Town Beach Among North Kingstown Sites Back Open For Memorial Day

NORTH KINGSTOWN, RI — Plans are in place to open North Kingstown Town Beach — as scheduled — this weekend as the town slowly emerges from the coronavirus health emergency shutdown.

Town Manager Ralph Mollis said in a letter to the community on Friday that the golf course, town parks and beach are among the places residents can go to enjoy the long weekend during phase one of the state's economic reopening.

"Know that North Kingstown has been at the forefront in doing all we can to pivot from the 'closure' required by the state due to COVID-19 to the reopening necessary for the economic survival of our business owners as well as the social and mental health benefits that all residents are deserving of with a reopening," Mollis said.

Gov. Gina Raimondo said that only two state beaches will be open — with limited parking — this weekend as part of what she called a "symbolic" opening of beaches on Memorial Day weekend. State parks will be open, with Raimondo saying that beaches could follow — with restrictions — by next weekend.

Mollis expressed condolences to those town residents who have lost a loved one to the virus.

The town will commemorate Memorial Day by laying wreaths at the town's war memorials. The ceremony will broadcast the ceremony live on the town's Facebook page.

Restaurants will offer outdoor seating only, most retail businesses are open with social distancing capacity restrictions, the town golf course is open, but playgrounds and the Senior Center remain closed.

"While business-as-usual has been drastically disrupted for most Rhode Islanders, we are looking forward to doing all we can to move forward in reopening our economy," Mollis said. "I am proud of and want to commend the many hard-working individuals who have worked hard and truly risen to the occasion to make this happen."

Beach passes for residents can be obtained here.