Press & News
Projo — 24 to Watch in 2024 — Conrad Ferla helps protect shoreline access in Ocean State, but his fight isn't over
By Savan Dunning — Conrad Ferla’s love of surfing led him down the path to becoming a shoreline-access advocate.
WJAR — Rhode Island's new shoreline access law prevails after years-long battle
By Grabrielle Caracciolo — A years-long battle over Rhode Island's shoreline access ended with a changed law.
Projo — Charlestown police officers say that sitting on beach isn't against law
In video captured by activist Scott Keeley, police officers from Charlestown say that the law doesn't prevent people from sitting down on the beach
Projo — Why a plane saying that the RI shore isn't private flew over beaches on Saturday
By Antonia Noori Farzan — A small plane with a banner stating, "THE RHODE ISLAND SHORE IS NOT PRIVATE!" flew over South County beaches on Saturday. "The point is the Rhode Island shore belongs to the Rhode Island public — always did," said Scott Keeley, the activist who organized the demonstration.
What’s Up Newport — Shoreline access advocates fly banner, literally
By Thom Cahir — Supporters of new law celebrate public shoreline access
Boston Globe — Fight over path to prized shore access spot in Westerly heads to court
By Brian Amaral — The Watch Hill Fire District and the Watch Hill Conservancy on Thursday filed a lawsuit naming the town, various town officials, and the state of Rhode Island in Superior Court over the fate of so-called Fort Road. That’s the name people in town use to refer to a path from Watch Hill to Napatree Point — a path that the two entities say is not actually a a public right-of-way.
Westerly Sun — Charlestown man seeks restoration of beach signs that quote state's constitution
By Ryan Blessing — Scott Keeley has some big plans for Charlestown Town Beach this summer. Keeley went before the Town Council recently with a proposal to revamp the welcome signs at the entrance to the beach and its parking lot.
Projo — 'It just really blew up': Why shoreline access is emerging as a campaign issue in RI
By Antonia Noori Farzan — … A few years ago, that would have been unimaginable: Shoreline access was barely on the radar of politicians seeking state-level office. But that's changing, and candidates are realizing the issue has broad popular support among voters who otherwise don't see eye to eye.
The Public’s Radio — Rhode Island House Judiciary Committee passes shoreline access bill
By Alex Nunes — A bill intended to clarify shoreline rights along Rhode Island’s coast is moving forward in the House.
The Public’s Radio — Advocates ‘geared up,’ anticipating legislation on shoreline access
By Alex Nunes — A bill is expected to be introduced in the Rhode Island House this month that clarifies where people can be along the shore without creating other restrictions.
Projo — How much of RI’s shoreline is the public entitled to? Commission seeks clarity
By Antonia Noori Farzan — Three summers ago, Scott Keeley set out to make a point about his constitutional right to the shoreline, and collect some seaweed for his garden while he was at it.
The Public’s Radio — At public hearing, speakers say Rhode Island has a ways to go on shoreline access
By Alex Nunes — The summer season may be months behind us, but advocates for beach access aren’t letting up on their calls for lawmakers to do more to strengthen and protect shoreline rights. They made their case again Thursday night at a special public hearing in Richmond.
ecoRI News — Public Concerned About Ocean State’s Vanishing Shoreline Access
By Rob Smith — Rhode Islanders got their first crack at public comment at a recent meeting of the House commission to study shoreline access…
The Public’s Radio — ‘We're not going to allow it’: Advocates push for greater access to Rhode Island beaches
By Alex Nunes — Advocates for shoreline access are continuing to draw attention to what they say are ongoing threats to beach rights in Rhode Island.
The Public’s Radio — COVID-19 heightens tensions over shoreline access in Rhode Island
By Alex Nunes — This summer, advocates say new parking restrictions and actions by private property owners are making it harder for some beachgoers to enjoy a day at the shore.
Projo — R.I. beach access case settled for $25,000, but underlying issue is still in the weeds
Dec 13, 2019 — By Brian Amaral — What remains muddled: Rhode Island’s balance of private property and public access rights
The Independent — Fight over coastal access continues as activists stage protest
By Bill Seymour — The challenge to private beach owners wanting to stop public access to their land is far from over, says Scott Keeley, who organized a protest drawing more than 200 supporters to step over the Charlestown-South Kingstown line into the sand of exclusive beaches.
Projo — Seaweed collector’s arrest revives age-old debate on R.I. beach access
Jul 11, 2019 — By Brian Amaral — When Charlestown resident Scott Keeley went to the beach on a sunny Sunday recently, he thought he had state law on his side: the Rhode Island Constitution says he’s allowed to collect seaweed along the shore…
Projo — Shore access in R.I.: Where to draw the line in the sand?
Jul 6, 2019 — By Tom Mooney — A month after Charlestown resident Scott Keeley was arrested for trespassing, he and about 100 other protesters returned to the same swath of beach on Saturday to raise awareness to what they say is the erosion of Rhode Islanders’ state constitutional right to the shore.