Cranston Residents Voice Concerns Over Large Dirt Piles at Former Creamery Site
Cranston residents are raising concerns about large excavated dirt piles at Garden City Center, the site of a former Newport Creamery. Residents are worried about the soil's content and dust spreading into the neighborhood, while the developer states the soil…
Providence New Bedford, RI, November 6, 2026 —
Residents in Cranston are voicing apprehension regarding extensive piles of excavated soil accumulating at the Garden City Center, a development located on the site of the former Newport Creamery.
The primary concerns cited by residents revolve around the composition of the soil and the potential for dust to spread into surrounding residential areas. These worries highlight a community desire for transparency regarding environmental conditions at the redevelopment site.
The developer involved with the project has stated that the excavated soil is not known to be toxic. Furthermore, the developer indicated that a portion of the soil is being repurposed for use as backfill within the project. This approach suggests an effort to manage and potentially reduce waste associated with the excavation process.
Despite assurances from the developer, city officials and concerned residents are actively seeking more definitive information. The push is for clear answers concerning the testing protocols that have been or will be implemented for the soil. Additionally, there is a demand for a defined timeline for the removal or final disposition of the soil piles.
Information regarding specific testing results, the exact nature of the developer’s reuse plans for the soil, and precise timelines for the soil’s removal was not immediately available at the time of reporting. The situation underscores a common community dynamic where redevelopment projects necessitate ongoing dialogue between developers, municipal authorities, and local residents to address environmental and logistical questions.
Story summarized from the original created by Bonnie Phillips on ecori.org, see more information here.
