DEM Continues Crowd, Parking Control At RI State Beaches

NARRAGANSETT, RI — Another scorching weekend is in the forecast for Rhode Island, meaning the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management is once again expecting large crowds at beaches.

"We cannot let up on our efforts to fight the pandemic," Director Janet Coit said. "It continues to take a terrible toll on our state and challenges state and local leaders to work together to protect public health. Governor Raimondo and DEM are grateful for the commitment, cooperation, and resources that the towns of Narragansett, South Kingstown, Charlestown, and Westerly have contributed to the effort to control crowding, traffic, and parking violations."

In an effort to cut down on crowding and the spread of the coronavirus, Gov. Gina Raimondo slashed parking capacity at Misquamicut and Scarborough state beaches to 25 percent. In response, several towns, including Narragansett and South Kingstown, stepped up parking fines and enforcement last week to prevent illegal overflow parking on nearby streets.

This weekend, the department will once again partner with local police departments to limit crowds, manage traffic and crack down on illegal parking. Signs have been posted on beaches encouraging mask-wearing, and Rhode Island Department of Health employees hand out masks to those without them.

"This strategy ... resulted in the safest conditions on state beaches observed all summer July 18 to 19," the department said, adding that Misquamicut's manager noted "we have sand again" thanks to the diminished crowds.

The department is also discouraging visitors from neighboring Massachusetts and Connecticut to avoid Rhode Island's beaches, to help further cut down on crowds.

"By keeping crowds down and allowing for physical distancing on the sand, we are trying to protect public health and safety — in Rhode Island and other states," Coit said. "We also are trying to help our beach communities alleviate the heavy traffic that they have been experiencing this summer."

This weekend, environmental police officers will again be stationed at entry booths of state beaches, coordinating with state troopers and local police to close lots when full and cut down on illegal street parking. The following municipal parking policies are in effect:

• Charlestown will be strictly enforcing all prohibited parking zones in beach areas and secondary roads, and will deploy additional personnel to enforce traffic laws leading into and out of beach areas.
• Narragansett designated all no-parking zones as tow-away zones, effective July 17 and in force until further notice. The fine for a parking violation in a tow zone is $75.
• South Kingstown enacted an emergency measure July 16 that doubled the fine for parking in a prohibited beach area to $150. The executive order includes locations along the entire length of Succotash Road, which is the only way into or out of East Matunuck State Beach.
• Westerly posted the entire beach area as a tow zone and doubled fines for violations to $150 from $75.