Editorial

RI Environmental Education Association statement on Morley Field Decision

“Woodlawn is currently at risk of exacerbating environmental injustice with the sale and conversion of the neighborhood’s only large green space, Morley Field on Moshasshuck Street. Pawtucket City Council voted in favor of selling half of Morley Field (Lot 309) on Wednesday, October 19, literally moving towards paving this local paradise to put up a parking lot.”

Rhode Island News: RI Environmental Education Association statement on Morley Field Decision

Environmental justice is a commitment to ensuring all people have equitable access to environmental benefits to live, work, learn, and play, and are not overburdened with exposure to environmental bads like pollution. It is well established that environmental injustice burdens communities that are predominantly people of color, and those that have a large population living below the poverty line. The Woodlawn neighborhood in Pawtucket fits both of these criteria and the residents in District 5 deserve access to high quality green space.

Woodlawn is currently at risk of exacerbating environmental injustice with the sale and conversion of the neighborhood’s only large green space, Morley Field on Moshasshuck Street. Pawtucket City Council voted in favor of selling half of Morley Field (Lot 309) on Wednesday, October 19, literally moving towards paving this local paradise to put up a parking lot. 

Morley Field has been a valued space for sports events and community gathering since the 1970s, and serves as the only public access point to the Moshasshuck River across the City of Pawtucket. It is such an essential meeting place for Woodlawn residents that even while the green space is closed, residents have continued to make use of the field’s parking lot as a group exercise location. 

Woodlawn is a working class community that is majority people of color, and it is an environmental injustice to reduce local access to the environmental good of green space. Further, the proposed replacement green space is beyond reasonable walking distance for residents in District 5, and in the wealthier and whiter District 6. This means the alternative site is increasing inequitable access to green space in Pawtucket and is an example of environmental racism. Ensuring equitable access to outdoor spaces for these residents needs to be a city priority. 

A key environmental good all communities deserve is access to green space. Time outside provides opportunity for physical activity, critical and creative thinking, interaction with community members, and so much more. A robust and growing body of research shows that interaction with the natural world is important for healthy development in children as well as the physical, mental, and emotional health of both children and adults. Furthermore, studies show that well maintained green spaces such as city parks, have been correlated to a reduction in violent crime and gun violence whereas green spaces that are not adequately maintained can actually lead to an increase in crime. 

Continued community activism at city meetings makes clear paving this local paradise to put in a parking lot is not in the best interest of Pawtucket residents. Keeping a large green space in Woodlawn has great potential benefits to Pawtucket’s health and safety. As the Rhode Island Environmental Education Association (RIEEA), we stand in strong support of environmental justice across our state, ensuring that every Rhode Islander enjoys access to safe, clean outdoor places to play, work, and learn. We have seen similar efforts successfully become a centerpiece of Providence planning decisions, and urge Pawtucket to follow suit. We urge Rhode Islanders concerned about protecting our neighbors and children’s ability to learn and play in the outdoors to consider how the permanent transition of this community gathering space hurts our efforts towards equity. If you are interested in voicing your dissent to this environmental injustice, please attend the community rally to Defend Morley Field from 4 to 6 pm on 11/03, Pawtucket City Hall.

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