Conservation Law Foundation Requests Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management Denial! Of City of Pawtucket Proposed Conversion of Morley Field to a Non Recreational Use

In a scathing letter to Terrence “Terry” Gray, McKee Appointee/Director of the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management (RIDEM),  Darrell Brown, Vice President of the Conservation Law Foundation (CLF), & Senior CLF Attorney Richard Stang, CLF are “formally requesting that RIDEM to re-review the City’s Morley Field Conversion Proposal and inform NPS (National Park Service) and the City that Rhode Island recommends the City’s Morley Field conversion application be denied”

At stake? The future of Morley Field – The only “Green Space” available to the youth of Pawtucket’s Ward 5 – and the traditional home of Youth Football, as well as other park activities.

In a letter printed below, Messrs Brown & Stang reveal, in detail …

1. Adjoining property owner J.K. Equities has testified, most notably at a recent Pawtucket City Council Meeting, that the Property in question is no longer needed, and as a result, have no impact on the completion of the primary project
2. Despite, as stated, the lack of need for the property in recent testimony, J.K. Equities now maintains the necessity of converting Morley Field into a parking lot adjacent to the primary development: A “spec built” distribution center.
3. “The lack of community level engagement and input in the City’s Conversion Proposal requires a denial.” Incredibly, the developer requested, and received, by the City of Pawtucket, permission to DENY public comment in an upcoming Planning Department Hearing.
4. “Serious issues with 9.6 acre Riverside Park replacement property” including, but not limited to the impact of a gravel removal program.

Of note: Apparently claims made by the Grebien Administration as to future investments in Morley Field as a recreation focused property were baseless.

The Coalition News is in the process of reaching out to Mr. Gray’s Office for comment.

A City of Pawtucket Planning Department Meeting is currently scheduled for September 16, 2025. As at the date of publication, the City of Pawtucket, Donald Grebien, Mayor, continues to deny the public the right to open testimony.