Grants protect Narrow River, preserve a landmark in Sprague Park

Four local nonprofits are among 45 organizations statewide that will share $356,000 in grants from the Rhode Island Foundation to fund community-based projects. The work will range from protecting Narrow River to preserving a landmark in Sprague Park in Narragansett.

“These awards will create places to come together, make friendships and launch new relationships that will build community connections all over our state,” said Neil D. Steinberg, president and CEO. “These are exciting concepts for inspiring community by the community in the community. Supporting work that improves shared places and quality of life, promotes collaboration and increases community engagement will benefit us all.”

The town of Narragansett will use its grant to restore the 23-foot-tall wooden sculpture of a Native American in Sprague Park. Carved from a single Douglas fir by Hungarian immigrant Peter Toth in 1982, the sculpture is named Enishkeetompauog Narragansett. Enishkeetompauog translates to “all human beings” and Narragansett means “at the small narrow point”.

“The name Enishkeetompauog itself is evidence of public art bringing communities together,” said Thomas N. Warren, who chairs the Narragansett Recreation Advisory Board. “Our town is comprised of many communities living together in the area that the Narragansett Indian Tribe once called home. Members of every community visit the Sprague Park where Enishkeetompauog is located.

“The sculpture is more than just a backdrop in busy lives; it contributes to the shared experiences and traditions that develop over time among different communities under Enishkeetompauog’s watchful eye. It serves as a common link between all the different populations in Narragansett creating a sense of community and tradition to all who live in Narragansett. Enishkeetompauog’s unique presence in Sprague Park enhances this public space, a space that all communities in Narragansett enjoy and visit regularly,” said Warren.

Craig “Little Fox” Champlain and Sonny Brown of the Narragansett tribe built the stone base on which Enishkeetompauog rests. By the time the sculpture was installed in 1982, many local communities and civic organizations had collaborated on the project.

“Tribal members represent a small percentage of today’s population in Narragansett, but their community is still a proud people willing to help. The Narragansetts are committed to doing their best in partnership with all who want to save Enishkeetompauog. The sculpture has become part of the fabric of the town and all its various communities. Losing Enishkeetompauog would be a tragic loss for Narragansett in particular, but also to all who look to him as they pass by,” said Warren.

The Narrow River Preservation Association (NRPA) in Saunderstown will use its grants to support a variety of projects designed to better serve its current stakeholders and increase its outreach to new communities. The work includes upgrading its website – narrowriver.org – in order to improve the public’s access to the organization’s digital resources.

“The website features watershed news, upcoming events, videos about animals and plants that live in the river, watercraft safety and regulations, tide charts, best lawn care practices, historical and cultural articles about the Narrow River, and invitations to volunteer with NRPA in caring for and learning about the river,” said Alison Kates, NRPA Program Coordinator.

Maps of the Narrow River and its watershed are available and each features a different aspect of the area. Walking trail maps, paddle maps, a map of public access points along the river, watershed boundaries, tributaries, and maps created using Graphic Information Systems are all free to the public.

"The next steps in implementing the improvements are to redesign the website so information is easier to find and to offer our 29 years of River Watch water quality data on an interactive map so that website visitors can look up any of our 13 sites to get specific information," said Kates.

The grant also provides funds to create marketing material such as a brochure and banners. Kates hopes the material will encourage community members to attend NRPA’s educational and recreational events.

"NRPA is committed to equity in our work. The new brochure will be shared with watershed residents, NRPA partners and contributors as well as underserved communities. NRPA collaborates with the Jonnycake Center for Hope and The Tomaquag Museum to ensure that all are able to enjoy, learn about and protect the river,” said Kates.

The HERA Gallery in Wakefield will use its grant to fund its The Green Stitch: Knitting Community Together initiative, which will offer free, craft-based activities designed to raise awareness of local environmental needs. The activities will be developed in consultation with the R.I. Natural History Survey and Save The Bay’s Narragansett Bay Riverkeeper.

“This inspires the creation of whimsical objects that remind us of the fragile nature of Rhode Island’s challenged ecosystem and encourage engagement in the larger environmental discussion,” said Uli Brahmst, executive director.

“We invite people of all ages and from all parts of our community to participate. To assure public safety and accessibility, all projects will be designed in a way that projects can be done at home or in special settings like nursing homes, schools or group homes, and later be joined for public display.”

Friends of the Hopkinton Land Trust received $2,200 to supports its 20th anniversary celebration activities, which include printing t-shirts to hand out to children and ordering professionally made banners.

"This is our way of thanking the community for supporting our mission. Together with the Hopkinton Land Trust, we are celebrating 20 years of preservation. The Friends have some other achievements to celebrate, including the fifth anniversary of our Music in the Valley Concert Series. The series was begun to bring our community together and the concerts are free and held at Depot Square Park, which is the perfect setting for these events," said Christine Anderson, president of the Friends group. “There will be lots more activity at the Depot Square site soon.”

Other area organizations that also received grants include the Boys & Girls Club of Newport County, the Conanicut Island Land Trust in Jamestown and the Ocean Community YMCA in Westerly. The maximum grant was $10,000. Since 2016, the Foundation’s Community Grant program has awarded nearly $1.9 million in grants for projects in every city and town in Rhode Island.

The Rhode Island Foundation is the largest and most comprehensive funder of nonprofit organizations in Rhode Island. Working with generous and visionary donors, the Foundation raised $47 million and awarded $56 million in grants to organizations addressing the state’s most pressing issues and needs of diverse communities in 2019. Through leadership, fundraising and grant-making activities, often in partnership with individuals and organizations, the Foundation is helping Rhode Island reach its true potential. For more information, visit rifoundation.org.