Rhode Island 2025 Regular Session

Rhode Island House Bill H5789 Compare Versions

Only one version of the bill is available at this time.

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5	5	2025 -- H 5789
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7	7	LC001910
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9	9	S T A T E O F R H O D E I S L A N D
10	10	IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY
11	11	JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2025
12	12	____________
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14	14	J O I N T R E S O L U T I O N
15	15	MAKING AN APPROPRIATION OF $1,000,000 FOR THE MESHANTICUT LAKE PAVED
16	16	WALKING PATH IN CRANSTON
17	17	Introduced By: Representatives Paplauskas, Baginski, Potter, Lima, Fascia, Quattrocchi,
18	18	McNamara, and Handy
19	19	Date Introduced: February 26, 2025
20	20	Referred To: House Finance
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23	23	WHEREAS, Meshanticut Lake, located within Cranston, is the focal point of 1
24	24	Meshanticut State Park, a beloved public park that boasts a paved walking path that encircles the 2
25	25	12-acre lake; and 3
26	26	WHEREAS, In 1910, John M. Dean donated Meshanticut Park and its lake to the 4
27	27	Metropolitan Park Commission, coinciding with Cranston's transition from a town to a city. The 5
28	28	Metropolitan Park Commission, established in the early 1900s, was responsible for acquiring and 6
29	29	managing parklands in Rhode Island; and 7
30	30	WHEREAS, The State's park system expanded, and the management of these parks, 8
31	31	including Meshanticut Park which was purchased by the State of Rhode Island for $600, was 9
32	32	integrated into the Department of Environmental Management (DEM). This transition ensured 10
33	33	that Meshanticut Park became part of the State's portfolio of recreational areas, preserving it for 11
34	34	public use and enjoyment; and 12
35	35	WHEREAS, In 2021, the DEM estimated that addressing infrastructure needs at the 13
36	36	park—including road repairs, erosion control, tree maintenance, and bench installations—would 14
37	37	require an investment of between $2 million and $2.5 million; and 15
38	38	WHEREAS, Cranston, home to 82,000+ people, is the second-largest city within the 16
39	39	State of Rhode Island, and Meshanticut Lake walking path is an important recreational amenity 17
40	40	enjoyed by its diverse community; and 18
41	41	WHEREAS, The paved walking path is highly utilized by thousands of individuals of all 19
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45	45	ages for activities such as walking, running, cycling, and dog walking, promoting health, well-1
46	46	being, recreation, and community engagement; and 2
47	47	WHEREAS, Local youth athletes, including students from Cranston High School West, 3
48	48	Cranston High School East, Western Hills Middle School, and participants in the Cranston 4
49	49	League for Cranston’s Future (CLCF) youth programs, regularly use the path for training and 5
50	50	conditioning, contributing to their physical development and team-building experiences; and 6
51	51	WHEREAS, Years of use causing wear and tear, extreme weather conditions, and lack of 7
52	52	maintenance have caused cracks, uneven terrain, and hazardous conditions along the paved path, 8
53	53	posing safety risks to users and detracting from the park’s overall appeal; and 9
54	54	WHEREAS, Investing in the restoration and improvement of the pedestrian pathway; 10
55	55	including, but not limited to, resurfacing and structural reinforcements, is essential to ensure safe 11
56	56	and equitable access for all members of the community, including individuals with mobility 12
57	57	impairments; and 13
58	58	WHEREAS, Such upgrades will improve Cranston residents’ quality of life, support local 14
59	59	youth athletic programs, and preserve the park as a vital suburban green space for all Rhode 15
60	60	Island residents; now, therefore be it 16
61	61	RESOLVED, That there is hereby appropriated, out of any money in the treasury not 17
62	62	otherwise appropriated for the fiscal year 2025-2026, the sum of one million dollars ($1,000,000) 18
63	63	to restore and enhance the Meshanticut Lake paved walking path, ensuring it remains a safe and 19
64	64	accessible resource for all users; and the state controller is hereby authorized and directed to draw 20
65	65	their orders upon the general treasurer for the payment of said sum, or so much thereof as may be 21
66	66	from time to time required, upon receipt of properly authenticated vouchers; and be it further 22
67	67	RESOLVED, That members of the public are encouraged to participate in the upcoming 23
68	68	hearing to voice their support for this critical community investment. 24
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75	75	EXPLANATION
76	76	BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL
77	77	OF
78	78	J O I N T R E S O L U T I O N
79	79	MAKING AN APPROPRIAT ION OF $1,000,000 FOR THE MESHANTICUT LAKE PAVE D
80	80	WALKING PATH IN CRANSTON
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82	82	This resolution would authorize the appropriation of the sum of $1,000,000 for the 1
83	83	Meshanticut Lake paved walking path in Cranston. 2
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