New Playground At Cranston's Edgewood Highland Elementary School Opens

CRANSTON, RI — Cranston Mayor Ken Hopkins and school officials held a ribbon-cutting ceremony Wednesday for the new accessible playground at Edgewood Highland Elementary School.

"Investing in our children’s playgrounds is investing in their future," Hopkins said. "The renovated playgrounds, at Edgewood Highland and Smith Street, will provide our kids with a safe and engaging environment to learn, play, and grow. It’s not just about play — it’s about fostering community, creativity, and healthy lifestyles. I'm thrilled to see this project carried on, and I look forward to watching our children thrive in this wonderful space."

The Edgewood Highland Playground renovations were supported with funding from a resolution, sponsored by City Councilors Lammis Vargas and Nicole Renzulli, which allocated $307,000 from the American Rescue Plan Act for the purpose of improving school playgrounds across the city. This resolution supported by Hopkins' office and received unanimous approval from the city council during a Dec. 18, 2023, meeting.

"Safe, inclusive, and modern playgrounds should be the standard for children in all areas of our city," Vargas said. "I am grateful to the PTA and my city council colleagues for their support and listening to not only my concerns, but of the community. I'm very excited that as a result of my advocacy and of the community, we now have two brand-new playgrounds in the area I represent of Ward 1, plus a few others throughout the city that will get a spruce."

Between October and December 2023, the Cranston Parks and Recreation Department conducted a survey of 17 playgrounds across the city. The survey provided the council results rated based on their degree of safety. From this list, the first playgrounds to undergo renovations were selected based on their condition, proximity to schools, and other factors.

In addition to the playground renovations covered by the ARPA allocation, the Cranston Community Development Department used its COVID funds to renovate three additional playgrounds. This includes: $58,000 for the playground at Calise Field off Dyer Avenue; $72,000 for the playground along Florida Avenue; and $81,000 for the playground along Smith Street.

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