Cash For Park's 'Final Plan' OKd

Another step has been taken to create a park at Police Cove in Barrington.

The Town Council approved on Monday night a new $60,000 contract with the consulting firm, Vanasse Hanglin Brustlin, that has been working with the Police Cove Park Committee.

Land-use specialist Steve Derderian of VHB will now take the preferred concept plan presented to the Town Council in March and complete a “final plan” for submission to the Coastal Resources Management Council and the RI Department of Transportation, which need to approve the plan.

The final plan also will be used to bid out the construction of the park, estimated at around $750,000.

At the same time, the boat ramp at Police Cove used in the warm weather months by fire rescue boats will be reconstructed with approximately $200,000 in additional DOT funding, said Phil Hervey, town planner.

“We hope to build it at the same time as the park,” he said of the boat ramp.

The preferred concept includes:

• a waterfront promenade with ornamental railings and benches,
• an open-use pathway from the adjacent East Bay Bike Path along the water,
• an open lawn for flexible use,
• a transient boat dock near the existing boat ramp,
• a parking area for food trucks,
• an outdoor dining area near the food trucks,
• parking for cars and boat trailers,
• several bike racks,
• a portable toilet and storage space.

The park committee will meet again on May 29 to look at benches, pavement materials, and other aspects of the design, said Hervey. Members also will meet as needed to keep the project within the budget.

Police Cove has been a mostly vacant space at the junction of County Road and Mathewson Road just north of the Andreozzi Bridge and just west of the East Bay Bike Path for many years. It is the former home of the police station.

Work on the park could begin this summer if the approvals come quickly. It could be ready for public use by next spring.