Town Manager Report for the week ending September 18, 2026
The heavy rain/stormwater on Sunday September 13 inundated many of our Town roads, catch basins, and some Town buildings. We will be working with the Coventry Housing Authority to research some mitigation strategies to help curb the intrusion on to their property and Old North Rd that has recently become a concern for those residents and staff. A discussion on next steps will be part of the Council agenda for the September 22 meeting.
This week I received an update from our Parks and Recreation Director on playgrounds. The Hunters Crossing playground has been completed as well as the Harris playground regarding the installation of the playground equipment. There is still some landscaping and clean up to be done by staff, but both are open for use. These are the newest playgrounds in Town and they will be joined by a larger project at Quidneck Park where we renovated the basketball court, field area, and playground. That ribbon cutting with local officials will be on Saturday October 3 at 930 am. Please come out and see this $500k renovation financed by a grant through CDBG.
On Tuesday September 22 at 430 Secretary of State Greg Amore and the R.I. Semiquincentennial RI 250 Committee invites everyone to the Coventry Liberty Tree Planting at Quidneck Park 194 Mac Arthur Blvd. This Liberty Tree initiative is a signature project for the RI 250 Commission with communities across the state planting trees to commemorate RI’s role in the American Revolution and to symbolize freedom, equality, and independence. There will be federal, state, and local officials present for this historic event. We will also be joined by our local Boy Scout Troop.
Right after the Liberty Tree Planting we will have our monthly Council meeting at 600 in Council Chambers at Town Hall. There are many important items on the agenda including the Conservation Commission, Land Trust, Comprehensive Plan, a land purchase, and proclamations for 2 new Eagle Scouts in our Town.
On Wednesday DPW celebrated the opening of its new Household Item Bank accentuated by a new custom community mural painted by local resident Sandra Richard. The bank, located at the transfer station, promotes a new initiative to collect gently used everyday household goods while diverting them from the central landfill to lower our disposal costs and promote sustainability through the theme of “Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle”. The Bank will officially open on Monday during the normal business hours of the transfer station. Please come by and drop off unused goods-kitchenware, small appliances, home décor, and tools and garden equipment.