Responding to the Rhode Island Commerce Corporation’s and City of Pawtucket’s Request for Proposal (RFP), six developers have submitted their proposals for the reuse of McCoy Stadium and for development of the city’s historic downtown. Now, the review and evaluation of these proposals begins using information contained in the respective submitted RFP packages.   

I appreciate commerce secretary Stefan Pryor’s initiative and leadership in assisting us through the RFP process.  

Here is a listing of the RFPs submitted.

AJAX Advisors, LLC is proposing to bring professional sports to Pawtucket with independent professional soccer in a new stadium in downtown Pawtucket and the conversion of
McCoy into a light industrial use.

Brett Johnson, Fortuitous Partners is proposing to bring a professional sports team – a United Soccer League franchise – to downtown Pawtucket and envisions construction of a multi-sport stadium and ancillary and sport related development. The proposal includes a renewed use for the existing McCoy baseball stadium site. A new recreational park is proposed with six new multipurpose fields that can be used for soccer, lacrosse, or football.

Frank Boulton is proposing to bring Atlantic League professional baseball to McCoy Stadium. 

Level Exchange is proposing the creation of a hub centered on the music industry in Pawtucket, seeing this as an opportunity to foster the growth of the multifaceted creative community. In addition to infrastructure to support the entertainment industry, this approach would include all other aspects needed to sustain such a live-work-play area.

Minor League Baseball for Pawtucket, a group of local Rhode Island business leaders and community members, want to explore with the City of Pawtucket and the State of Rhode Island the possibility of continuing the rich tradition of affiliated, Minor League Baseball in Pawtucket.  Preserving community involvement and providing affordable, family entertainment in the State of Rhode Island are the group’s priorities.

Native Waters Investment, LLC is proposing to construct a Family Entertainment Center and Riverfront Park in Pawtucket. The Family Entertainment Center and Riverfront Park will be located on approximately 25 acres of land in the I-95 corridor. Some features of the entertainment center could include an indoor mega coaster, children’s play park, rock climbing wall, overhead zip-line course, bowling alleys, a 7D theater, a variety of restaurants and retail outlets and a riverboat hotel.

The review committee will be made up of representatives from the Rhode Island Commerce Corp. and the City of Pawtucket. We hope to have selected a project by the fall, but, realistically it could take until the end of the year. 

For details about development opportunities in Pawtucket, contact commerce director Jeanne Boyle at jboyle@pawtucketri.com.

Donald Grebien is mayor of the City of Pawtucket.