National Park Service to take over Morley Field’s future in Pawtucket

PAWTUCKET, R.I. (WLNE) — The future of Morley Park in Pawtucket will now be in the hands of the National Park Service,

Morley Field is one of three recreational properties that the city is looking to convert from recreational areas into parking lots.

The city of Pawtucket submitted an application to the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management to approve the conversion of Morley Field, McCoy Stadium, and Dunnell Park.

The conversion of these recreational areas into parking lots have stirred controversy amongst residents who have issued concerns on the environmental impacts.

While DEM approved the conversion of the Stadium and the park, they recommended the the National Park Services to take on Morley Field due to the fact that the land was originally purchase with grant money from the NPS.

If approved, Morley Field would be partially turned into a parking lot for a ten-acre warehouse complex.