Six evergreen trees and a slab of cement at Latham Park have left some Bay Spring residents feeling pretty upset.

The town planted the trees and installed the cement pad at Latham Park as intended enhancements for the summer concert series. Last summer, town officials had to relocate the concerts to Barrington Beach after an electrical conduit failed at Latham Park. 

The town recently installed a new electrical line at Latham, planted a half-dozen trees and poured a rectangular concrete pad. The new features are located toward the northern edge of the park, on the opposite side from where the previous stage had been. 

Dean Brockway lives on Latham Avenue, a short walk from the park. He and a few other Bay Spring residents stopped by the Barrington Park and Recreation Commission meeting on Thursday night, Nov. 16, and complained about the recent construction. 

Brockway said the previous location for the stage at Latham — closer to the shoreline — was much better. Concert-goers could sit in the large open grassy area, watch the band, and enjoy views of Narragansett Bay as the backdrop. 

Now concert-goers will sit with their backs to the shoreline and face the boatyard parking lot across Latham Avenue.

“Instead of fixing the problem, you’ve made it worse,” Brockway said. 

Shore Drive resident Michelle Kennedy agreed with Brockway. She said positioning the cement pad opposite the shoreline will force people to face away from the water. Kennedy also questioned the process leading up to the installation of the cement pad and new trees — she asked why the town was allowed to pour the cement pad in the center of the grassy area. 

Brockway told members of the Commission that bands will now have to play into the wind, and that half the crowd will want to sit behind the band, just so they can enjoy the water-view while listening to the music. 

“It was a beautiful spot,” Brockway said. “What you’ve done to it now is a slap to the (Bay Spring) community. The town has dumped on Bay Spring.”

Most of Brockway’s comments and Kennedy’s comments seemed to be directed at an official from the Barrington Department of Public Works. 

Members of the Park and Recreation Commission told the residents that the Latham Park changes were not on the agenda for that night’s meeting. Commission Chairman Mike Seward said the item would be added to the December meeting agenda.