PARKS
AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT
1670 Flat River Road
Coventry, RI 02816
Tel: (401) 822-9107 Fax:: (401) 822-9148
Office hours: Monday - Friday
8:30am to 4:30pm
THE FIRST DAY OF REGISTRATION FOR THE 2010 WINTER PROGRAMS WILL BE MONDAY, DECEMBER 14, 2009 08:30am - 4:30pm, IN THE UPSTAIRS MAIN FLOOR OF THE COMMUNITY CENTER. REGISTRATION WILL CONTINUE FROM TUESDAY DECEMBER 15, 2009 THROUGH THW HOLIDAY SEASON, 8:30am - 4:30pm, IN THE PARKS & REC. OFFICE. REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED IN THE OFFICE PRIOR TO THE START OF ANY PROGRAM UNLESS OTHERWISE NOTED. ALL FEES MUST BE PAID AT THE TIME OF REGISTRATION TO RECEIVE SPECIFIC POLICIES AND SCHEDULES.
ACTIVITIES ARE OFFERED TO COVENTRY RESIDENTS ONLY, WITH REGISTRATION ACCEPTED ON A FIRST-COME FIRST-SERVE BASIS.
COVENTRY SKATE/BIKE PARK RULES & REGULATIONS
CONSERVATION AREAS, Briar Point BEACH & WATERFRONT SITES
THE COVENTRY GREENWAY COMPLETION TIME ESTIMATE
The Coventry Parks
and Recreation Department is charged with developing a comprehensive year
round program schedule for all populations from preschoolers
to senior citizens. In addition to the ever popular summer playground
program and other seasonal activities, new program initiatives are constantly
being developed along with "NEW"
events and trips.
The Department is also responsible for the Town's park property and municipal buildings. Working from a seasonal maintenance program identified by the Director and Maintenance Supervisor, the staff sets out in the repair and service of athletic fields, playgrounds, beaches, and play courts. Building maintenance responsibility extends to the Community Center, Foster Park Pavilion, the Coventry Teen Center, Central Coventry Park, Rice Field, and to some extent, the 17 outbuildings located at various athletic fields throughout the town. The Department understands the need for litter pickup by employing youth during the summer, and provides community service opportunities for scouts, students, and other community groups.
The Recreation Department also oversees the management of the Coventry Recreation Community Center where over 50 non-profit organizations meet for social, civic, and charitable functions.
Along
with a Friends Group, the Coventry Parks and Recreation Department continues
to develop plans and specifications to construct the Coventry Greenway
along the abandoned Washington Secondary Railroad Corridor. The Coventry
Greenway, now officially part of the East Coast Greenway corridor, will
consist of a five mile paved bicycle path and trails for hiking, jogging,
and horseback riding.
In an effort to meet the constant demand for passive and active recreational facilities the Parks and Recreation Department continues to develop major park sites along with the ongoing construction of the Coventry Greenway. The ever increasing population has also led to the Department's expansion of program offerings to the community.
LEAD
ON LEAGUES
The Parks & Recreation Department maintains an updated list of League
officials for all youth and adult programs. Please call 822-9107 for information,
registration dates or contacts to League officials.
NYSCA
The Coventry Parks & Recreation Department serves as the local chapter
to the National Youth Sports Coaches Association. (NYSCA). The NYSCA,
founded in 1981, is devoted to the improvement of the out-of-school youth
sports experience through the training of youth sport volunteer coaches.
The Coventry Parks & Recreation Dept. has certified over 730 youth league
coaches in baseball, softball, cheerleading, flag football, football,
soccer, basketball and hockey through the NYSCA videotape program. All
parents should request that their child's coach be NYSCA certified.
The Coventry Parks & Recreation Department is a member of the Rhode Island Recreation and Parks Association (RIRPA), the National Recreation and Parks Association (NRPA), and a member of the New England Park Association.
Coordinator: Kerrie O'Neil. Located at 668 Washington Street.
The Parks & Recreation Department provides a clean, safe, and supervised environment for Coventry teens and youth. On a daily basis the center provides free use of foozeball, ping pong, air hockey, and pool tables. Arts & crafts and game tournaments are offered on a regular basis. The Supervised Upstairs Lounge is complete with couches, tables, a TV and DVD/VCR and houses Friday night movie night from 6:30p.m. - 9:00p.m..
When becoming a member, teens are able to participate in cookouts, field trips, and various other activities that take place throughout the seasons.
Hours: Tuesday - Thursday 2:30pm -
7:00 pm and Friday 2:30pm - 9:00pm.
Anyone interested in registering can do so at the Teen Center. Initial identification and a parent-signed registration form is required.
