Coit happy with 'passive' development of Rocky Pt.

Tommy McGovern, Steve Wolfenden, Richard Cole and Derek Smith were working on the House of Horrors at Rocky Point Park Tuesday. Of course, as all those who know the history of Rocky Point, the House of Horrors closed when the amusement park closed more than 20 years ago and any vestiges of the attraction disappeared after the state acquired the park and removed all signs of its former use except the arch, stanchions for the Skyliner and swing ride tower.

The crew from the Department of Public Works was installing the first of 10 signs that not only locate the position of former amusement park attractions but also include pictures and an abbreviated description. The signs are the project of the Leadership of Rhode Island Class of 2016 that researched the rides and raised the funds to have them built. Installation of the signs is ongoing and a formal unveiling is being planned for later next month when completed.

The fact that the signs are not a part of a park master plan and were the work of a group other than the state or the city, which own the park, is illustrative of the park evolution that appeals to Janet Coit, director of the Department of Environmental Management. Coit was at the park Tuesday for the opening “cast” of the Rhode Island Saltwater Anglers fishing camp. She took a detour to look at what city workers were installing and the time to talk about the park.

In terms of updates, she said the state is proceeding with the construction of a new pier where the remnants of the pier stand like broken sentries in the bay. The pier has gained Coastal Resources Management Council approval and the next steps that she expected would come soon would be finalizing in an agreement with the city requiring City Council approval. The city owns 41 acres of park shoreline, yet it is the state that is building the pier. Construction could start as soon as this year.

Coit said the cooperative relationship with the city has made for the smooth operation of the park. It’s the city that is installing the signs on state property. The city cuts park grass and empties trash containers. It was the city that repainted the arch, also on state property, with a grant from the Rhode Island Foundation.

Coit pointed out that events at the park such as the movie nights run by the Central Rhode Island Chamber of Commerce and the Rocky Point 5K also run by the chamber have taken root. That could also be said of park improvements that have progressed through consensus such as the continuation of the shoreline trail to create a loop and the definition of an expansive parking lot with guardrails off the Palmer Street entrance. That entrance will be open for tonight’s movie night and throughout the summer on a schedule to be announced soon. With that entrance people will be able to see the field leading down to the arch as well as views down and across the bay without leaving their cars.

But what might the future bring for the park?

“I still have in mind to do a big master plan,” Coit said. But she doesn’t see the need for a rush to do it. The department is drafting a request for proposal (RFP) that will be advertised for potential design consultants.

“The fun thing,” she said of the park, “is to see how much people enjoy it.” She also notes how much of what is happening at the park – the saltwater anglers fishing camp being an example – is being done in a “passive way” by groups outside of the state and the city.

Might the park have a restaurant or other amenities?

“That’s what people had in mind, a private/public partnership,” she said.

Under a partnership, a private entity would build and operate the facility, generating revenues that could offset maintenance and security costs of the park. There are no plans for that to happen at this point.