The Pawtucket Foundation’s statement on “Ballpark at Slater Mill”
Why keep the PawSox here and why our downtown is so important…
As part of the 20/20 vision, we are working on answering a singular question — why chose Pawtucket? Where are the events, the restaurants, the unique attractions, the nightlife, and the downtown parks for office lunch picnics? Where are the shops for everyday needs, the services, an ice cream cone, and simply things to do?
An absolutely critical factor needed, before business ventures will line Pawtucket’s streets, is a need to grow the population.
The new sports stadium being contemplated will help to achieve this. “Positioning the PawSox in the downtown would be a home run for the city and the state” says Dan Sullivan, co-chair of the Pawtucket Foundation.
Additionally, the stadium will not cause any increase in state or city property taxes, it will bring tens of thousands for PawSox games, and for the other 200 days or nights, it will host events that will bring many thousands more to our City. “The PawSox will commit $45 million towards the Ballpark at Slater Mill” states Larry Lucchino, Pawtucket Red Sox. This is the largest single private investment the city has seen.
The new commuter rail stop is counting on the transit-oriented development growth around it. “That area becomes so much more attractive with a state of the art recreational facility just up the street. The train station will bring in new residents and hopefully advanced manufacturing jobs to the vacant mills and open space that surrounds it” states Pawtucket Foundation’s executive director, Jan Brodie.
New ventures like Isle Brewers Guild and the new downtown stadium will bring tourists and vitality. Infilling the streets of downtown with the businesses that will draw people to Pawtucket and to stay, will follow.