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You can help Get The
Point and SaveOurShoreline for the public!
With your vote in the
November election
By signing up as a
friend of Rocky Point
or make a contribution here,
or donate by check
. . .
Vote in November for
open space and public access to the shoreline of
Narragansett Bay!
The RI General Assembly (thanks state
senators and representatives!) has taken a huge step to
make sure that the public will forever have access to the
shoreline of our treasured bay at key spots: Rocky Point in
Warwick, India Point in Providence, and Fort Adams in
Newport. A bond referendum on the ballot in November, if
approved by voters, will provide $10 million for the state
to purchase all of the remaining property of the
former Rocky Point
amusement park for a public
park, and additional funds to acquire and assure public
access to the former Shooters
property at India Point and provide unrestricted public access to
enjoy and explore the fortifications at Fort
Adams.
While these three projects share a common theme—public
access to the shoreline of Narragansett Bay—each offers
appealing specifics.
For the Shooters
property, the idea is
public/private cooperation to assure public access and
stimulate the economy by creating a "marketplace" structure
on the foundation of the existing eyesore, including a
restaurant and amenities for a rebuilt marina, possibly
with ferry service to other parts of the bay. You can learn
more about the potential for public access to India Point
at www.makeshooterspublic.com
At Fort
Adams, the bond
proceeds will be used to stabilize the masonry and allow
the public unrestricted public access to the interior of
the Fort for the first time since the Fort was transferred
to the State in 1965. The stone vaults are amazing and
provide a great setting for concerts and festivals.
possibly antique shows, markets and the like. For more
information: www.openthefort.com
At Rocky
Point, many who have
signed as Friends of Rocky Point would like a small-scale
restaurant on the site of the former Shore Dinner Hall
serving clamcakes and chowder; such public/private
arrangements could help pay for amenities. A rebuilt dock
could make ferry service possible and access by boaters. As
a public park, Rocky Point would offer access to all Rhode
Islanders and tourists to enjoy nature trails, fishing,
rock climbing, picnic areas, two sandy beaches, and a
glorious panoramic view of Narragansett Bay, including the
Mt. Hope and Newport bridges. Read on for more on the
potential at Rocky Point.
A winning trifecta for
the public. Including
the three projects in one bond referendum makes eminent
good sense. These are three projects, in three different
communities, that are designed to leverage existing
resources to make the most of our state's waterfront.
Although this is a tough fiscal environment, these are
smart projects that focus on long-term value and potential
for economic generation. They are all linked together by
the bay, and, indeed, they all suggest (together with Colt)
the opportunity for ferry service that would link together
the waterfronts in Rhode Island's most populated bayfront
communities.
They deserve your yes
vote in the November 2 election!
Why Rocky Point belongs
to the people
Rocky Point is part of Rhode Island’s cultural heritage.
Since it was first used for nature outings in 1847, it
became a summer resort praised by the New York Times in
1872 as “one of the most delightful places upon our
New-England coast,” a place “exceedingly popular with the
masses as a delightful spot to spend a few days from the
hurry and hustle of daily life.” By 1900 amusements had
been added so that it had become “the Coney Island of Rhode
Island” according to the Times, and John Jacob Astor
organized a whimsical visit by his wealthy Newport friends
to sample popular entertainments. Read more about
the Rocky Point
saga over a
century and a half as a summer resort, working class
destination, venue for presidents and Babe Ruth, and
eventually an extremely popular entertainment
destination.
Rocky Point is accessible to city folks and all Rhode
Islanders. Originally, visitors arrived by steamboat, then
by trolley cars, and now it is on a public bus route.
Visitors can also come by car or, if the dock is restored,
by boat—possibly by ferry.
In short, Rocky Point can again be a destination for family
recreation and enjoyment of the beauty of Narragansett bay.
What approval of the
bond referendum will do
With the capability to issue $10 million in bonds, the
state can negotiate with the U.S. Small Business
Administration, the court-appointed receiver for the
remaining 80 acres of the former Rocky Point amusement
park, which entered bankruptcy in 1995. The price will be
determined in part by market value, in part by the
requirement to settle claims by creditors who suffered
loses when the park went bankrupt. Once a price is agreed,
the proposed sale will be presented to the bankruptcy judge
for approval. The judge may then announce that other
bidders can offer 10% more to buy the property. However,
given the depressed real estate market, we hope potential
developers will stay on the sidelines. This shows why we
have a window of opportunity to acquire Rocky Point for the
public: the economic recession has so far saved this
treasure from condo builders.
Then what
happens?
If the state acquires the 80 acres, the state and the city
of Warwick will work out how to create a public park by
combining 79 acres (1+ acres consists of outlying parcels
that would probably be sold off) with the 41 acres of
shoreline and wetlands acquired by the city in a previous
deal using a federal grant and city and state open space
funds.
Decisions about exactly how to use the park should, in the
opinion of the Rocky Point Foundation, have public input,
through public meetings, forums such as this website (many
folks have already made their views known on our Scrapbook
page), and transparent deliberations by state and city
officials. The obvious passive possibilities are beaches,
trails, open spaces for family games, rock climbing,
fishing, and parking along the bay for busy commuters to
pause to enjoy the morning view or others to park and
meditate on the scene, both tranquil and alive with
quahoggers, regattas, and passing ocean-going ships. One
school of thought suggests more active public/private
operations, for example leasing the space now occupied by
the derelict Shore Dinner Hall for construction of a new
restaurant serving clamcakes and chowder, as in the old
days, or reviving the Palladium and Windjammer for
functions and events; such deals could not only bring in
income to help pay for maintenance of the park and even
contribute to paying off the bonds, but could provide
toilets and other facilities at no expense to taxpayers.
What you can
do
If you are a Rhode Islander voter, be sure to vote in the
November election and to vote yes on the referendum
approving a bond issue for Rocky Point, India Point and
Fort Adams. You can encourage others to vote yes, directing
them to this web site if they need convincing. You can add
your voice to others’ on our Scrapbook page. And you can
support the Rocky Point Foundation’s efforts to bring about
a public park at Rocky Point by signing up to become a
Friend and by making a donation.
How to contribute $10,
$25 or whatever you can. You can safely use your credit card by
clicking on the DONATE button below. Or if you would rather
contribute by check or cash you can click here
to print a donation form
to mail or take to The Rocky Point Foundation, c/o
Beacon Communications, 1944 Warwick Avenue, Warwick, RI
02889. Either way, you will become a Friend of Rocky
Point and Donor.
Share your thoughts, memories, photos, videos. If you would like to share your thoughts and memories about Rocky Point, either enter them on the Friends signup form or email them. Photos and videos can be attached to your email. View what others say.
Thank you for your interest in The Rocky Point Foundation. If you have any questions about the Foundation or its mission, or if you have other ideas about Rocky Point or how you might help, please let us know.
Check us out on Facebook:
Links. For more information about Rocky Point go to:
The Providence Library’s historical archives on Rocky Point: http://www.provlib.org/resources/books/ricollection/rockypoint.html
Overview http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rocky_Point_Amusement_Park
Memories, photos and more http://www.joenisil.com/rockypoint/index.htm
“You must be this tall” -- the movie http://www.rockypointmovie.com/index.html
Memories and comments, a blog http://rockypointpark.org/