Raimondo Unveils Plan to Modernize RI’s Parks & Beaches While Raising Fees
Tuesday, February 19, 2019
Governor Gina Raimondo unveiled her plan to "preserve and invest" in Rhode Island’s parks and beaches.
In this year's budget, Raimondo is calling for an increase in beach fees.
The announcement Monday was made at Lincoln Woods State Park.
GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLAST"Our beaches and parks are such a special part of who we are as Rhode Islanders, and we need to preserve them for future generations. The study DEM commissioned recently makes clear that we're not doing enough now. It's critical that we commit to long-term investments in our parks and beaches. Let's make sure our kids have the same opportunities that we did,” said Raimondo.
The study showed that Rhode Island has high park use and low investment compared to the rest of the country, ranking 1st in visits per park acre but 47th in state spending per visit.
Raimondo’s Proposal
Raimondo submitted a budget proposal for 2020 that would add $1.5 million in funding for DEM's Division of Parks and Recreation.
"The Governor's Parks Initiative will ensure that we invest in these incredible places that do so much for Rhode Islanders and for our economy. This is a tremendous multi-year effort to increase staffing, adopt best practices, engage further with partners, and do more to realize the opportunities afforded by this magnificent system,” said DEM Director Janet Coit.
The funds would support an additional eight employees, most of whom would help regional managers meet core service requirements like cleaner facilities and bathrooms to improve visitors' experience.
The budget proposal also includes a business development office to find revenue-generating opportunities including sponsorships and concession partnerships.
Community Listening Sessions
According to Coit, the DEM will kick off a series of community listening sessions across the state to get ideas on how to improve the parks system.
Sessions will be held as follows:
Wednesday, February 20
4 p.m. to 5 p.m.
Westerly Town Hall Council Chambers
45 Broad Street, Westerly
Monday, February 25
4 p.m. to 5 p.m.
Lincoln Woods Nature Center
Lincoln Woods State Park, Lincoln
Thursday, February 28
6 p.m. to 7 p.m.
Narragansett Community Center
53 Mumford Road, Narragansett
A fourth session will be held in Bristol, with details to be announced at a later date.
Related Slideshow: PHOTOS: Inauguration Day - January 1, 2019
Related Articles
- Raimondo Out of Budget Ideas? Gov. Proposing Legalization of Marijuana in RI
- READ Raimondo’s State of the State Speech - January 15, 2019
- UPDATED: One of Raimondo’s Top Recruited Corporations Pulls Out of RI — 200 Jobs Impacted
- Raimondo Sets Forth Her Legacy as Governor — Free College and Legalized Marijuana
- Governor Gina M. Raimondo’s Second Inaugural Address
- Four Years Ago, Raimondo Took the Oath—What Did She Promise and What Did She Get Done?
- URI Pres Dooley, Raimondo Announce 1st Round of RI Innovation Campus Projects
- Raimondo’s Office Says Gov’s Husband Has “No” Interest in Any Marijuana Businesses
- Under Raimondo Opioid Deaths in RI Continue to Increase, According to New CDC Data
- Manni Named Head of RI State Police by Raimondo
- Raimondo Issues Executive Order—Names Census Committee
- URI Students Have More Debt, Raimondo’s Free College Proposal is Targeted to RIC Only
- Raimondo’s Budget: Taxes and Fees on Netflix, Beachgoers and Marijuana, Spending Jumps to $9.9B
- VA Governor Apologizes in Blackface Controversy — Raimondo Draws Fire From RI GOP UPDATED
- Raimondo Criticizes Sec. DeVos’ Proposed Title IX Changes
- Raimondo Signs Executive Order to Control Healthcare Spending in RI
- Former Raimondo Aide Raia Goes to NAIL Advertising Agency
- Sasse Says Raimondo’s Budget Fails to Address RI’s K-12 Education Problem
- Raimondo Announces $1.45 Million Emergency Loan Fund for Aquidneck Island Businesses
- EDITORIAL: Raimondo’s Budget - A Tax on Middle-Class Life
- Raimondo Announces No Student Hungry Initiative During MLK Jr. Address
- LIVE VIDEO: Governor Raimondo Says Newport Gas Crisis Will Last a Week or More
- How Does Raimondo’s Budget Treat Seniors? Guest MINDSETTER™ Weiss