R.I. Infrastructure Bank Awards $1 Million In Grants For Stormwater Planning Projects In 10 Communities

PRESS RELEASE
For Immediate Release: June 8, 2026

PROVIDENCE, R.I. – Rhode Island Infrastructure Bank, the state’s central hub for financing infrastructure improvements for municipalities, businesses, and homeowners, has awarded a total of $1,095,800 in grants to the communities of Bristol, Coventry, East Greenwich, Hopkinton, Jamestown, Middletown, New Shoreham, Pawtucket, Providence, and West Warwick for the design and engineering of systems to mitigate stormwater issues caused by increase flooding events. The grant funding comes from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Overflow Sewer Grant (OSG) program.

“Cities and towns across Rhode Island are experiencing more frequent and intense flooding events that are impacting roads, homes, businesses, and municipal operations,” said William Fazioli, Executive Director of the Rhode Island Infrastructure Bank. “Rhode Island’s aging stormwater infrastructure wasn’t built for today’s rainfall patterns, and municipalities often lack the upfront money for engineering work. These Overflow Sewer Grants fill that gap so communities can move from ‘we have a flooding problem’ to ‘we have a shovel‑ready solution.’ We’re pleased to assist our city and town partners with this grant funding to help build more resilient communities.”

Please see a summary of grant awards by community below:

Bristol – Former Reynolds School Stormwater Runoff – $70,000
The former Reynolds School is primarily surrounded by impervious surfaces and lacks stormwater best management practices. It experiences basement flooding following rain events potentially due to proximity of the downspout outlets to the building. Runoff might infiltrate in the grass areas adjacent to the building contributing to basement flooding. Reducing impervious areas will reduce total runoff coming from the site. New trench drains to convey roof leaders off site will help mitigate basement flooding. Besides improving stormwater management practices on site, these changes will make the site more aesthetically pleasing.

Coventry – Municipal Stormwater Infrastructure – $120,000
The property contains a large building that serves as Town Offices, community center, and the home for Coventry Public Schools. The northern portion of the site is undergoing construction; a new parking lot and stormwater drainage system are being installed. The Southern and Western sides of the site are serviced by a stormwater drainage system made up of primarily catch basins and pipes. Re-piping the existing roof leaders to bioretention basins will increase stormwater treatment, infiltration, and peak runoff attenuation. It will also reduce erosion to the woods. Planting trees and installing tree filters will reduce runoff, increase infiltration and shade, and enhance the aesthetics of the site overall.

East Greenwich – Downtown Parking Lot Improvements – $115,000
The East Greenwich DPW Parking Lot is a regularly used parking lot shared by the DPW, Senior Center, and Academy Field/tennis courts. It is majority hardscape and lacks stormwater management practices. Roof leaders discharge directly to grass and paved areas. Two catch basins within the westernmost entrance drive direct flows to a pipe network on Spring Street. The site experiences ponding in some areas and stormwater sheet flows downward to their Main Street. The proposed retrofit is intended to reduce impervious surfaces, reduce runoff, increase infiltration, and increase stormwater treatment on site. The addition of bioretention basins will increase infiltration and stormwater treatment on site.

Hopkinton – Crandall Field Park Flood Abatement – $100,000
Crandall Field Park is a large park with basketball and tennis courts, a new playground, and is home to the Crandall House Senior Center. Adjacent to the Crandall House Senior Center is a large gravel parking area that is going to be paved in the near future. Stormwater from Main Street flows onto Crandall Field and ponds causing erosion and preventing the town from conducting maintenance work. The proposed retrofit is intended to help mitigate flooding issues on the site. Proposed water quality swales with check dams and level spreaders will help convey and treat stormwater as well as prevent erosion. A new bioretention basin will help treat and infiltrate stormwater from the parking lot adjacent to the Senior Center and is essential due to the lot being paved in the near future.

Jamestown – Potter’s Cove Runoff Mitigation – $115,000
The parking area on Freebody Drive is a regularly used parking area downgradient of a steep hill and overlooking Potters Cove. The parking area is comprised of a paved drive aisle/roadway and gravel parking spaces. A large culvert at the base of the hill conveys water from a channel south of the roadway to a flat area adjacent to the beach north of the roadway. A severely eroded rip-rap revetment separates the parking lot from the beach which is accessible via a stairway on the west side of the parking area. The parking lot currently experiences erosion both from stormwater and from human activity. A new timber guardrail between the gravel parking area and eroded slope will act as fall protection. A new grass channel and energy dissipator will help prevent erosion due to stormwater. A restored rip-rap revetment will provide structural support and erosion protection for the parking lot.

