After years of dedication and hard work, the Newport Historic Spring Leadership Committee and Church Community Housing Corporation are pleased to announce the ground breaking for SPRING PARK. This ground breaking will take place on Thursday, November 10, 2022 at 2 pm to signal the start of construction of this project of local and national importance.
“This ground breaking and construction of SPRING PARK is based on eight years of community-driven efforts, with city collaboration, to protect the site of Newport’s founding and the natural spring that nourished the early settlers of Newport. The opportunity to save this site as public open space has been our civic responsibility,” stated Lilly Dick, chair of the committee.
“From day one, the purpose of SPRING PARK was to honor religious freedom and tolerance as the defining principles of Newport. This ground breaking has been made possible by the generous support of over one hundred members of this community. Our local foundations and businesses have also awarded generous grants to this project. Thanks to these donors and the generous leadership gift from the John L. Loeb, Jr. Foundation, we are now able to start construction.”
Over $5 million has been raised by The Newport Historic Spring Leadership Committee to acquire the former Coffey’s service station and remediate the property. This led to the discovery and archeological survey of the mostly intact 18th century Spring Box, Newport’s first water system. Extensive site engineering, traffic studies and landscape design planning, supported by continuous public input, was accomplished in close coordination with the City of Newport.
Ron Henderson, founding principal of Lirio Landscape Architecture and director of the Landscape Architecture and Urbanism Program at the Illinois Institute of Technology in Chicago led the design team for SPRING PARK in collaboration with Tanya Kelley, former commissioner of the Rhode Island Historic Preservation and Heritage Commission and founder of PLACEstudio, LLC
Stephen Ostiguy, retired executive director and asset manager for Church Community Housing Corporation, the development sponsor for this project, has been invaluable to the success of this project. Church Community Housing Corporation selected R.P. Marzilli Co. as general contractor. Construction began on November 2nd and will continue, weather permitting, through early summer. Upon completion, SPRING PARK will be donated to the City of Newport with an open space conservation easement. A dedication ceremony is planned upon completion.
To make a tax-deductible donation to SPRING PARK contact David Guertin at david@vantageinphilanthropy.com (401) 868-0365.