Projo — 24 to Watch in 2024 — Conrad Ferla helps protect shoreline access in Ocean State, but his fight isn't over

Written By Cate Brown

Activist Conrad Ferla said he plans to keep an eye on challenges to the state’s new shoreline-access law in the year ahead. Kris Craig/The Providence Journal

Dec 21, 2023

By Savana Dunning

Name: Conrad Ferla

Age: 42

Hometown: South Kingstown

Position: Creator, RI Coastal Access

Conrad Ferla’s love of surfing led him down the path to becoming a shoreline-access advocate.

He was living in Narragansett and teaching surfing there around 2008 when he first faced pushback while using the beach.

But his outright activism didn't begin until he noticed that parking near popular surf spots began disappearing during the COVID-19 pandemic. He launched RI Coastal Access to collect information on shoreline access, and a Facebook group, Saving RI Coastal Access/Rights Of Way, which now has more than 7,400 members.

…

Cate Brown
Previous

Boston Globe — R.I. shoreline fire district sues to stop path to beach from being opened to public
Next

The Public’s Radio — Weekapaug Fire District takes new legal action against Westerly and Rhode Island