PARK PROPERTY: FACILITIES BY LOCATION
Herbert F. Paine Memorial Park - Located at 1277 Main Street at the rear of the Coventry Recreation Comm. Center. Lighted baseball and softball fields and basketball court. Street hockey court, four tennis courts and playground. Seasonal food concessions and restrooms. (12 Acres)
John J. Giblin Memorial Recreation Area - Located in Hunter's Crossing off Knotty Oak Road, includes a softball field, basketball, tennis and volleyball courts. Also proposed are two additional play fields and a children's playground.
Foster Memorial Park - Located 1/4 mile north on Station Street from intersection of Main Street in Washington village. Four baseball/softball fields, three soccer fields, hiking trail, volleyball court. Seasonal food concession and restrooms. (86 Acres)
Rice Field - Located at 7 Knotty Oak Road, (Rte. 116). Offers a lighted football field. Baseball - Softball field, tennis court and playground. Seasonal food concession and portable restrooms. Proposed Restrooms, Pavilion, Basketball court and Gazebo. (8 Acres)
Central Coventry Park - Located at the end of Provident Place off Phillips Hill Road in Coventry Center. Presently offers playground facilities, two tennis courts and an 18 station fitness trail. Also Picnic facilities, soccer and softball fields are available. Recreation center, volleyball, bocce, and croquet courts are under development. (26 Acres)
Briar Point Beach and Picnic Area - Located on Lake Tiogue, the end of Briar Point Avenue off Arnold Road. Offers swimming and picnic facilities with lifeguards on duty from June 19th thru Labor Day. Playground facility and seasonal portable restrooms. (6 Acres)
Neighborhood
Playgrounds
Harris Playground - Howard Avenue
Quidnick Playground - McArthur Blvd.
Neighborhood
Playfields
Fish Hill Ballfields - Fish Hill Rd.
Wood Street Field - Wood Street
Quidnick Field - McArthur Blvd.
Proposed
Neighborhood Playfields/Playgrounds
Arrowwood Subdivision (playground) Mishnock Estates (playground)
Blackrock Subdivision (conservation area)
Walker Ridge (active playfields)
Cassissi Estates (playground)
Colonial Acres (playground)
Proposed
Canoe Launches
Trestle Park - Pawtuxet River, from Main St., Quidnick
Wood Street Access - Pawtuxet River, Washington Village
Merrill S. Whipple Conservation Area - Pawtuxet River, Washington Village
Coventry Greenway - Pawtuxet River, from Pilgrim Ave, Anthony
Francis H. Sherman Mem. Park - Johnson's Pond, from old Rte 117, Cov.
Ctr.
Public
Boat Launches
Lake Tiogue - From Tiogue Ave. and North Glen Dr.
Flat River Reservoir - Zeke's Bridge, Harkney Hill Rd.
Carbuncle Pond - Route 14 (No gasoline engines)
Coventry Land Trust
-Stump Pond.
-Mahoney Property
-Hope Meadows
On the Coventry Greenway you might find yourself hiking through the historic mill village of Anthony, cycling over the Pawtuxet River with its panoramic view of the river banks or trout fishing along the Moosup River or Carbuncle Pond in western Coventry. Our rail trail will provide all these and many more opportunities for our residents, as it will provide linkage to parks, schools, government centers, historic sites, and commercial areas. The fifteen mile stretch of abandoned rail corridor, now under ownership of the Town of Coventry and D.E.M., extends from West Warwick to the Connecticut state border.
Support for the Coventry Greenway initiatives, coordinated by the Coventry Parks & Recreation Department, has come from City Year, the R.I. National Guard, local scout troops, and student groups, as well as other civic organizations and area businesses. Without a Parks Department budget appropriation, funding has come from the Symms Trail Program, railroad demolition/salvage fees, legislative appropriations, fines, and donations. The Coventry Public Works Department was instrumental in completing drainage work, grading and bridge reconstruction utilizing a grant from the US Forest Service Timber Bridge Demonstration Project. The first 1.5 mile paved section was opened to the public in September of 1998.
In October 1998, Coventry received a singular national honor when the Rails to Trails Conservancy recognized our trail as the 1,000th U.S. rail-trail conversion and dedicated the 10,000th mile in the village of Greene.
On November 2, 1999 the Coventry Greenway and Bicycle Path was expanded by an additional 7/10 of a mile. This brings the total length of our 12' wide paved path to 2.7 miles. Parking for access to the Greenway can be found at the Station Street crossing, at Paine Field, at Town Hall, and at the Ayoho Road crossing. We strongly encourage skaters and cyclists to wear safety equipment while on the path.
On September 5, 2003 the Town acquired a 2 acre parcel of land at 1532 Main Street. The paved parking area is intended for access and parking for the public's use of the Coventry Greenway. A State grant provided funding for the property.
To learn more about this exciting project contact the Coventry Parks and Recreation Department at 822-9107. You may also choose to join the "Friends of the Coventry Greenway", a citizens group organized to promote trail development.