CRMC seeks partners for Public Rights-of-Way Adopt-an-Access Program

February 22 , 2006, WAKEFIELD— The Rhode Island Coastal Resources Management Council is looking for partners in every coastal city and town in the state to promote public access to the shore at CRMC-designated Rights-of-Way (ROW) through its Adopt-an-Access Program.

“The CRMC encourages all of Rhode Island’s municipalities to participate in this worthwhile program,” said Michael M. Tikoian, CRMC chairman. “In addition to their status as CRMC Rights-of-Way, these areas have additional protection from development and will be maintained as access points to prime fishing spots, to be enjoyed by all. We hope many more cities and towns will make this a priority.” 

The Adopt-an-Access program was established in 2005, prompted by the Rhode Island Saltwater Anglers Association’s (RISAA) adoption of a CRMC-designated Right-of-Way in Barrington, the Daunis ROW, off Nyatt Road. Later that year, RISAA adopted another CRMC Right-of-Way, the Tuckerman Right-of-Way, at Tuckerman Avenue opposite Wolcott Avenue in Middletown.

The RI Saltwater Anglers Association adopted the two ROWs through the CRMC initiative to ensure that they are maintained and protected as scenic access points that lead to quality fishing sites, to be utilized and enjoyed by the public. The two locations are now further protected from the rapid development of the coastline, and the lapse of time, which has left many ROWs overgrown and difficult to access. The CRMC is working with RISAA and Rhode Island municipalities to re-establish these rights-of-way as accessible scenic ways.

Under the Adopt-an-Access Program the CRMC, RISAA and the towns entered into an agreement that permitted the Association to install Adopt-an-Access signage that contained logos of both the CRMC and RISAA. Under the program, RISAA has agreed that its members will be responsible for trash removal at Adopt-An-Access ROWs. RISAA members using an Adopt-An-Access ROW on a regular basis also produce monthly reports on the conditions at each one, and submit their reports to the Association’s Public Access Committee.

The CRMC, under this program, will also provide standard Shoreline Public Access signs, free of charge, and multi-language signage that outline a Code of Conduct for the public to follow while utilizing a CRMC-designated Adopt-An-Access ROW. This Code of Conduct emphasizes respecting private property rights and warns against trespassing, illegally parking in driveways, and littering. The Code of Conduct is printed in English, Spanish, Portuguese, Vietnamese, Cambodian, Laotian and Hmong.

As a result of the success the Council experienced working with RISAA and the towns of Barrington and Middletown, the CMRC is interested in expanding the Adopt-an-Access Program. Public access to the shore is for all the citizens of Rhode Island, and for those who visit to enjoy the state’s coastline. As Article I Section 17 of the Rhode Island Constitution states, the public’s constitutional rights to use the shore include, but are not limited to, fishing from the shore, swimming from the shore, passage along the shore, and even gathering seaweed.

Any groups, neighborhood associations or individuals who would like to partner with the CRMC to promote public access to the shore at a CRMC-designated ROW should contact Kevin Cute, CRMC Marine Resources Specialist, at (401) 783-3370 or via e-mail at kcute@crmc.ri.gov. For more information on partnering with the CRMC in the Adopt-an-Access program, please go to the following links to the CRMC’s web site:

• Annual ROW report,
• ROW Coastal Briefing (which explains the CRMC-designation process for ROWs), and
• Citizens Guide to Assisting in the ROW Process (for information on how to assist the CRMC in designating Rights-of-Way to the shore).

Under Title 46, Chapter 23 of RI General Laws, the CRMC has jurisdiction over the discovery and designation of public rights-of-way.

