NORTH PROVIDENCE – One neighbor of St. Mary’s Home for Children tells how a runaway from the psychiatric treatment center once landed in his pool during a Fourth of July party, frightening his guests.
“The fence that separates our properties has been broken for years,” says Kris Pacific. “They say they don’t have money to fix it, and the kids seem to know it.”
Other neighbors report often hearing yelling and screaming coming through the trees that separate their backyards from the Fruit Hill Avenue property . And they say police and fire crews respond hundreds of times a year to pulled fire alarms, runaway reports and other emergencies at the state’s only residential psychiatric treatment facility for children.
North Providence Mayor Charles Lombardi, who sits on the St. Mary’s board, told The Journal on Wednesday that things are going to change at the troubled home.
But what won’t change, he said, despite some neighbors’ concerns, is any stoppage of the planned 12-bed addition at St. Mary’s.