Former Woonsocket restaurant to be demolished for Cass Park on Monday

WOONSOCKET, R.I. (WLNE) — Mayor Lisa Baldelli-Hunt said that the former Ho Kong Restaurant will begin demolition to provide Cass Park with a new entrance and expanded parking.

The mayor said that the demolition will begin on Monday and should be completed by the end of the week.

The new entrance will be located on Cumberland Hill Road and the expanded parking will be used for the anticipated demand the park expansion project may bring.

Baldelli-Hunt said the city purchased the restaurant in 2022 using a grant from the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management and American Rescue Plan funds.

“Removing the property’s impervious asphalt and planting native vegetation and trees will beautify the area and reduce the amount of stormwater runoff into Sylvestre Pond,” she added.

The Cass Park expansion initiative includes a new football field, track, and multipurpose recreation/community center as well as multiple improvements along Cass Pond.