The #MiddletownRI Town Council approves plans recently to remake the playgrounds at Howland and Linden parks. The designs are intended to revitalize both locations and make them even greater hubs for the community once work is finished this spring.
UPGRADING HOWLAND & LINDEN PARKS
MIDDLETOWN, R.I. (JANUARY 15, 2025) – New playground equipment is going in at Howland and Linden parks.
The Town Council recently set aside about $240,000 in American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding to pay MRC Design of Spring Lake, New Jersey for the project, which is expected to start this spring.
Will Cronin, who oversees the Third Beach Road and West Main Road facilities as part of his work for the town, applauded the council for its decision and foresight.
He said the existing equipment at Howland and Linden parks served the community well, but was tired, worn and needed an upgrade.
“Playgrounds are more than just swings and slides, it is where our kids learn to be physical and sociable, wait in line to go down a slide, push a new friend around the merry-go-round,” Cronin said. “We are excited to get these projects started and the equipment upgraded.”
The playground gear at Linden Park just north of the International House of Pancakes restaurant is about 14 years old, with Howland Park at the intersection of Mitchell’s Lane, Third Beach Road and Wapping Road close to two decades old.
Cronin put together a group of local parents who graded the three proposals who submitted bids for the project, with MRC emerging with the best designs for each site.
The playground at Linden Park would be located in the same spot as the existing play area, next to the parking lot.
It will feature four distinct play spaces on a bed of mulch. One will feature several swings, another a merry-go-round. There will also be two separate play sets, one geared to toddlers, another for children between five- to 12-years-old.
To view the Linden Park designs from MRC, go to https://www.middletownri.gov/DocumentCenter/View/17522/Linden-Park-Renderings online. To check out a short video about the project, go to
Across town, the gear at Howland Park has a similar look and feel. Like Linden Park, the new playground at Howland Park would be positioned in the same spot as the current play set.
Plans from MRC show there would be a separate area for swings as well as two play sets, one for two- to five-year-olds, the other for five- to 12-year-olds. Climbing bars, slides and fun walkways would be featured throughout.
To check out the Howland Park designs from MRC, visit https://www.middletownri.gov/DocumentCenter/View/17521/Howland-Park-Renderings online.
Cronin said the specific timeline for installation of the equipment has not been firmed up yet, but was expected in the spring. Once work starts, he said it was expected to take about two weeks to put in each playground, with work being weather dependent.
Click The Image Below To Watch A Short Video About The Project
As a parent himself, Cronin said he knows how valuable good playgrounds are for the entire community, not just youngsters.
“Playgrounds are great for the youngest members of our community to come together and learn so many life lessons,” Cronin said. “They’re also important for us as a town because they provide important spaces for our parents to gather and get to know one another over a cup of coffee and some conversation and our grandparents to watch their grandchildren play and grow.”
In addition to the council, Cronin thanked those involved with helping choose the design that works best for Middletown.
“I want to thank the members of the community who took time helping select these playground designs,” Cronin said. “There’s no doubt in my mind we went with the best proposal and the one that works for our community and the input of our judges was an instrumental part of this process.”
Document Link: https://mdl.town/NYCU-Playground
About Middletown
The Town of Middletown is a vibrant municipality located on Aquidneck Island, known for its scenic beauty, historic landmarks, diverse economy and strong sense of community. For more information about all we have to offer, visit MiddletownRI.gov online.
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