The Camp Cronin experience – now’s the moment for Divine Providence – Vincent Marzullo

by Vincent Marzullo, special to RINewsToday

For close to 10 years now a recreational property in Pt. Judith that is owned by the City of Providence has been neglected due to the lack of consensus, coordination, and commitment between both the Providence City Council and the past and current Mayors of Providence.

Providence acquired the original twenty-eight acres from the federal government after World War II.  In 1985 the city sold twenty-six acres to RI DEM for $775,000 and kept the remaining two acres with two assembly hall buildings – to host day trips for inner city kids (2 days a week) and elderly residents of Providence (3 days a week), including some nursing home residents.

Over the years, Providence would routinely bus city youth and older adults down to Camp Cronin so that they could take in the fresh air, enjoy a cookout, and play bingo or basketball. There were bocce and horseshoe games, crafts, dancing, and wonderful memories for all who attended. But not now.

Despite the adverse pandemic impact on both kids and the elderly, there has been little advocacy and action to use this facility to aid the healing and break the isolation that has been experienced by so many in our urban center. For almost a decade, public officials have denied a summer recreational opportunity for Providence’s young and old.

However, with recent inquiries and social media postings we are seeing some action – the two assembly hall roofs have been replaced and the grounds have started to be cleared and groomed. We understand that a $400,000 work order has been approved for initial improvements at Camp Cronin. Just a few months ago, the city spokesperson & Councilman Michael Correia said no ARPA funds were being set aside for the Camp and there was no Capital Improvement Plan recommendation either.

It is interesting to see the influence and reaction of public officials when you shine light on a matter of public interest. Contractors and city staff met on-site last Friday after a media report and social media postings. We will assume that some sort of plan is now in play for the betterment of Camp Cronin – either as a valued and maintained asset of the city or to be sold to RI DEM. Obviously, we are curious whether a building permit has been issued by the Town of Narragansett to Providence, and have the buildings been inspected for mold since the roofs leaked for years?

Either way, where is the collaboration in the design for the rebirthing of Camp Cronin? Has a conversation been started with the community centers, aging groups, youth organizations, and others for an operational plan? This is an opportunity for community building, safer neighborhoods, new friendships, intergenerational activities, and life defining experiences. Let us encourage our Mayoral candidates to get an early start on building neighborhood bridges and demonstrate what “Divine Providence” is really about.

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Attached is a letter transmitted today to Mayor Elorza shortly after Rep. Anastasia Williams (a former VISTA volunteer 1990) visited Camp Cronin this week and inspected the Providence owned recreational facility.  

I have advocated each summer since 2019 for the improvement and reopening of this Providence owned facility.  Rep. Williams is the only public official to follow-up and advocate for the inner-city youth and elderly for summer day trips. 

Rep. Williams can be contacted at 401-486-1431.

Photos by: Reese Wilmouth

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By Vincent Marzullo – [email protected] – for 31 years Vin has served as a federal civil rights and social justice Director in RI for the Corporation for National & Community Service. He is a previous Chair of the RI Federal Executive Council and a President Emeritus of AARP RI. For the past 5 years, Vin has been volunteering weekly at Hasbro Children’s Hospital and serves on the Boards of NAACP Providence Branch and the Senior Agenda Coalition of RI. He has served three Rhode Island Governors and is the Founder of USA Compassion Corps.

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