Keep Metacomet Green!

Please note that all funds raised (minus a modest administrative fee) are disbursed to KMG’s bank account on a regular basis. There is not a big pot of money being held by GoFundMe to be drawn down on an as-needed basis.

KMG began as a grassroots organization to oppose the destruction of the Metacomet golf course on the iconic Veterans Memorial Parkway and to preserve it as open space for this and future generations of “Townies”. Growing from five founders in July 2020, KMG currently has a membership of over 3000 in its social media group and hosts a petition that has garnered over 5200 signatures to date. In a city with a population of 47,500 residents, this is a clear indication of massive support for KMG’s efforts.

This 138-acre site has been an iconic piece of the East Providence community for over 100 years. Originally designed in 1902, the 18-hole course was re-designed in 1924 by the legendary and award-winning Donald Ross. The clubhouse, since destroyed, was built in 1919 by the renowned architectural firm William R. Walker and Sons. Along with serving the membership’s needs, the clubhouse had been the venue for countless private and public events over many, many years. The property is also home to a wide variety of flora and fauna, including a great number of mature trees, marshlands, coyotes, turkeys, rabbits, owls, eagles, turtles, and more.

This magnificent property was purchased by a developer in October 2020, after it spent months trying to convince the public of the economic benefit of its destruction. The golf course was shut down shortly thereafter, and the developer, for no apparent reason other than spite, tore down the clubhouse in March 2021. 

As of now, despite our efforts, the property has been rezoned by the City Council from Open Space use, to allow for 60+ acres of high-density commercial and residential development in an established neighborhood of primarily single-family homes, a city park, and an elementary school. (The remaining acres are largely unbuildable, either within federally designated wetlands or under massive transmission towers. The developer, under the guise of gifting open space to the public, has promised not to build there… on unbuildable land.)

The site is now under the authority of the appointed East Providence Waterfront Special Development District. Plans for the project are being finalized now for the 60 acres of commercial and residential development. At this point, we are concentrating our efforts on ensuring that all applicable laws, rules and regulations are being followed.

Major issues currently are the protection of the Veterans Memorial Parkway, which is eligible for nomination to the National Register of Historic Places, from drastic alterations; an archaeological survey of the site to determine the existence of burial sites of indigenous peoples; the placement of walking trails within the redesigned 9-hole golf course on the wetland area of the site; and the call for downsizing a big box style grocery store.

KMG continues to fundraise in order to finance advertising in the local media and possibly to retain experts in their fields to testify at public hearings.

As to our history… KMG first employed typical grassroots methods: pounding the streets with flyers, rallying at City Hall and at the gate to Metacomet, distributing over 800 yard signs, creating informative video interviews with local leaders and experts in their fields, petitioning the City Council, and seeking out media coverage. All these efforts were largely self-funded. From its modest beginnings, KMG has now become a 501(c)3 nonprofit corporation with three of the founders serving as directors.

Please help us with whatever amount you can give to keep Metacomet green.

No funds will be used to support or endorse any political candidate. Any monies collected but not used will be donated to the upkeep of the new Metacomet green space or to a nonprofit greenspace organization.

Please see our Facebook group at www.facebook.com/groups/keepmetacometgreen.

Thank you.