103 Acre Prudence Island Parcel will be Preserved

A 103-acre parcel on Prudence Island known as the Little Property will be preserved in perpetuity and open to the public for outdoor recreation.

Rhode Island’s entire congressional delegation on Friday announced a $412,500 grant fron the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration that will go towards the purchase of the land for inclusion in the Narragansett Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve.

“This NOAA grant leverages funds from federal, state, and private partners to acquire and protect this important area of Prudence Island. From our coastlines to our forests, safeguarding our diverse natural landscape is a smart investment in the health of both our environment and economy. This grant will help save this special parcel of land and permanently protect it for future generations,” said Senator Jack Reed.

The site is adjacent to existing reserves on Prudence Island and home to a unique landscape and wildlife.

The Little family has already played a role in the preservation of land on Aquidneck Island. In 2009, the Prudence Conservancy was given Blind Allin Farm and Pulpit Rock in a two-acre donation from the late Barbara Chase Little.

With this donation, the Prudence Conservancy, in partnership with the DEM, will now add a large swath of land to its portfolio. Along with recreational opportunities, the land will serve as a place for research by the folks working in the reserve.

““This funding is great news for everyone who enjoys the outdoors in and around Narragansett Bay. It will protect a beautiful site on our beautiful Bay, for Rhode Islanders and visitors for generations to come,” said Senator Sheldon Whitehouse. “Thank you to the DEM and the Prudence Conservancy for their efforts to preserve the environment in Rhode Island, and congratulations on this award.”

“Prudence Island is one of our state treasures, and the incorporation of the Little Property in the Narragansett Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve will ensure this pristine and previously unprotected property is available and easily accessible to the public for education, research, and recreation. We in Rhode Island are fortunate to have places like the NERR and organizations like the Prudence Conservancy. Their work, alongside that of our federal partners and state agencies, will protect places like the Little Property for Rhode Islanders and our visitors to enjoy for generations to come,” said Congressman Jim Langevin.

“This federal funding will ensure we preserve the natural landscape of Prudence Island for generations of Rhode Islanders to enjoy. I applaud the Department of Environmental Management and the Prudence Conservancy for working together on this project and working to preserve our state’s beautiful natural resources,” said Congressman David Cicilline.

Photo: NBNERR via Facebook.