regulations on Thursday, August 27. The hearing will be held at 7:00 p.m. at the North Kingstown Community Center on Beach Street in North Kingstown, off Route 1A just south of Wickford. As in past years, the Division will also conduct a presentation on the breeding status of waterfowl in the United States and Canada.

Park as Muse: Artwork of India Point Park ~ October-November 28

Park as Muse: Artwork of India Point Park

Thirty-one Artists Exhibit at
City Hall Gallery, Oct-Nov 28
Opening Reception, Fri, Oct. 10, 5-7pm

Please come to the Opening Reception on Friday, Oct. 10, 5-7pm. The exhibit on the second floor of City Hall is open until Nov. 28, Monday-Friday, 8:30-4:30. 

The work is for sale, ranging from $100 to $1,500, with a large painting priced at $6,000. Sales will be arranged through the artists individually, many of whom have agreed to donate a percentage of their sale price to Friends of India Point Park. Also for sale to benefit FIPP will be a print of a black and white photograph taken in the 1940s of young boys perched on India Point pilings.

   The show of work inspired by the Park includes the mediums of oil, watercolors, acrylic, pastel, photographs, fabric, collage, and poetry. Depictions of Park scenes and the city skyline range in style from realistic to impressionistic to highly imaginative, and in size from 10"x 12" to 6ft.x 8ft.Artists in the non-juried show include amateurs and well-known professionals who exhibit at galleries in New York, Providence, and elsewhere in New England.

The show has been organized by the FIPP Arts Committee chaired byIda Schmulowitz, who has painted in the Park for 20 years, usually early in the morning on large canvasses. Artists in the show are Jane Bassman, Jill Brody, Johan Bjurman, Bryan Bzdula, Steven Brownell, Alice Cooper, Mark Freedman, Peter Geisser, Sarah Gleason, Timothy Heibert, Kate Huntington, John Irwin, Dave Kendrick, Joseph "Bud" Latham, Deane Lawrence, Sam Marshall, Claudia Middendor, Regina Partridge, Alberto Pereira, Ann Pellicano, Ursala Rickenberg, John Riede, Mimo Gordon Riley, Beverly Rosen, Ann Rozhon, Ida Schmulowitz, Monica Shinn, Gretchen Dow Simpson, Karen Usas, Kathy Weber, and Gayle White.

         For more information, please call 272-9712 or email .

DEM Announces RFP for Local Open Space Grants Deadline ~ September 26, 2008

Grants will provide up to 50 percent of funding, up to a maximum of $250,000 per project, to protect open space lands that possess significant natural, ecological, agricultural or scenic values, by direct purchase or conservation easements. Special consideration will be given to projects that provide linkages between or expansion of existing preserved lands.

• A total of up to $2.5 million is available during this round of the grant program.
• All projects must be able to close within 18 months of the award date – no extensions will be granted beyond this time frame.
• All grant applications will be reviewed and scored by the Rhode Island Natural Heritage Preservation Commission Advisory Committee according to the “Rules and Regulations” for the program. The highest scoring grant applications will be forwarded to the Rhode Island Natural Heritage Preservation Commission for approval.
• Grants will be awarded in December 2008 from the RI Open Space Bond Authorizations of 2000 and 2004.
• DEM strongly advise all applicants to insure that DEM has up to date information for all land parcels preserved by local partners; forms to provide this information will be on the website.
• "Preservation of open space is vital to safeguarding our quality of life in Rhode Island," Governor Carcieri said. "Our foresight in funding these grants is keeping important open spaces for ourselves and our descendents to enjoy." Under the last round of grants – with a RFP in 2006 – $5 million was awarded in grants for17 projects across the state to protect almost 1,600 acres of land.

Information:  Grant applications, rules and regulations and the application process are available from the DEM Website: http://www.dem.ri.gov/programs/bpoladm/plandev/grants.htm <http://www.dem.ri.gov/programs/bpoladm/plandev/grants.htm> Lisa Primiano  (401) 222-2776 x 4307  lisa.primiano@dem.ri.gov

Help Plant 100 Trees at Goddard State Park ~ April 26, 2008

From Rhode Island Tree Council:

Arbor Day Fair

            

Saturday,  April 26,   2008

            

10:00 am to 3:00 pm 

            

Goddard   Memorial Park, Warwick, RI. Everyone come! Bring a picnic!

