10.7.2026 Park Board

The Fall River Park Board met on October 7 to address park use permits, cemetery operations, and tree removal requests. The board began by approving the September meeting minutes and granting a request for a pickleball tournament at Father Travassos/Kennedy Park. Chris Martin from the Cemetery and Tree Department and Darren Medeiros discussed ongoing maintenance and security issues at Oak Grove Cemetery, prompting the board to approve defined operating hours of 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM in the summer and 7:00 AM to 4:00 PM in the winter (effective November 1), while re-enforcing existing rules limiting plot decorations after 90 days.

The board reviewed multiple public use requests, approving metal detecting across four city parks for Joshua Demers, the annual Veterans Day parade at Kennedy Park on November 11 presented by Director of Veterans' Services Talos Farris, a soccer permit at Britland Park for Edmilson Miranda and Café de Fogo, and an October 10 car show along Park Drive at Kennedy Park for Alex Pierce Mercier. Additionally, the board voted to provide a letter of support to the Community Preservation Committee for Chris Dufresne's proposal to construct an all-wheel BMX pump track at Britland Park.

Two tree removal requests were addressed during the meeting. Representatives from Odin EPC and Liberty Utilities requested the removal of a mature tree at 229 Langley Street to install an emergency gas shutoff vault; after an initial motion requiring 20 replacement trees failed, the board approved the removal with a stipulation that the utility plant two replacement trees in the city. The board also approved a request by resident Apollo Amaral to remove an overgrown honey locust tree at Andrews Street and Mount Hope Avenue due to safety hazards involving overhead utility wires and sidewalk obstruction.

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