Pierce Memorial Stadium - Bathrooms Again?

Since Pierce Memorial Stadium was left in a will to the people of East Providence for open space and recreation, by the Pierce Family Trust in the 1930's, the stadium complex has been called a "recreational jewel of New England". The complex has always had a level of staff to maintain the grounds and fields.

However, since East Providence has tetered on the brink of bankruptcy, the budget commission has not approved the temporary security which has been watching over the sdadium after hours for many years. After the regular Pierce Field staff leaves for the day, one security supervisor comes on board and supervises the entire 20 acre or so complex. On a given night there can be several athletic contests at once including baseball, softball, soccer, little league, high school, pop warner, basketball, tennis, etc.

At a recent high school baseball game between EPHS and Warwick High, there were many dismayed fans who found the stadium bathrooms closed. Parents and small children had to leave the game early because of the lack of facilities. Others complained that with the stadium left unsupervised all evening, vandals could destroy the fields as recently happenned in Johnston when a youth on an ATV drove around and caused $20,000 damage. Others complained that eliminating low paid field workers would not help the city budget much and may cost it more in the long run.

The Reporter asked Mayor Bruce Rogers about this at the Easter Egg Hunt recently held at Crescent Park. "I will try everything possible to get that security person back. I have received many many complaints about the situation at Pierce," said Rogers. As of today, the position is back for now and patrons can once again make use of the bathrooms and all facilities.

The famous football stadium was built by the Works Progress Administration (WPA), a New Deal agency of the Federal Government in November, 1939, just in time for the famous East Providence-LaSalle Thanksgiving Day football game. And according to the city of East Providence web site, In 1941 Pierce Stadium was the site of two baseball hitting demonstrations; one by Babe Ruth on September 2nd and the other by Ted Williams the following day. A plaque commemorating the event is located just inside the memorial gate which is flanked by two bronze tablets at the entrance to the stadium. Erected with contributions obtained from alumni, faculty, students and supportive individuals, it honors the 2125 students and alumni of East Providence High School who served in World War II and the 76 war dead. Dedication of the gates took place on June 6, 1948 in a small ceremony conducted by James E. Bates, principal and Louis Faber, football coach. Mr. Farber noted that East Providence was the "first community in the state to have within its borders a living war memorial."