Carnevale continues efforts to reinvigorate East Providence’s athletic facilities

EAST PROVIDENCE — In his seemingly endless quest to revitalize the city’s aging and decrepit athletic facilities while raising the spirit of cooperation within the community at the same time, John Carnevale’s latest endeavor tackles the refurbishing of the basketball and tennis courts at Pierce Field.

Mr. Carnevale, the former East Providence High School football standout turned philanthropist, engaged the City Council recently with the proposal, a 50-50 split, to spend some $30,000 on the project.

Once he got the administrators, specifically Acting City Manager Paul Lemont, and pols on board, Mr. Carnevale called his trusted cadre of compatriots to action. Together, they’ve worked feverishly over the last few weeks on the details of project: resurfacing the four courts, putting new hoops and backboards on the basketball stanchions and preparing as of the weekend to paint the playing lines and logos on each.

The rush to finish in roughly 21 days time was so Mr. Carnevale, under the auspices of his non-profit organization “D’amours Step,” could host a rousing grand reopening of the area on Sunday, May 31, “Rock the Park.”

Mr. Carnevale is terming the event a “fitness fest.” Among the activities scheduled are a “monster” basketball tournament and a 5k road race to benefit the East Providence Mohawks youth sports organization. Basketball also includes a “shot of the day” competition, the winner receiving $500 worth of Jordan Brand athletic attire. Local BMX riding legend Kevin “K-Rob” Robinson will perform a demonstration of his acrobatic skills. A half dozen or so volleyball nets will be hung for casual play. Yoga sessions will be held. A “gourmet” cookout with food donated by Stop & Shop is planned as are prize raffles. And “the most rocking DJs in Rhode Island” will be “pumping the best peace, love and fitness” music around.

“It’s a very aggressive schedule to get this project done in just about three weeks, but that’s the only day Kevin was available and we wanted to get this place ready and available to the kids as soon as possible,” Mr. Carnevale said late last week as he helped a crew from the New Bedford-based TrueBounce company install the new basketball backboards and break-away rims.

“We want this project to empower the people to do similar things around the city,” he continued. “And we want the community to come together to celebrate as one unit.”

Through shear will and determination, Mr. Carnevale, an engineer by trade, has helped re-energize a once moribund segment of the community.

He first spurred the renovation of the high school gymnasium then did the same at both of the city’s middle schools. Besides Pierce, he’s involved in planned renovations at the Central Avenue and Hull Street playgrounds as well. In addition, he’s also focused on helping the school department improve its technological capabilities.

It’s a serious commitment to East Providence, but one he has undertaken knowing several “Townies” share his passion and desire to succeed.

“You have a great family, great friends, you get the right people on board and have the support of the community and there’s nothing you can’t accomplish as long as you have the (guts) to try,” Mr. Carnevale said.

“Rock the Park” is his latest attempt to fan the flames of revitalization and reinvigoration.

“A lot of the focus of this is on fitness,” Mr. Carnevale said. “Everything we’re going to have here is about being active. We’re definitely expecting around 1,000 people, a huge crowd. It’s going to be a huge, huge day.”

The event, which is scheduled to run from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., is free and open to the public. Donations in any denomination to the ongoing playground renovations and to D’Amours Step will be accepted.

— Photos by East Providence Post and eastbayri.com staff photographer Richard W. Dionne Jr.