On Monday morning (8/18/25), we formally delivered a letter (below) to Mayor Grebien and the Pawtucket City Council demanding the reopening and rehabilitation of Morley Field — the only walkable greenspace in the Woodlawn neighborhood.
Morley Field is a lifeline: for community health, student learning, crime prevention, and environmental justice. Closing it violates its legal protections and deprives residents of a space they have relied on for over 50 years.
Join us in calling on city leaders to take immediate action. [Link to Google doc with email/call templates]
Read the full letter here:
An Open Letter to Pawtucket Mayor Donald Grebien and the Pawtucket City Council Members
August 18, 2025
On behalf of the Rhode Island Environmental Education Association (RIEEA), I am writing to voice my strong support for the reopening and rehabilitation of the Morley Field recreational facility on Moshasshuck Street in Pawtucket. RIEEA is committed to advancing environmental justice across our state, ensuring that every Rhode Islander enjoys access to safe, clean outdoor places to play, work, and learn.
At the Pawtucket City Council meeting on August 6, Jerry Karlik, principal of the New York–based development company JK Equities, stated that its warehouse project on the property directly adjacent to Morley Field will be “a standalone building” and has “nothing to do with Morley Field.”
If this is the case, why is Morley Field still closed to the public? The Woodlawn neighborhood has no other walkable greenspace for residents to explore nature, learn outdoors, or access the Moshasshuck River. Since the 1970s, Morley Field has been a valued space for sporting events, family and community gatherings, and other recreational activities. Notably, one half of Morley Field was donated to the City of Pawtucket for use as a public greenspace in perpetuity, and the other half was purchased with Land and Water Conservation Funds (LWCF). Under LWCF guidelines, its use can only be changed with approval from the National Park Service.
We must not underestimate the tremendous value of what might seem like a relatively small park. Time spent outdoors offers opportunities for physical activity, critical and creative thinking, and meaningful interaction with community members. A robust and growing body of research shows that interaction with the natural world supports healthy development in children and promotes the physical, mental, and emotional well-being of both children and adults.
Plans are underway for a new high school in the neighborhood, and Morley Field will be the only greenspace in the vicinity for its 400 students. Imagine the wide range of activities that could take place there – activities that enhance academic performance and critical thinking skills, foster personal growth and life-building skills, and increase civic engagement and positive environmental behaviors.
Furthermore, studies show that well-maintained green spaces, such as city parks, are correlated with reductions in violent crime and gun violence. They also contribute to higher property values, reduced public safety costs, increased revenue for local businesses, and greater attendance at community events.
Reopening and rehabilitating Morley Field is not only the legal and ethical course of action – it has the potential to deliver significant benefits to all Pawtucket residents. I urge you to make this a priority for the health, well-being, and safety of your entire city.
Sincerely,
Jeanine Silversmith
Executive Director
cc: Terry Gray, Director, Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management