75 spots to access the water for free across Newport County
Beach season has officially started, and while the water temperatures still may be a little too cool for swimming, you'll be charged just the same for parking at municipal beaches across Newport County.
That doesn't mean you can't enjoy a free day by the water.
Across the county, 75 coastal rights-of-way are identified by the Coastal Resource Management Council that offer access to water.
While all 75 spots are free to access, remember not all offer parking. Additionally, activities such as swimming may not be conducive, or allowed, in some areas.
The issue of coastal access in Rhode Island has taken on added significance in 2022 as the state General Assembly has considered bills to establish a more practical and recognizable boundary for the area of the shore to which the public is entitled access.
A House of Representatives version of the bill sponsored by Rep. Terri Cortvriend, D-Portsmouth, was passed in early June.
The bill is intended to address the fact Rhode Island's constitution guarantees access to the shoreline, but doesn't specify where the boundary between privately owned waterfront property and publicly accessible shoreline lies.
A 1982 Rhode Island Supreme Court decision set the boundary at the mean high tide line, which is extremely hard to find. Additionally, new scientific research has found on ocean beaches with high levels of wave action, it is underwater for large periods of the day.
The House bill has been passed on to the Senate, though it's future there remains uncertain. A companion bill has not been introduced in the Senate. In order to have a chance at becoming law this year, H8055 would need to undergo a committee hearing and a committee vote in the Senate, followed by a vote on the Senate floor if it gets out of committee.
Public access: City Council requires The Reef remove outdoor seating on Howard Wharf's path to the harbor
The legislative session will wrap up at the end of this month, so there's only a limited amount of time for that to happen.
"The Senate President is focused passing Senate bills and on utilizing our record surplus to provide relief to struggling Rhode Islanders," spokesman Greg Paré wrote in an email to The Providence Journal. "This House bill is not a focus at this time."
As that legislation lingers, below are the 75 locations in Newport County offering public rights-of-way to the water as based on CRMC's 2021 progress report.
Jamestown
Broad Street
Spirketing Street
Steamboat Street
Spindrift Street
Eldred Avenue
Mast Street
Hull Street
Champlin Way
Buccaneer Way
Carr Lane
Garboard Street
Capstan Street
Decatur Avenue
High Street
Tiverton
Carey Lane
State Avenue
Nannaquaket Bridge
Fogland Road
Land south of Sakonnet Bridge
Two Rod Way
South of Stone Bridge
Portsmouth
Mt. View Road
Anthony Road
Narragansett Road
Cedar Avenue
Point Street
Green Street
Seaconnet Boulevard (n’east corner of Wm. Herbert’s land)
Seaconnet Boulevard
Seaconnet Boulevard (n’east corner of Don Ibbotson‘s land)
Seaconnet Boulevard (n’east corner of Virginia Arruda’s land)
Ruth Avenue
Fountain Street
Aquidneck Avenue
Atlantic Avenue (easterly end of East Cory’s land)
Atlantic Avenue (easterly end of Tallman Avenue)
Child Street
Morningside Lane
Little Compton
Continuation of Taylor's Lane
Town Way Road
Sakonnet Harbor — Boat ramp
Middletown
Tuckerman Avenue, between Lots 104/105
Shore Drive
Third Beach Road
Southeast end of Esplanade & Shore Drive
Taggerts Ferry Road
Kingfisher Avenue
Northwest end of Esplanade
Western end of Purgatory Road
Shore Drive, opp. Lot 107
Tuckerman Ave, opp. Wolcott Avenue
Newport
Webster Street
Narragansett Avenue
Ledge Road
Ruggles Avenue
Seaview Avenue
Cypress Street
VanZandt Street
Battery Street
Pine Street
Cherry Street
Chestnut Street
Walnut Street
Willow Street
Poplar Street
Elm Street
Goat Island Connector 28-B
Goat Island Connector 28-A
Brown & Howard Wharf
Lee's Wharf
Howard's Wharf
Sisson's Wharf
Waites Wharf
Spring Wharf
Marine Avenue
This article originally appeared on Newport Daily News: Free coastal access right-of-ways in Newport, Middletown, Portsmouth