Rhode Island Rights-of-Way (* denotes those ROWs on appeal)

Westerly

• Avondale Road A-14
• Bluff Avenue A-2*
• Manatuck Avenue A-3*
• Atlantic Avenue (1) A-6
• Atlantic Avenue (2) A-7
• Atlantic Avenue (4) A-8*
• Atlantic Avenue (5) A-9
• Atlantic Avenue (6) A-10*
• Atlantic Avenue (7) A-11
• Atlantic Avenue (8) A-12*
• Atlantic Avenue (9) A-13

Charlestown

• Breachway B-1
• East Beach Road B-2

South Kingstown

• Statice Drive D-1
• Dawn Drive D-2
• Daybreak Drive D-3
• Ocean Avenue D-4

Narragansett

• Knowlesway Extension C-1
• Extension of Pilgrim Avenue C-2
• Calef Avenue C-3
• Black Point C-5 *
• Bass Rock Road C-6
• Conanicus Road C-11
• Conant Avenue Road End C-7
• Foddering Farm Road Extension C-12
• Hazard Avenue Road End C-9
• Newton Avenue Road End C-13
• Pettaquamscutt Avenue C-10
• South Ferry Road C-8
• Wandsworth Street Extension C-14

New Shoreham (Block Island)

• Settlers Rock E-1
• Scotch Beach Road E-2
• Scup Rock property E-3
• Conneymus Road E-4
• Coast Guard Road E-5
• Andy's Way E-6
• West Beach Road E-7

North Kingstown

• Phillips Street F-5
• Loop Drive F-6
• Loop Drive (2) F-7
• Allen Harbor Complex (Designation number pending)
• Wilson Park (Designation number pending)
• Town Wharf (Designation number pending)

Jamestown

• Broad Street G-1
• Spirketing Street G-2
• Steamboat Street G-3
• Spindrift Street G-4
• Eldred Avenue G-5
• Mast Street G-6
• Hull Street G-7
• Capstan Street G-12
• Garboard Street G-11
• Champlin Way G-8
• Bucaneer Way G-9
• Decatur Avenue G-13
• Carr Lane G-10
• High Street

East Greenwich

• London Street H-1
• Rocky Hollow Road H-2
• Long Street H-3
• King Street H-4
• Bridge Street H-5
• Division Street H-6

Warwick

• Bradford Avenue J-1
• Elkins Avenue J-2
• Charlotte Drive (north side) #1 J-3
• Charlotte Drive (north side) #2 J-4
• Charlotte Drive (north side) #3 J-5
• Charlotte Drive #4 J-6
• Beachwood Drive (east side) #1 J-7
• Beachwood Drive (east side) #2 J-8
• Sylvia Drive J-9
• Sheffield Street J-10
• Reynolds Avenue J-11
• North Shore Street J-12
• Waterfront Drive J-13
• Cooney Street J-14
• Progress Street J-15
• Burnett Road (east side) #1 J-16
• Burnett Road (east side) #2 J-17
• Burnett Road (east side) #3 J-18
• Shawomet Avenue (north side) J-19
• Shawomet Avenue (south side) J-20
• Bellman Avenue J-21
• Butler Court J-23
• Nausauket Road J-24
• Ives Road J-25
• Tiffany Avenue/Progress Street J-26
• Capron Farm Drive J-27*
• Narragansett Bay Avenue J-28
• Off Shawomet Avenue J-29
• Off Ship Street (Ship Court) J-30
• Suburban Parkway - Formerly Delaware Avenue J-31
• Peck Lane - Pawtuxet Village J-32
• Off Cooney Street/Extension of Lilac Street J-33
• Rock Avenue/Bromle Avenue J-34
• Off Reynolds Avenue J-35
• Priscilla Avenue J-36
• Masthead Drive - Old Courtland Lane J-37
• Ogden Avenue off Burnett Road J-38

Cranston

• Aborn Street (south side) K-1
• Aborn Street (westerly side) K-2
• Seaview Avenue (west side) K-3

Providence

• Irving Avenue L-1
• Butler Avenue L-2
• East Transit Street (Designation number pending)

Pawtucket

• Bishop Street M-1

East Providence

• Third Beachway N-4
• Fourth Beachway N-5
• Fifth Beachway N-6
• Narragansett Beachway N-1
• First Beachway N-2
• Second Beachway N-3
• Sixth Beachway N-7
• Seventh Beachway N-8
• Eighth Beachway N-9
• Ninth Beachway N-10
• Tenth Beachway N-11
• Eleventh Beachway N-12
• Riverside Drive N-13

