NEWPORT PARKS IN MOTION
One of the most powerful things we can do to enhance the effectiveness of our parks and open space system is to activate it with dynamic programming. Miantonomi in Motion will throw open the doors to one of the most underutilized parks during the summer months when the parks should be most active. Last year, Miantonomi in Motion leveraged the partnership with the City of Newport to borrow a large container to use as the play hut. This summer, NOSP will again work with the City to use a container that can be dedicated to the Play Hut in Miantonomi Park. The arrangement will allow the kids participating in the program to help decorate the “hut” and feel even more connected to the project. This Hut will be filled with recreation equipment and utilize Park Activators to draw the community into Miantonomi Park all summer long.
Activating Miantonomi Park is a key step in addressing current inequities in our parks and open space system that leave Newport’s north side community with fewer options for recreation, play, and cultural outlets. Building off of 2017’s successful park programming, NOSP is focused 2018 park programming efforts in Miantonomi Park. More than 44% of Newport’s population and 53% of Newport’s youth and children under 14 live on the North Side of Newport. While there are many successful camps and summer activities, Miantonomi Park remains underutilized and not all children participate in these programs. The summer lunch program in Miantonomi Park is the most heavily utilized lunch program in the City of Newport. Coordinating the timing of Play Hut operations with the lunch program has allowed NOSP to serve more kids.