East Bay Lawmakers Push For Nanaquaket Boat Access

TIVERTON, RI — Two East Bay lawmakers are calling for the Rhode Island Department of Transportation to restore public access to the Narragansett Bay at a popular Tiverton inlet. The Nanaquaket Pond boat access and parking lot has been closed off by a barrier and landscaping, keeping residents from accessing the water.

Represtentatives JOhn Edwards and Dennis Canario are calling for the department to remove the barriers.

"This is just shameful that RIDOT closed off a long-time parking area enjoyed by dozens of my constituents in order to satisfy a single abutter," Rep.Edwards said. "Curbing and ornamental landscaping were installed last fall, by both RIDOT & the abutter and I’ve been getting numerous complaints from constituents who used to access the water from that point. To date, RIDOT has not acted to correct the problem."

The area is near the Nanaquaket Bridge, which serves as a border between the two lawmaker's districts. Both have reported complaints from constituents since January. So far, RIDOT has not addressed the issue, even though the department was sent a violation notice from the Coastal Resources Management Council.

"Every Rhode Islander has a constitutional right to access the shoreline, and parking for these areas is rare if ever available. For the state to take away any of these spots is just unfathomable," Rep. Canario.