“Nothing,” as the saying goes, “gets done in Johnston without Joe Polisena.”
However, if the veteran Mayor feels a project will benefit the town and its people, then it’s all systems go.
That’s why Johnston turned into a “Who’s Who in Rhode Island Politics” Saturday morning, as upwards of 1,000 people came to the Grand Opening and official dedication of the Johnston Indoor Recreation Center to congratulate Polisena for his vision to get massive 26,000-square-foot, multi-purpose, state of the art facility built and open in eight short months.
And, as Polisena boasted during his opening remarks and role as the day’s proud emcee: “This beautiful building didn’t cost the taxpayers a dime!”
The Town of Johnston won $8 million in a lawsuit vs. Rhode Island Resource Recovery and Broadrock Energy that Polisena pumped back into the town by way of a state of the art football stadium-track, fire apparatus and now the colorful and well-built indoor recreation center.
Surrounded by a sea of students from all age groups and Johnston schools, community leaders, coaches and what someone called “proud Panther people,” Polisena opened Saturday’s emotion-filled ceremony at exactly 10:07 a.m.
That was the time on the electronic scoreboard – the facilities first such gift inside the spanking new building – that’s affixed to the south wall that Polisena personally purchased with his own money.
“I want to tell you how proud an honored I am to be here today with all of you,” Polisena said. “I had a vision that I wanted something like this building in our great town for our youth to enjoy as well as our adults. This facility will be here for generations to come and will benefit all Johnston citizens.”
An example of how Polisena’s programs – and agenda that has benefitted the town during his tenure – came when he approached the Town Council and told the five-member group of his idea to build the indoor recreation center.
“And without hesitation,” Polisena said, “their words to me were Mayor, get it done and get it done quickly.” Thus, the Town Council concurred there was indeed a need for a facility such as this that would benefit all Johnston citizens.
Now, Johnston has a facility – a spectacular structure that’s nicely accented with the town’s colors of blue – that can be used for basketball, soccer, volleyball, tennis, lacrosse, baseball with a batting cage, football, cheerleading, majorette practices and exercises.
Polisena said, “And the list goes on and on; my vision and my mission was clear; get this project done well and nine months later here we are.”
The “Thank You” list is almost endless and began with Richard Carderelli, the general contractor, and included DiPrete Engineering, Joe Vinagro Corporation, DeGregorio Corporation, Mike Sabitoni and the Laborers International Union, DPW Director Arnie Vecchione, Assistant Building Director Ben Nascenzi, DPW workers, recreation staffers, school department personnel headed by, as Polisena emphasized, “Facility Director Dave Cournoyer and his great staff.”
Perhaps that’s why Rhode Island’s Sen. Jack Reed, Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse, Gov. Gina Raimondo, Speaker of the House Nicholas Mattiello, as well as many mayors from around the state turned out to show their support and congratulate Polisena for using his vision and tireless work to make the building a reality.
“This new facility will provide a welcoming space where people from all over can come together and enjoy a variety of recreation opportunities,” Reed said. “I commend Mayor Polisena and everyone who worked so hard to make this project a reality.”
Whitehouse, meanwhile, continued the praise of Polisena saying: “This clearly is an example of a community on the move. Johnston continues to show construction projects and this facility is without question the showplace of New England.”
Raimondo, who has been a frequent visitor to Johnston of late, said, “This is fantastic. We all came here today to thank and congratulate Joe [Polisena] for what he continues to do to make your town a great place to live.”
The Governor, who was recently honored at the Johnston Little League Opening Day, added, “There’s always so much spirit in this town. I feel it every time I’m here; that’s what makes this down special.”
Mattiello, meanwhile, put some good-natured ribbing into his remarks saying, “Your [state] reps. do a great job for you at the State House. They’re all great to work with and the same holds true for the mayor. When he calls, we listen – if he doesn’t hear from us, he keeps calling. Joe Polisena loves this town and gets it done.”
James Vincent, President of the Providence NAACP Chapter, toasted Polisena and described the Mayor as “someone who really, really cares about the town and knows how to bring people together.”
Joe Acciardo, a member of the building committee and long-time football and baseball coach at JHS, said, “This is a quality of life facility. It’s a great place for the youth of our town. But if the Mayor didn’t have a vision, we wouldn’t be here today. I want to thank him for the lesions we’ve all learned from his leadership, energy and on-going efforts to make Johnston a great place to live and bring up a family.”
Perhaps Kevin Stacom, the one-time Providence College basketball great who played with the Boston Celtics and is a scout with the NBA’s Dallas Mavericks, best described what he called “a great facility for everyone in Johnston to enjoy.”
Stacom, during the morning’s keynote address, was amazed with all areas of the JIRC. He said how he grew up playing basketball in an aging, and in need of repair neighborhood gym in New York where he learned lessons that carried him into professional basketball and his career as a valued business leader and corporate consultant.
He talked about how lucky the youth of Johnston are to have such a facility where, as the still highly-popular ex-Friar great suggested, “the kids can come and learn valuable lessons about life while playing sports in an absolutely gorgeous building that has to be the envy of other communities in Rhode Island.”
Stacom said, “This is a special showplace for the state. Not too many places have a facility like this and for that I congratulate the Mayor. Just look around; to see a facility like this and what it has become in just a short time is absolutely amazing.”
Perhaps the word amazing could best sum up Saturday’s official opening, which was highlighted by the Johnston High School band and chorus, two units that Polisena praised for being the best in New England.
The Johnston Fire Department Color Guard also shined during his posting of the colors and The Most Rev. Robert C. Evans, Auxiliary Bishop of Providence, performed the Blessing of the Building as well as the Invocation. The Rev. Chris Abhulime of Johnston-based King’s Tabernacle Church off Greenville Avenue gave a powerful and moving benediction.
As he closed the lively morning’s ceremony, Polisena concluding saying: “Please make this building part of your lifestyle and your destination on a daily or weekly basis. This is your building; please use it!”
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