Warwick officials, CRMC celebrate book, city’s ROW

July 20, 2006, WARWICK—Officials from the City of Warwick, along with the Rhode Island Coastal Resources Management Council and Rhode Island Saltwater Anglers Association, gathered at one of the city’s CRMC-designated Rights-of-Way on Thursday, July 20 to celebrate a published guide to the Greenwich Bay ROWs and to discuss public access in the city.

Warwick Mayor Scott Avedisian, Warwick Representative Peter Ginaitt, CRMC Chairman Michael M. Tikoian and staff, and representatives from the RISAA visited the Nausauket Road Right-of-Way to discuss the “Guide to Coastal Resources Management Council-Designated Rights-of-Way to Greenwich Bay,” sponsored by the CRMC, Rhode Island Sea Grant under a NOAA grant, and by the University of Rhode Island Coastal Resources Center.

The guide includes information, with photos and descriptions, for rights-of-way in the Potowomut Neck, Greenwich Cove, North Shore and Warwick and Brushneck Cove areas of Greenwich Bay. It also includes information on the CRMC’s public rights-of-way designation process and maps for easy identification.

“We’re very pleased to support the efforts of the CRMC to ensure that all residents have easy access to our shoreline, and congratulate the agency on the completion of this comprehensive and informative booklet,” said Warwick Mayor Scott Avedisian.

The group spoke about the Nausauket ROW and discussed opportunities for adoption of this and other local rights-of-way, through the CRMC’s Adopt-an-Access program. The RI Saltwater Anglers have already adopted two ROWs – the Daunis ROW off Nyatt Road in Barrington, and the Tuckerman ROW, at Tuckerman Avenue opposite Wolcott Avenue in Middletown – and are interested in adopting the Warwick ROW.

“The Nausauket Right-of-Way is a prime public access point in Warwick, with access to the beach and as a prime spot for recreational fishing,” said CRMC Chairman Michael M. Tikoian. “It’s vital that we preserve these designated public access points for all members of the public.”

Representative Peter Ginaitt added, “It’s important that we not give up this access to the coast. This is a great start. We have 38 ROWs designated in the City of Warwick. We need to maintain them, and this is the right thing for the state to do. This partnership with the Saltwater Anglers will ensure that access stays open here.”

The Adopt-an-Access program ensures that ROWs are maintained and protected as scenic access points that lead to quality fishing sites, to be utilized and enjoyed by the public. The adopted locations are protected from the rapid development of the coastline, and the lapse of time, which has left many other ROWs overgrown and difficult to access. Under the program, the CRMC, adoptive partner and the town in which the ROW is located enter into an agreement that permits the partner to install Adopt-an-Access signage with logos of both the CRMC and that group.

“We are proud to showcase the state-designated Nausauket Right-of-Way as an example of what the CRMC does to protect the public’s right to access,” Tikoian said. “Hopefully this ROW, along with others throughout the state, can be adopted by organizations and concerned citizens through our Adopt-an-Access program, to provide them regular maintenance and additional protection from development.”

“RISAA is proud to be part of the CRMC’s Adopt-an-Access Program,” said Don Smith, first vice president and chairman of RISAA’s legislative committee. “As fishermen we recognize that the public is often messy and does not respect the property of abutting owners. Our organization not only provides monitors for access sites to be sure the areas are kept clean but is working to educate the public to be respectful of private property and to clean up when they leave these areas so everyone can enjoy them.”

Copies of the book are available at the CRMC offices in Wakefield, or online at http://www.crmc.ri.gov/samp/sampfiles/gb_row_guide.pdf

Warwick Mayor Scott Avedisian, CRMC Chairman Michael M. Tikoian and Rep. Peter Ginaitt speak at the Nausauket ROW in Warwick.

A CRMC Adopt-an-Access sign with the RISAA logo.