Woonsocket playground wins $10,000 facelift

A playground in Woonsocket’s Constitution Hill neighborhood will be getting a facelift thanks to a $10,000 grant from the Rhode Island Foundation. The project was one of just 47 statewide to win funding from the Foundation’s competitive Community Grants Program.

“We’re excited about these ideas for making community happen in more and better ways at the local level. Supporting community-building will improve shared places and quality of life, promote collaboration and increase community engagement,” said Jessica David, executive vice president of strategy and community investments. “We’re grateful to have donors who invest in our work and partners like these that understand the needs of their community.”

Connecting Children and Families in Woonsocket received $10,000 to restore the playground at Stan “the Bulldog” Eason Park Hill as an outdoor play and learning space for children. The grant will fund the installation of playground-safe fiber surfacing and additional equipment to help children develop gross motor skills and promote accessibility.

“We are excited for this opportunity to bring new life and beauty to our neighborhood,” said Terese Curtin, executive director. “This outdoor play and learning space will be utilized not only by our programs, but by our whole community.”

Other nearby organizations to win funding include the Historic Metcalf Franklin Farm Preservation Association in Cumberland, which received $7,941 to add an outdoor movie area and buy an event tent and other equipment.

“This will allow us to expand and enhance our educational offerings. Education is central to our mission. Over the past 12 years, we have grown from reaching fewer than 100 students to reaching 1,000 students each growing season,” said Pamela Thurlow, president of the association.

In addition to receiving funding from the Community Grants Program, the projects are supported in part through a gift from long-time Foundation donor Anne Sage.

The Rhode Island Foundation is the largest and most comprehensive funder of nonprofit organizations in Rhode Island. Working with generous and visionary donors, the Foundation raised $38 million and awarded $43 million in grants to organizations addressing the state’s most pressing issues and needs of diverse communities in 2017. Through leadership, fundraising and grantmaking activities, often in partnership with individuals and organizations, the Foundation is helping Rhode Island reach its true potential. For more information, visit rifoundation.org.