Scalloptown Park Improvements
The Town of East Greenwich is exploring the possibility of constructing a dog park for our community, we want your feedback in the process.
Scalloptown Park Dog Park Development
Project Overview
The Town of East Greenwich is transforming Scalloptown Park into a premier coastal park. This exciting development continues the park's remarkable transformation from a former municipal landfill into a thriving recreational destination that serves our community and honors the area's rich cultural heritage.
What's Being Built
The new dog park will feature:
- 70,000 square foot fenced dog park with separate areas for large and small dogs
- ADA-compliant solar-powered composting restroom for visitor convenience
- Improved pedestrian pathways promoting increased park accessibility
- Solar-powered compacting trash receptacles promoting environmental sustainability
- Dog waste stations and specialized play equipment for canine enjoyment
- Benches and ADA-accessible picnic tables for community gathering
- Historical interpretive signage telling the story of Scalloptown's diverse immigrant community
- Enhanced landscaping and site improvements using sustainable design principles
Why This Project Matters
Community Need
Through extensive public engagement including community workshops, surveys, and stakeholder interviews, residents consistently identified the need for a dedicated dog park space. Over 10% of respondents to our Community Services Master Plan survey specifically requested dog park facilities.
Honoring History
The project includes interpretive signage that honors Scalloptown's significant history as a 19th-century immigrant community where Irish, Italian, German, Scandinavian, and African American families made their homes and livelihoods, many through fishing and scallop harvesting.
Environmental Stewardship
As a successful brownfield redevelopment project, this dog park demonstrates how former industrial sites can be transformed into valuable community assets while incorporating green building practices, renewable energy, and sustainable stormwater management.
Community Benefits
- Enhanced Recreation: Provides safe, dedicated space for dogs to exercise and socialize
- Community Building: Creates gathering spaces that foster neighborhood connections
- Regional Destination: Attracts visitors from neighboring communities to our waterfront
- Economic Impact: Supports local businesses through increased foot traffic
- Accessibility: Features designed to welcome visitors of all abilities
- Environmental Education: Demonstrates sustainable development practices
Project Status
✅ Town Council Authorization - Approved October 23, 2023
✅ Grant Award - $100,000 RIDEM Recreation Development Grant approved
✅ Permitting Coordination - Pre-application meetings completed with DEM and CRMC
✅ Grant Award - $963,000 Congressional Grant approved
🔄 Design Phase - Currently seeking qualified landscape architects
⏳ Construction - Scheduled for Spring-Summer 2026
Public Engagement
This project has benefited from extensive community input through:
- Community Services Master Plan workshops (2021-2023)
- Waterfront Master Plan public sessions
- Town Council public meetings
- Cove Management Commission review
- Online surveys and stakeholder interviews
Project Funding
The dog park is funded through a combination of:
- Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management Recreation Development Grant: $100,000
- NOAA Grant $963,000
Stay Connected
For project updates, construction schedules, and additional information, please visit this page regularly or contact:
Andrew Wade
Director of Community Services & Parks
Phone: (401) 886-8350
Email: awade@eastgreenwichri.com
This project represents East Greenwich's ongoing commitment to creating inclusive, sustainable recreational spaces that honor our past while building for our future.
Occasions de s'engager
Proposed Dog Park in a section of Scalloptown Park
The Community Services Department has been working on plans for a dog park in an area of Scalloptown Park. There is much work ahead, grant applications, funding, design, regulation development, etc.) although your insights are critical in helping us mold this exciting new park and how it is used and managed as it is developed over the next few years.
East Greenwich Dog Park
East Greenwich is a wonderful place to live, could a dog park make it even better?
Restez informé
Recevez des notifications sur les activités à venir et les dernières nouvelles liées au projet.
Phases du projet
Professional Town staff begin researching potential sites, park designs and funding sources.
Dates importantes
Town Council Supports RIDEM Open Space and Recreation Development Grant Application - Small Grant Category
The Town of East Greenwich with its Community Services Department is developing a comprehensive grant application for Scalloptown Park in conjunction with the EGPD and Animal Control Division. This is a multi-phased project that incldues the enlargement of the parking area, expansive walkways througout the park, muti-area dog park, large community shelter for public/private events and more.......
Broader community discussions will occur on the proposal in the coming months as the deadline for submittal is in December 2023 for a $100,000 grant with 25% match requirement. Planngin and design will of ocurse take much longer nad last far into 2024 as plans are finalzied and funding soruces are secured. It is planned that these intiial grant funds, if successful, will be invested in the dog park phase of this project. Much more to come in this discussion so please stay tuned - things are starting to happen!!!!
This state grant round includes a limited $2 mil. in a very competitive program. Historically $4 mil. is made available to address both small grants up to $100,000 and large grants up to $400,000, so it is anticipated that fewer grants will be awarded and the funding levels will be less than previously experienced.
RIDEM Open Space and Recreation Development Grant Submittal - Scalloptown Park
The Communtiy Service Department is working on a small grant applicaton of up to $100,000 (with added Town Capital Funding) to support the development of a fairly comprehensive dog park in Scalloptown Park. This park is being reflected in the soon to be relased final version of the Waterfront Study that should be filed with the Town Council in November 2023. The proposed park will be in a location to the west in the park along the train tracks, and contain two areas, for large and small dog interactions, cotrolled entrance and egress areas, site amenities, enlarged parking area, accessible walkways, and other appropriate park amentities. This will ultimately allow for controlled leash required dog walking of pets in the open park area, and unleashed activities within the dog park only. The park will be tightly managed with a full complement of rules and regulations deemed appropriate for this location.
Should we be unsuccessful in our grant application, this will not eliminate the project form progressing, just slow it down a bit as we seek other resources to fully develop the park.
More information to come when discussed publicly before the Town Council in the coming months.
East Greenwich Receives $963,000 Federal Grant for Waterfront Improvements & Scalloptown Park
The Town of East Greenwich has been awarded $963,000 in federal funding through U.S. Representative Seth Magaziner to support significant waterfront improvements and climate resiliency measures. The grant, presented at the town dock in March, requires no local matching funds, making it an exceptional opportunity for the community.
This federal investment will jumpstart implementation of East Greenwich's Waterfront Master Plan, which was adopted by the Town Council in 2023. The comprehensive plan envisions transformative improvements across the town's 1.5-mile shoreline, including enhanced public access, recreational amenities, and environmental protections.
[https://eastgreenwichnews.com/town-gets-963k-for-waterfront-improvements/]