DEM recommends Park Service reject Morley Field conversion pending EJ review

"DEM is not recommending approval of the proposed partial conversion of the South Woodlawn/Morley Field site at this time, because of the many EJ concerns expressed during the public comment period."

From a press release:

The Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management (DEM) today announced that the agency’s review of the application submitted by the City of Pawtucket seeking approval to convert portions of three properties from recreation use to other purposes has been completed and recommendations have been submitted to the National Park Service (NPS). DEM is the state agency responsible for administering the federal Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) in Rhode Island.

Based on the significance of the comments received from the community and the concerns about environmental equity and justice of the proposed conversation of the South Woodlawn site, the State is not prepared to recommend approval of the conversion at South Woodlawn at this time.

Years ago, the City of Pawtucket used federal funding through the LWCF program to buy or improve these sites and, as a condition of that funding, the City was required to maintain them for recreational use in perpetuity unless a conversion was formally approved. When LWCF land use conversions are proposed, DEM is the state authority that provides an initial review and recommendation to the NPS, which has final decision authority.

The City of Pawtucket applied for permission to convert the use of properties at McCoy Stadium, Dunnell Park/Hank Soar Field, and South Woodlawn, more commonly known as Morley Field. Because of the strong public interest expressed in Morley Field, the City of Pawtucket voluntarily provided an opportunity for public comment on the conversion plan. Many public comments were received by the City of Pawtucket, with the majority raising questions and concerns about the environmental equity and justice implications of the proposed partial conversion of Morley Field. The NPS guidance on the preparation and review of LWCF conversion applications does not provide direction or guidance on addressing environmental justice (EJ). The Biden-Harris administration has issued Executive Orders that apply to all federal and state agencies, including the US Department of the Interior, requiring EJ's consideration in many programs including LWCF. Additionally, through the publication of DEM’s EJ policy last fall, DEM has prioritized consideration of EJ in all programs the agency administers and implements.

After carefully considering the comments submitted by the public, DEM is recommending approval of the City of Pawtucket’s conversion application of McCoy Stadium and Dunnell Park/Hank Soar Field properties to the NPS for final approval, which if approved will be replaced with a new recreational site to be developed at Riverside Cemetery. However, DEM is not recommending approval of the proposed partial conversion of the South Woodlawn/Morley Field site at this time, because of the many environmental justice concerns expressed during the public comment period. In the letter submitted to the NPS earlier today, DEM formally requested written guidance for evaluating the equity concerns on this and other LWCF conversion proposals and will reconsider the conversion of the Morley Field site, if appropriate, under the terms of that guidance and DEM’s EJ policy. DEM remains committed to supporting environmental justice for Rhode Island’s communities that environmental issues and lack of equal access to recreational spaces have disproportionately impacted.

“Every Rhode Islander deserves access to safe and convenient public places for recreation,” said DEM Director Terry Gray. “When sites are proposed for conversion from recreational use to other uses, careful evaluation is necessary to ensure that recreational opportunities are not lost, especially in historically underserved communities. DEM has worked closely with the City of Pawtucket on its conversion application to meet the technical requirements for conversion set by the NPS and considers environmental justice throughout this process. By voluntarily providing an opportunity for public comment which was not required by federal requirements during the conversion process, Mayor Donald Grebien and the City demonstrated their commitment to hearing the voices of the community. Those voices were heard loud and clear and in response, we are seeking formal guidance from our federal partner agency on properly addressing this critical issue.”