Parents say they want changes at Warwick sports complex

WARWICK, R.I. (WLNE) – Parents in Warwick have had it with a once top shelf sports complex in the city.

They say the fields at the Mickey Stevens Complex are more than just an eyesore – the fields are riddled with divots and other hazards that make it difficult and dangerous to play on.

Folks in Warwick say they’ve been decaying for years.

“I played here when it was a premium field, when people wanted to play at Mickey Stevens, said parent Anthony Calise. “I’m 55.”

“Most people have concerns of just the state of the complex itself. But I had actually been out on the field and noticed different hazards to our kids,” said parent Bianca Imondi. “I don’t want to see any kids get their ankles broken, trip and fall.”

What she noticed were sprinkler heads coming out of the ground and craters in the grass.

“When these kids are tracking balls, they’re not paying attention to what’s on the ground, they’re trying to make the out,” said Imondi.

“There are some divots there, and you can catch your foot in it, you can hurt your knee or your ankle,” said player Matthew Jarmie.

Most of these spots were filled in today since ABC 6 was contacted. But parents say they’ve been issues for a long time, and that the larger problem is the complex as a whole.

Many at a game tonight said they are fed up with having port-a-potties instead of bathrooms, and not having a snack bar or scoreboard.

Parents called one field, ‘Field C,’ unplayable, and it doesn’t appear to be used at all.

“There isn’t a flat spot out there, you get sea sick if you run,” said Calise.

In addition the basketball and tennis courts have grass growing through them, and the building that used to house the snack bar and bathrooms now sits empty.

“To play over here is just terrible,” said Calise. “It’s a disgrace.”

ABC 6 did not hear back from the parks and recreation department on whether there are any plans to improve the complex in the future.

But Imondi says the department did tell her that at least better field conditions would be coming in the next few months.

“They’re not proud of where they play,” she said.