FARGNOLI PARK

Introduction
Park Perceptions - Results from Interviews
Understanding the Interview Results
Park Crime - Understanding the Context of Crime

Park Profile
Neighborhood: Elmhurst
Location: Smith Street, between April Court and Sharon Street
Size: 2.93 acres
Facilities: Playground, Basketball Court, Softball Field, Waterpark

Park Context - Fargnoli Park in Elmhurst

Elmhurst is located in Providence's northwest region. It is a stable, middle-class neighborhood, with a much higher median income than any of the other case study neighborhoods ($39,609, compared to the city average of $28,342). Almost 90% of the 11,500 residents are White.

Aside from Fargnoli Park, Elmhurst has few public recreational sites, with a mere two school grounds, and the Pleasant Valley Parkway. Click here for a map of the open space in Elmhurst.

Look at the Providence Plan's Elmhurst Neighborhood Profile: http://www.provplan.org/river/index.html

Park Overview - Facts and Issues
Fargnoli Park is a heavily used multi-facility site. It has existed in the neighborhood for decades, and its features are continually evolving. There used to be a tennis court in the space that now holds the waterpark, a small building was added to hold a concession stand and provide storage for the Elmhurst Little League, and the playground was remodelled with brand new equipment. As recounted by Susan Derita, a community resident who spearheaded the playground renovation project, the old play equipment was so worn and dilapidated that it posed a danger to children. She met with the Mayor to acquire funds to buy new equipment, with the understanding that the community would put it up. Due to a collective effort on the part of the whole neighborhood, the new playground was completed in 1994.

The park has intermittent issues with graffiti and vandalism, which are attributed to the fact that teenagers sometimes hangout there at night. Although suggestions have been made to implement more lighting, most abutting residents are opposed to the idea. Susan describes the community as the primary caretakers of the park. She herself spends time removing graffiti from the play equipment, and is trying to organize more park programming. Before the dissolution of the community police force, a police officer provided a lot of supervision in the park, patrolling the playground and catching graffiti perpetrators.

Park Perceptions - Results from Interviews
Understanding the Interview Results
Park Crime - Understanding the Context of Crime