Pawtucket Moves to Pave Over Only Green Space in Environmental Justice Neighborhood

City plans to convert Morley Field into a parking lot for a distribution center, despite community opposition.

Published on Feb. 25, 2026

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The city of Pawtucket, Rhode Island is moving forward with plans to convert Morley Field, the only green space in the low-income, majority-minority Woodlawn neighborhood, into a parking lot for a nearby distribution center development. Local residents, city council members, and environmental advocates have been fighting the proposal for years, arguing it amounts to environmental racism and a loss of critical community green space. However, the state's Department of Environmental Management has indicated it will approve the conversion, as the city has met federal requirements for replacing the park land.

Why it matters

The Woodlawn neighborhood, which is 74% people of color and 59% low-income, already suffers from a lack of green space and tree cover compared to other parts of Pawtucket. The loss of Morley Field would deprive this environmental justice community of its only local park, further exacerbating inequities in access to recreation and nature. The case highlights how low-income and minority neighborhoods are often targeted for development that prioritizes commercial interests over community needs.

The details

Morley Field, a 5-acre public park in Pawtucket's Woodlawn neighborhood, has been targeted by the city for conversion into a parking lot for a nearby distribution center development. The city claims the park has seen declining use in recent years, but opponents argue this is due to the city's own intentional neglect of the space. Despite community opposition, the city has moved forward with the plan, meeting federal requirements to replace the park land, though the replacement property is located in a more affluent, whiter area of the city.

  • In spring 2022, Morley Field was closed and fenced off, preventing public access.
  • In September 2022, the Pawtucket Planning Commission voted to table a request from the developer to extend project approval, but declined to take public comment on the agenda item.

The players

Clovis Gregor

A Pawtucket City Council member who has been fighting the proposal to convert Morley Field into a parking lot.

Richard Stang

A senior attorney at the Conservation Law Foundation who has written letters to the National Park Service opposing the conversion of Morley Field.

Donald Grebien

The mayor of Pawtucket who has defended the city's plan to convert Morley Field, despite living in a neighborhood with ample green space.

Greg Gerritt

The founder of Friends of the Moshassuck, a social justice advocate who has criticized the Department of Environmental Management's response to the Morley Field issue.

Terry Gray

The director of the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management, who has stated the agency will approve the city's conversion of Morley Field as it has met federal requirements.

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What they’re saying

“Unfortunately, a small group of politically motivated residents and non-residents has chosen Morley Field to express their opposition and advance personal agendas.”

— Donald Grebien, Mayor of Pawtucket (The Valley Breeze)

“Clearly when push came to shove the commitment to environmental justice went by the boards. The excuse that the federal government does not include that in their criteria is just that, an excuse, as the Feds put together their rules before anyone had ever used the words environmental justice in public.”

— Greg Gerritt, Founder, Friends of the Moshassuck (Email to Terry Gray)

What’s next

The final decision on the conversion of Morley Field now rests with the National Park Service, which must approve the city's plan to replace the park land.

The takeaway

This case highlights the ongoing struggle to protect green spaces and community resources in low-income and minority neighborhoods, which are often targeted for development that prioritizes commercial interests over the needs of residents. It underscores the importance of robust environmental justice policies and community engagement to ensure equitable access to public resources.