Construction Updates

Kent Street and Chianese Court Improvement Projects | July 2, 2024

Work began last week at the tennis/pickleball facility on Kent Street and the courts at Chianese Field off Centennial Avenue. The projects will require the closure of the courts at both locations until around mid-August.

The contractor, Hinding Tennis of West Haven, CT, will be working at both locations concurrently. This week, Hinding will remove the fence at Kent Street. Next week, Hinding will begin milling, grading, removing posts, etc., followed by resurfacing. Once the initial phase is complete, which will take around 12 to 15 days, the new surfaces will need about 21 days to cure. The final step will be coating and striping the new court surfaces and installation of the posts, which will take about a week to complete. The basketball court at Chianese will also have a new surface and new hoop systems.

Kent Street Courts: The Town has contracted with Hinding to complete the full renovation of the tennis courts, including a new playing surface, striping (for tennis and pickleball), a new 10-foot-tall black vinyl chain-link fence with additional access gates, concrete pads for benches inside the fence, and repaving of the parking area on Kent Street with striping.
Chianese Courts: The court improvement project at Chianese includes a renovated tennis court, basketball court, and the creation of four dedicated pickleball courts – the first permanent pickleball courts in Barrington. Associated with these renovations are installation of new chain-link fencing sections and concrete flat work for the installation of benches.

Lincoln Avenue and Maple Avenue Improvements | June 17, 2024

The Town received funding from the Municipal Road and Bridges Grant Program to complete improvements for the sidewalk and drainage pipe replacement on Maple Avenue from Walter Street to Prince’s Hill Avenue, and sidewalk replacement on Lincoln Avenue from Washington Road to Peck Avenue. The Town is currently bidding out the project through July 16, 2024. Construction is anticipated for 2025.

South Lake Drive | June 17, 2024

The Town's engineering consultant, PARE Corp, is preparing permitting materials for Coastal Resources Management Council (CRMC) and Army Corp of Engineers, expected to be submitted by the end of the month. Construction is anticipated for spring 2025.

See South Lake Drive Concept Plans, September 2022 (PDF).

Barrington Center Signage | August 24, 2023

The Town’s wayfinding signs have been installed. To ensure that the signs work as intended, Public Works will be assessing the sightlines so that tree branches and other signs are not blocking their view from the road and sidewalks.

Barrington Center Signage

Signage is being installed in Barrington Town Center. The signage will be installed on County Road, Maple Avenue, and West Street. The intent of the project is to install signs that serve as branding for Barrington that is both functional and assists people in finding areas of interest in town, and is a complement to the Town's Complete Streets policy. The signage and location plans are linked below.

Walker Farm Construction Update | November 17, 2022

Walker Farm is closed to the public through Wednesday, November 23, 2022, including access to the boat ramp, to allow the construction team to complete work on the southern road surface.
The Boat Ramp will be opened for use after November 23^rd (in time for the Thanksgiving weekend), but the Dock next to the Boat Ramp will continue to be closed through the end of 2023.
Please use the Town’s new dock at the Police Cove Park boat ramp if possible!
The Town’s Leaf Site at Walker Farm will be closed both Thursday and Friday for the Thanksgiving holiday.

Walker Farm Construction Update | October 31, 2022

Walker Farm Construction is progressing and on schedule. Here's the latest:

Construction of the "Viewing Platform" is almost complete - this new platform at the existing floating dock will offer more space for waterfront activities and will include informational/interpretive signage about Walker Farm history, wildlife, and coastal systems.
A new roadway with parking, a walkway to a future low-profile paddlecraft dock (to be installed Spring 2023), and a parking lot at the north end of the site have been excavated and graded.
Trees have been cleared, old concrete blocks and other debris have been removed from the shoreline, and the shoreline has been smoothed out to prepare for plantings. Save the Bay has conducted several site inspections/site visits to ensure the shoreline work is in line with the coastal adaptation/erosion goals set in the project.
Plantings will be managed by Save the Bay in the Spring of 2023. Interested in volunteering to help with planting? Contact Save the Bay for volunteer opportunities!
The Community Gardens, kayak sticker program, and East Bay Rowing Club access has ended for 2022. We look forward to a new and improved park for 2023 gardening, paddling, & rowing season!

Upcoming Notices

Most of the site remains closed to the public, and the construction work on the “circle” roadway at the south end of the site will take place from November 14-23, 2022. We hope to provide access to the boat ramp for Thanksgiving weekend.
The existing FLOATING DOCK NEXT TO THE BOAT RAMP IS CLOSED FOR THE YEAR. It will re-open in early 2023. Please do not attempt to use this dock or climb on the construction fence.
The boat ramp is OPEN for motorized craft launch and haul-out through November 14th, but PLEASE NOTE, two people will be required to on-load and off-load boats at the Walker Farm boat ramp because the floating dock is closed for the year.
Please use the boat ramp at Police Cove Park for launch and haul-out of motorized boats. We just installed a really nice new dock at Police Cove Park – check it out!

The Town of Barrington extends thanks to all Walker Farm users for their cooperation and understanding as construction at the site progresses!

Walker Farm Construction Update | August 17, 2022

The town of Barrington extends thanks to all Walker Farm users for their cooperation and understanding as construction at the site progresses! Here's the latest:

NOTICE: Users are prohibited from crossing the construction fence at Walker Farm. This includes access to the existing floating dock and gangway for this first phase of the project. This restriction is temporary and we will inform the public here of expected re-opening schedule. In the meantime, we respectfully as that users DO NOT CROSS the construction fence.
Construction on the "Viewing Platform" will begin mid-August - this new platform at the existing floating dock will offer more space for waterfront activities and will include informational/interpretive signage about Walker Farm history, wildlife, and coastal systems.
A 4-foot walking path was established to offer safe and uninterrupted access to the existing garden plots adjacent to the compost facility.
Shoreline cleanup and earthwork has begun, which includes tree removal and removal of large pieces of concrete and metal debris from the water's edge. Save the Bay is partnering with the Town and contractor to oversee the shoreline re-grading and planting plans for the project, and Save the Bay staff have visited the site several times since construction began.

Questions? Please contact Town Planner Teresa Crean either by email or call.

Walker Farm Construction Update | August 4, 2022

Construction on the Walker Farm Recreation & Resilience Improvements project is now underway! The contractor team will work with the Town to provide limited public access during construction, scheduled for completion at the end of November 2022. While construction will require users to make adjustments during the remaining months of 2022, this project will result in a new and improved waterfront park facility for the 2023 rowing and boating season!

Here’s what you need to know about the 2022 construction process and visiting Walker Farm:

PARKING will be very limited on site during construction. All users are encouraged to carpool from the RIDOT Park & Ride lot at the White Church.
TRAILERS - Boat ramp access will remain open, but motorized boats coming in on trailers are encouraged to use the boat ramp at Police Cove Park during construction.
BOAT STORAGE - The driveway “loop” will serve as boat storage for Town-issued kayak sticker holders and the East Bay Rowing Club. This area cannot accommodate any parking or additional vehicles during construction.
EXISTING DOCK & GANGWAY - The entrance to the existing dock structure will have concrete work completed during the first month, so this dock will not be accessible during early phases of the project. The Town asks that park visitors not cross the construction fencing to access the existing dock.
GARDEN PLOTS – Lease-holders for the garden plots adjacent to the Town’s compost facility will be provided a 4-foot walking path along the west edge of the gravel roadway. Unfortunately, vehicle access to the edge of the garden plots will be prohibited during construction.

The Town will provide updates on the status of construction status on this webpage.

Questions?

Please contact Town Planner Teresa Crean either by email or call.