Middletown – Johnny Cake Hill Road/John Clarke Road Stormwater Improvements – $135,000
Johnny Cake Hill Road and John Clarke Road are intersecting roads upgradient of Green End Pond. The site is currently serviced by an existing drainage system made up of French drains with check dams, catch basins, manholes, and culverts. Johnny Cake Hill Road currently experiences an excess of stormwater runoff due to a large drainage area with a high percentage of impervious cover. Proposing water quality swales with check dams and flush curbs will allow for stormwater treatment and infiltration while reducing peak runoff rates. Replacing catch basin grates with solid covers will allow for maximal stormwater treatment within the proposed systems. John Clarke Road currently has stormwater BMP’s installed on the east side of the road but is lacking any on the west side. Proposed bioretention basins on the west side of the road with sediment forebays and outlet control structures will greatly increase stormwater treatment and infiltration prior to stormwater leaving the system via an existing culvert.

New Shoreham – West Beach Road Design – $115,000
West Beach Road experiences flooding and ponding due to runoff from the Town Transfer Station and the up-gradient portion of the road. Flooding blocks beach access and eventually overtops causing erosion along the beach. Proposing a grass channel and bioretention basin will help prevent runoff from the transfer station and roadway from traveling down the road and causing erosion. Installation of a reinforced gravel surface will make the existing roadway more resilient to ponding, erosion, and flooding. The addition of a water bar combined with a level spreader will prevent road runoff from causing erosion of the sand at the end of the roadway.

Pawtucket – New City Hall Parking Lot Stormwater Design – $115,000
The future site of Pawtucket City Hall has a large 200,000+ sq. ft. parking lot. The parking lot has stormwater drainage issues on the southeast corner due to the abutting property’s roof leaders discharging on the lot. The parking lot has an existing stormwater drainage system made up of catch basins and an underground storage tank; ultimately draining out to Freight Street. The proposed project would improve runoff conditions by removing impervious pavement, installing bioretention basins, sediment forebays, and trees; and reconfiguring grey stormwater infrastructure to divert stormwater to the new bioretention basins.

Providence – Washington Park Neighborhood Stormwater Improvements – $112,800
The Washington Park neighborhood in Providence has stormwater related flooding concerns and is a part of the City’s Street Tree Program. The neighborhood has an existing drainage system which discharges to Roger Williams Park which has a bacteria TMDL. Multiple streets within the Washington Park Neighborhood were evaluated and Homer Street and Payton Street were chosen to receive stormwater improvements due to large amounts of impervious and sidewalks wide enough to accommodate tree filters. The proposed project includes replacing concrete sidewalks with grass landscapes and tree filter installations to increase stormwater infiltration and reduce runoff.

West Warwick – Riverpoint Park Improvements – $98,000
Industrial Lane near Riverpoint Park in West Warwick is adjacent to the Pawtuxet River is the low point for the surrounding industrial park. During large storm events, a culvert at the intersection of Main Street and Ventura Street overtops and floods to Industrial Lane. When large storm events occur, the poor condition catch basins closest to the low point overtop and flow through a wooded drainage easement which over time has eroded a natural channel. The proposed project includes the installation of bioretention basin and sediment forebay as well as the installation of a bituminous berm to receive and treat stormwater runoff which would otherwise flow, untreated, into the Pawtuxet River.

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About the Rhode Island Infrastructure Bank
Rhode Island Infrastructure Bank is Rhode Island’s central hub for financing infrastructure improvements for municipalities, businesses, and homeowners. We leverage capital in a revolving fund to offer innovative financing for an array of infrastructure-based projects including water and wastewater, road and bridge, energy efficiency and renewable energy, and brownfield remediation. These quality-of-life projects improve the State’s infrastructure, create jobs, promote economic development, and enhance the environment. www.riib.org – Facebook: @RIinfrastructure – Twitter: @RI_InfraBank