New Playground for Rehoboth?

Selectman Michael Deignan has suggested building a new playground.

“Rehoboth doesn’t have a playground (for children),” Deignan said at the board’s September 6 meeting. “It’s a project we could submit to Bristol County to get funding.”

Bristol County is looking for people to submit project proposals which can be used with ARPA (American Rescue Plan Act) funds, Deignan noted.

The big question is the potential cost as well where to locate the playground.

Deignan said there could also be area designated for adults to congregate as well.

There is a small playground located behind the Anawan School, which has been condemned by the town’s Building Commissioner.

In June 2021, William McDonough said the property at 53 Bay State Road was “unsafe” and ordered it to be demolished within 90 days.

The Board of Selectmen listened to the pleas of members of the Historical Commission and the Community Preservation Committee, who believed the structure could be used for something worthwhile.

Voters at the May 14 town meeting approved a land swap between

the town of Rehoboth and the Housing Authority.

In exchange for giving the town a six acre parcel of land off of Anawan Street, the Housing Authority was given control over 5.41 acres of land on Bay State Road which contains the Anawan School and the adjacent site where the former Council on Aging was located.

Paul Jacques, chairman of the Housing Authority, has proposed constructing 30 units of senior housing. The group is working with the Women’s Development Corporation, the Historical Commission, and the Community Preservation Committee on the project.