T.F. Green Airport Improvement Program - FEIS Chapters - PVD

T.F. Green Airport Improvement ProgramEnvironmental Impact Statement and Final Section 4(f) Evaluationsoccer fields (Figure 7-6). The clubhouse, walking path/passive recreational area, three full-sized softball fields,one small softball field, as well as the parking lot adjacent to the smaller softball fields could remain. The accessto the remaining park at Taft Avenue would be allowed to remain since access would be possible off GreeleyAvenue. The entire soccer field area would be eliminated under the No-Action Alternative. The facilities locatedoutside the No-Action Alternative RPZ are on land owned by RIAC (one full-sized softball field and one smallsoftball field, walking path/passive recreation area, and parking); and the City of Warwick (two full-sizedsoftball fields, a portion of a third softball field, clubhouse, and parking).7.5.2.2 Alternatives B2 and B4Alternative B2 would result in the physical use of 21 acres of the park that lie within the newly created RPZ,including 3.6 acres of the City-owned portion and 17.4 acres of the RIAC-owned portion. The actively usedparkland that would be directly impacted includes 10.3 acres of the RIAC-owned portion and 3.6 of theCity-owned portion resulting in total direct impacts of 13.9 acres (Figure 7-6).Alternative B4 would result in the physical use of 20.8 acres of Winslow Park that lie within the newly createdRPZ and improvements related to Realigned Main Avenue, including 2.8 acres of the city-owned portion and18 acres of the RIAC-owned portion. The actively used parkland that would be directly impacted includes10.6 acres of the RIAC-owned portion and 2.7 acres of the City-owned portion resulting in total direct impacts of13.3 acres (Figure 7-6). Under Alternative B4 only, Realigned Main Avenue would directly impact the parkingnear the small softball fields on Bedford Avenue and the northwest section of the soccer fields.Under both Alternatives B2 and B4, the recreational facilities that would be removed include all four full-sizedsoftball fields, the clubhouse, most of the soccer field area, and one playground. The two smaller softball fields,the parking lot adjacent to the two softball fields, the walking path/passive recreational area, and oneplayground could remain. Alternatives B2 and B4 would result in the removal of most of the recreationalfacilities at Winslow Park including the main playing field areas, which would substantially diminish therecreational usefulness of the park as a whole.Under Alternatives B2 and B4, the impacted recreational facilities (four full-sized softball fields, clubhouse,playground, and two soccer fields) would be replaced at other sites as mitigation. In addition to the replacementrecreational facilities, the facilities that are not within the RPZ (two smaller softball fields, walking path, andplayground) could remain at the current Winslow Park. Under Alternatives B2 and B4, the facilities locatedoutside the newly created RPZs are on land owned by RIAC. The remaining park facilities could continue toserve as a recreational resource for Warwick residents and the adjacent Greenwood neighborhood. RIAC wouldreplace the Winslow Park facilities that would be impacted under Alternatives B2 and B4. The acquisition ofparkland for airport use would result in a physical use although the impact can be mitigated through thereplacement of impacted park functions as described in Section 7.7, Measures to Minimize Harm and Mitigation.Chapter 7 – Final Section 4(f)/Section 6(f) Evaluation 7-11 July 2011\\Mawatr\ev\09228.00\reports\FEIS_Final_July_2011\PVD_CH07_4(f)_JUL_2011.doc