Did your street make the 'public access to water' list?

The Barrington Harbor Commission is working to identify and mark all public access points to the water.

Members of the commission have, so far, identified 24 access points through extensions of streets in town that lead to the water at the end of pavement.

Included among the 24 paths that have been identified as public access points are Acre Avenue, Juniper Street, Third Street and Waterway. 

Barrington Harbormaster Ray Sousa said the extensions are verified town-owned property, and thus, public access points to the water. Mr. Sousa said the subject came up during a prior harbor commission meeting when members were discussing the harbor management plan and the issue of access to the water.  

The access points will be identified by a granite post at the start of the path to the water. Each post will carry an engraved inscription and a Town of Barrington seal identifying the location. The markers will be 8 inches, by 8 inches, sticking up out of the ground about 3 or 4 feet, and the town expects to have them installed in the spring.

Mr. Sousa said the access points were identified in different ways.

"One way is local knowledge," he said, adding that people who knew of long-established access points shared the information with commission members.

Also, officials from the University of Rhode Island have also identified places in town that are access points to the water, Mr. Sousa added. Town officials reviewed all the suggested locations to confirm they were public access points. Mr. Sousa said the Coastal Resources Management Council has certified two rights-of-way in Barrington — the Daunis/Nayatt Point right-of-way, and Shore Drive near Latham Park.

Mr. Sousa said that once the town identifies all the street extension rights-of-way, officials will focus on the second phase of the project, which is to identify deeded property that "allows public access through the property of an easement given to the town for the same access."

There are likely to be only a few of these paths in town records, said Mr. Sousa. 

"The second phase will be more difficult, looking for access points that are deeded," Mr. Sousa said. "It will need a legal review, to make sure the written documents are correct."

Mr. Sousa said he hopes that rediscovered access points are well-documented. 

"We don't want to start a war among people," he added.

Money was appropriated during a prior year's financial town meeting to pay for this project, said Mr. Sousa, although the funds will likely cover only half of the 24 identified paths. Mr. Sousa said the town is committed to paying for the entire project. 

"Right now we're also searching to see if there's any grant money that can help us," he added.

A presentation will be made at the Jan. 8 council meeting regarding this project. 

Did your street make the list?

The town has identified 24 public access points to the water:

Acre Avenue

Allen Avenue

Annawamscutt Road

Appian Way

Bay Spring Road

Byway Road

Belvedere Road

Bluff Road

Central Avenue

Clark Road

Elm Road

Ferncliff Road

Juniper Street

King Philip Road

Ocean Road

Opeechee Road

Shore Drive

Teed Avenue

Third Street

Wamsutta Avenue

Waterway

Watson Road

Willow Way

Woodbine Street

Want to add a street to the list?

Barrington Harbormaster Ray Sousa said officials researching the public access points to the water are accepting possible additions to the list. If you think you know of a street that qualifies, write to rsousa@barrington.ri.gov