Maya Lin, Gov. Chafee Celebrate Queen Anne Square Reopening

A single protester, holding his sign high, was all that remained today of the bitter controversy surrounding the renovation of Queen Anne Square at the park's dedication ceremony.

The $3.5 million project divided Newport's upper caste, pitting neighbors and friends against each other in a philosophical battle over whether the art installation by renowned architect Maya Lin represented Newport's heritage and honored the legacy of Doris Duke or was just a ploy to attract more tourism. Duke is recognized as the champion of the city's preservation efforts and Lin, who is famous for designing the Vietnam Memorial in Washington D.C., employed images and materials from past centuries to mimic Duke's efforts of preserving historic architecture throughout the city.

"The Vietnam memorial was very controversial until it was built, other than that this one surprised a lot of us that it got so emotional, but I was out here once when some people were asking for signatures saying they're coming in here, they're tearing down all the trees and they're paving it over. I would have signed that petition," said Lin. "So I think there was a lot of misinformation and I think now that it's up, it's come see for yourself and come sit in a room."

Michael Yazel, or captain, as he is known by his friends, stood on the outskirts of the park - picket sign in hand - as the sole remaining protester.

"They say their priorities are Doris Duke, Doris Duke, but her tribute is Rough Point and her legacy is the restoration project," he said. "I think $3.5 million could have been better spent."

"I came to Newport in 1965 and I think, having lived in Newport, I've seen a lot of changes go through, changes with nothing to do with history or restoration, and this project changes that," added Yazel. "Doris Duke built this park and wanted it to be an open park."

Nearly 100 spectators gathered on the plush, green grass that now covers Queen Anne Square during Friday's dedication ceremony. Spilling into the traditional-style cobblestone and brick walkways, passer's by curiously inspected the low-walled stone structures designed by Lin and drank from the period-inspired three-tiered water fountain that is crafted at the perfect heights from which man, child and dog alike may drink.

The stone structures are built in the style of historic home foundations. Inscribed with quotations from diaries written by Newporters in the 18th and 19th century, the stone foundations are meant to mirror the architecture of the period as well as provide spaces for Newporters of today to congregate and enjoy the park's natural beauty. The stone structures are actually built from stone harvested and re-purposed from derelict historic sites around Newport and the state. 

"All the stone is recycled from either Newport or the state of Rhode Island and Gov. Chafee and his crew were instrumental," said Lin. "So as you sit along Thames Street you are literally sitting on old stones that are literally cut probably in the 1800s that we were able to recycle and the piece is as green as we could make it from an environmental point of view."

Lin worked with local landscape designer Edwina von Gal and award-winning stone carver Nick Benson, a Newport native, to complete the park.

"We were able to take a park that I will say was under utilized and turn it into something that is more beautiful, historic and modernist," said Lin. "To me stone walls are as modern as they are old. We were able to take building elements through history, as well as language that is absolutely historically pure. We're celebrating everyday vernacular as well as the 350th anniversary of the [Rhode Island] charter."

The Doris Duke Memorial Foundation commissioned and paid for Lin's installation and all renovations to the park as a tribute to Duke's legacy. In her lifetime Dike founded the National Restoration Foundation, personally preserved and restored 79 local buildings and oversaw the original renovation of Queen Anne Square in the 1970s.

"From an artists point of view in a funny way you kind of want to open welcome comments," said Lin. "Especially when your piece is called The Meeting Room."

With the park finished and much of the controversy subsided, leaders from local historical and architectural organizations commended Lin's and the city's restoration efforts and attested to the historical components of the project.

"The city of Newport is to be commended for supporting the creation of this newly refreshed public space," said Chafee. "No change comes without a lively discussion, but I promise you for generations to come this place will be respected for its grace and dignity."