            

Help us plant a   forest – with up to 100 trees!

Tree pruning demos, best tree mulching practices, and much more!

This vista will be of a forest in a few years. If you click on it, which enlarges the photo, you'll see the cones marking the holes where the new trees will be. Come help plant!

Hearing on Public Space at India Point, Providence ~ March 3, 2008

From David P. Riley:

Dear Friends of India Point Park,

     Please come to an important  hearing on protecting public space at India Point. The RI Transportation Dept. (RIDOT) is planning to sell the Shooters parcel -- right next to the park -- to the highest bidder with no restrictions.

    We need to urge RIDOT to delay the sale until AFTER the planning process is completed. It would be tragic for the park, the city, and the state to rush into the permanent sale of one of the state's key assets, which could be a public gateway to the Bay providing significant long-term economic and civic benefits for the region. (MAP:   Maguire map of India Point and the new I-195. The Shooters site is two small parcels in white at the end of the two docks just west of the park. Click on map to enlarge.)

WHEN:      Monday, March 3, 6PM

WHERE:    City Council chambers, Providence City Hall

WHAT:       Public hearing on proposal to rezone Shooters (see map below) as Public Space. RIDOT
                  adamantly opposes rezoning because it would prevent them from selling it to the highest
                  bidder, which would probably mean high rise luxury condos next to the park, which is
                  the only expanse of Bay shoreline open to the public in Providence.

WHO:         We need you to come Monday and be heard. Your presence and your voice will let
                   RIDOT know what the park means to us and to the city, and why RIDOT needs to slow down!
                   (You can also submit written comments at the hearing, or email them to
                   ward1.agv1@providenceri.com.  Please come: we need a crowd!

Read on for TALKING POINTS for Monday's hearing:

Kennedy Plaza Placemaking Workshop ~ February 27, 2008

From ECRI & David Riley, Friends of India Point Park:

Mayor Cicilline and Parks Superintendent Alix Ogden, as well as RIPTA and others are discussing "reimagining Kennedy Plaza" in Providence. Call Carol Corbishley 785-9450 x 201.

See for full details: http://www.gcpvd.org/2008/02/26/tomorrow-0227-kennedy-plaza-placemaking-workshop/

Rhode Island Recreation Acquisition & Development Grants ~ Passive & Historic Parks ~ Deadline ~ December 14, 2007

From RI Land Trusts E-News ~ The newsletter of the Rhode Island Land Trust Council:

Rhode Island Recreation Acquisition & Development Grants

 Passive & Historic Parks

        Deadline: December 14, 2007

RIDEM is accepting proposals for 2007 grant round for

Passive and Historic Park renovation and/or development projects. 

Grants will be awarded for up to 90% of the project cost.

Maximum grant award will be $100,000.

Applicants must be Rhode Island Municipalities. 

For additional criteria and application requirements see

RIDEM’s website under Division of Planning & Development/local grants

web address is below.

Information & Application form:

http://www.dem.ri.gov/programs/bpoladm/plandev/grants.htm

Joe Dias 401-222-2776 x 4301 joe.dias@dem.ri.gov

Community Garden at Riverside Mills ~ November 10, 2007

From Rhode Island Tree Council and Woonasquatucket River Watershed Council:

Community Garden at Riverside Mills

The Beds Are Built. Now we need your help to install them!

[POSTPONED FROM November 3rd.]

Saturday,  November 10th  10:00am  Riverside Mills Park  Aleppo St. in Providence

Help build the frames and load the planting beds with soil for the raised bed community gardens.

We still need a few more burly men and super strong women to help move these beds. We could also use a pick-up truck and a forklift if you happen to own one.

If you can make it, let us know ASAP by calling 861-9046.

Woonasquatucket River Watershed Council
27 Sims Avenue
Providence, Rhode Island 02909
401-861-9046