Barrington

• Shore Road P-1
• Daunis R-O-W P-2

Warren

• Maple Street R-1
• Parker Avenue R-2
• Patterson Avenue R-3
• Harris Avenue R-4
• Shore Drive (3) R-6
• Shore Drive (5) R-7
• Shore Drive (6) R-8
• Shore Drive (7) R-9
• Road to Town Landing R-10

Bristol

• Beach Road S-1
• Gibson Road S-2
• Fales Road S-3
• Constitution Street S-4
• Union Street S-5
• Walley Street S-6
• Low Lane S-18
• North Street S-7
• Butterworth Avenue S-8
• Azalea Drive S-9
• Fatima Drive S-10
• San Miquel Drive S-11
• Sherman Avenue S-12
• Smith Avenue S-13
• Kickemuit Avenue S-14
• Narrows Road S-15
• Sunrise Drive S-16
• Anawamscott Drive S-17
• Poppasquash Road (beach lot) S-19
• Burton Street S-23
• State Street S-20
• Franklin Street S-21
• Oliver Street S-22
• Bayview (Clipper Way) S-25
• Narrows Peninsula S-26
• Platt Street S-27
• Aaron Avenue S-29
• Peck Avenue S-24
• King Philip S-28

Tiverton

• State Avenue T-2
• Carey Lane T-1
• Nannaquaket Bridge T-3
• Fogland Road T-4
• Land south of Sakonnet Bridge T-5
• Two Rod Way T-6
• South of Stone Bridge T-7

Portsmouth

• Mt. View Road V-1
• Anthony Road V-2
• Narragansett Road V-3
• Cedar Avenue V-4
• Point Street V-5
• Green Street V-6
• Seaconnet Blvd. (northeasterly V-7 corner of land of Wm. Herbert)
• Seaconnet Blvd. V-8*
• Seaconnet Blvd. (northeasterly V-9 corner of land of Don Ibbotson)
• Seaconnet Blvd. (northeasterly V-10 corner of land of Virginia Arruda)
• Ruth Avenue V-11
• Fountain Street V-12
• Aquidneck Avenue V-13
• Atlantic Avenue (easterly end V-14 of East Corys land)
• Atlantic Avenue (easterly end V-15 of Tallman Avenue
• Child Street V-16
• Morningside Lane V-17

Little Compton

• Continuation of Taylor's Lane W-1
• Town Way Road W-2

Sakonnet Harbor

• Boat ramp W-3

Middletown

• Tuckerman Avenue, between Lots 104/105 Y-1*
• Shore Drive Y-3
• Third Beach Road Y-4
• Southeast end of Esplanade & Shore Drive Y-5
• Taggerts Ferry Road Y-6
• Kingfisher Avenue Y-7
• Northwest end of Esplanade Y-8*
• Western end of Purgatory Road Y-9
• Shore Drive, opposite Lot 107 Y-10*
• Tuckerman Avenue, opposite Wolcott Avenue Y-11*

Newport

• Webster Street Z-1
• Narragansett Avenue Z-2
• Ledge Road Z-3
• Ruggles Avenue Z-4
• Seaview Avenue Z-5
• Cypress Street Z-6
• VanZandt Street Z-7
• Battery Street Z-8
• Pine Street Z-9
• Cherry Street Z-10
• Chestnut Street Z-11
• Walnut Street Z-12
• Willow Street Z-13
• Poplar Street Z-14
• Elm Street Z-15
• Goat Island Connector (28-B) Z-16
• Goat Island Connector (28-A) Z-17
• Brown & Howard Wharf Z-18
• Lee's Wharf Z-19
• Howard's Wharf Z-20
• Sisson's Wharf Z-21*
• Waites Wharf Z-22*
• Spring Wharf Z-23