INVESTIGATION: Providence Recreation Dept. Director Resigns - Multiple Rec Center Directors Out

INVESTIGATION: Providence Recreation Dept. Director Resigns - Multiple Rec Center Directors Out

The City of Providence's Recreation Director is leaving after the Fourth of July holiday, GoLocal has learned. 

"Stephen Grace began serving as the Director of Recreation on January 23, 2023. His current salary is $136,579," City Spokesperson Josh Estrella told GoLocal this week. 

Estrella confirmed that Grace resigned, and that his last day is July 11.

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It marks the fourth departure of a top recreation department in Providence in six months. 

Moreover, the city confirmed with GoLocal this week that multiple former recreation center directors were under investigation by the city before leaving. 

There are a dozen rec centers across the city, with varying degrees of amenities from gyms and community rooms - to pools and splash pads.

They provide year-round programming for Providence youth and community members throughout the year. 

 

Rec Center Directors Investigated - and Leave

Since January, Elmer Stanley with Joslin Rec Center, Joshua Odugbela with Kennedy Rec Center, and Herlin Perry with Vincent Brown Rec Center have all left, the city confirmed with GoLocal. 

"The City did conduct an internal investigation related to Joshua Odugbela and Herlin Perry but the City does not comment on personnel matters," said Estrella. 

According to Estrella, Odugbela's last day with the city was May 7, 2025; Perry's was April 23, 2025, and Stanley's was January 1, 2025. 

The city did not release any additional information regarding the departures of the four recreation department employees in six months. 

Under former Providence Mayor Jorge Elorza's administration, the former director of the John Rollins Rec Center was sentenced in Providence County Superior Court to serve nine years at the Adult Correctional Institutions (ACI) after pleading to sexually assaulting a female victim under the age of 14 in 2021.

Manuel Nunez (age 44), of Cranston, entered a plea of nolo contendere to three counts of second-degree child molestation.

Read more here.