Charlestown, RI – U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse and former U.S. Representative Jim Langevin joined Charlestown Town Council President Deb Carney and Charlestown Fire District officials this afternoon to celebrate $610,000 in federal funding to support the development of the Cross Mills Volunteer Firefighters Memorial Park.
“On one of the last days of his historic tenure, Congressman Langevin and I teamed up to secure this federal funding to support the creation of Charlestown’s new Cross Mills Volunteer Firefighters Memorial Park,” said Whitehouse. “Transforming the abandoned fire station into a new green space for residents and visitors to enjoy is a boon to small businesses in Charlestown and a win for the local environment.”
“I’m so proud to have delivered this federal funding to rehabilitate the old Cross Mills fire station into a new town park. It will be the perfect addition to beautiful Charlestown where families and tourists alike can gather to explore nature while honoring the dedicated service of generations of Cross Mills volunteer firefighters,” said Langevin. “I’d like to thank the town of Charlestown and Charlestown Fire for their vision on this project, and my friend and colleague Senator Whitehouse for his longtime partnership in bringing federal funds back to the Ocean State.”
Senator Whitehouse and then-Representative Langevin secured a Congressionally Directed Spending award in the fiscal year 2023 government funding measure to turn the abandoned Cross Mills Volunteer fire station into a public park. The funding is administered through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.
The old Cross Mills Volunteer fire station will be torn down to create the new public park adjacent to Perry Pond. The federal funding is earmarked for site permitting, asbestos assessment and remediation, building demolition, and construction of the new park’s design. The asphalt on the site will also be removed to improve the flow of storm water runoff around the pond. The project is projected to boost economic development in Charlestown and increase public access to outdoor spaces.
“On behalf of the Charlestown Fire District, I’d like to thank Senator Whitehouse and Congressman Langevin for helping win this federal funding to bring the new Cross Mills park plan into reality,” said Joe Weeden, Chair of Board of Engineers, Charlestown Fire District. “It’s our hope that the Cross Mills Volunteer Firefighters Memorial Park will bring joy to the people of Charlestown and spur economic development in the town for generations to come.”
The Cross Mills Volunteer Fire Department protects the homes and businesses in the Cross Mills area of Charlestown. The fire station on Matunuck School House Road was erected in 1939. The old station remained the Department’s home until 2012, when the department moved to its new state-of-the-art station on Old Post Road.
Meaghan McCabe, (202) 224-2921
