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.
Newport Daily News — Middletown shoreline access confrontation turns into viral video – and it raises questions
By Savana Dunning — A viral video confrontation between a Middletown property owner and a Newport resident trying to access a public right of way has generated over 6 million views on TikTok, sparking social media interest and conversation about public access to the shoreline.
RI Sea Grant — Understanding Rhode Island’s New Shoreline Access Law
By Rhode Island Sea Grant — …Below is a breakdown of what this law means, as well as tips for advocates and the webinar sponsored by the Rhode Island Coastal Resources Management Council (CRMC) and Rhode Island Sea Grant.
Boston Globe — Property owners’ suit seeks to block new R.I. shore access law
By Brian Amaral — a lawsuit filed Friday by the Rhode Island Association of coastal taxpayers opens a new chapter in Rhode Island long-running fight over shore access
The Public’s Radio — Private property owners file lawsuit against Rhode Island’s new shoreline access law
By Alex Nunes — A group of coastal landowners is asking a federal District Court judge to block enforcement of a new state law intended to clarify where beachgoers can be along the state’s shoreline.
Projo — 'Get off my sand?': Coastal homeowners sue over shoreline law, but state is prepared to fight
By Antonia Noori Farzan — Coastal property owners have filed a federal lawsuit to overturn Rhode Island's new shoreline-access law. The suit claims that the new legislation, which allows the public to use the shoreline up to 10 feet inland of the seaweed line, amounts to an unconstitutional taking under the Fifth Amendment.
CT Examiner — Breaking Standoff, Old Lyme to Assert Rights in Public Access Dispute
By Cate Hewitt — A nearly three-year standoff about public access is nowhere near resolution between Old Lyme and the owner of a historic landing on the Connecticut River. Nevertheless, the town announced Friday it will move ahead with installing signage on the property, establishing rules for public use.
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 — 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
dwell — Who Gets to Use the Beach?
By Duncan Nielsen — The wealthy have a habit of creating an unwelcome atmosphere on sandy stretches abutting their properties. The problem is that everyone is actually still invited.
What’s Up Newport — Letter To The Editor: ‘Quality of Life’ but not for ‘Rejects’
By Ryan Patrick Kelley, a Newport resident — The next time you’re looking for a sliver of parking near Reject’s or Rough Point, you may be (even more) out of luck. That’s because the Newport City Council is about to vote on turning a public road into, essentially, a City-subsidized driveway.
Westerly Sun — Groups file lawsuit over Fort Road designation
By Ryan Blessing — The Watch Hill Fire District and Watch Hill Conservancy fired a legal salvo Thursday over the Westerly Town Council’s attempts to designate a right of way on Fort Road, the popular access route to public lands on Napatree Point.
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.
Projo — His quest? Walk RI's entire coast- But private property and blocked access are a challenge
By Antonia Noori Farzan — The South Kingstown man just wanted some exercise with an ocean view. But seawalls, "no trespassing" signs and other barriers often block the way.
The Public’s Radio — In Westerly, town councilor’s work for coastal fire district raises questions about potential conflicts of interest
By Alex Nunes — Public records show Town Council President Edward Morrone accepted $30,000 in consulting fees to “monitor issues” for property owners in the Watch Hill vacation community, an area that's become the focal point of ongoing coastal access debates.
Boston Public Radio FULL SHOW — No Beach for You
By PRX Boston Public Radio — We started the show by asking listeners about the future of public beaches. Are private landowners buying up coastline and how can towns protect public beach access?
WPRI — Town leaders, residents debate future of Jamestown-Newport Ferry
By Kayla Fish — The Jamestown-Newport Ferry, which has operated since 1993, is in deep water. The Jamestown Town Council and Conanicut Marine Services (CMS) have been struggling to come to an agreement over how and where the ferry should operate. The bitter dispute played out before the Jamestown Harbor Commission Wednesday night.
WJAR — Jamestown-Newport Ferry future unclear as sides far from deal
By Cal Dymowski — The future of the Jamestown-Newport Ferry is in choppy waters tonight, as ferry ownership and the Jamestown Town Council have yet to finalize a leasing agreement.
Westerly Sun — Westerly Town Council takes two paths on right-of-ways
By Ryan Blessing — In tackling whether two streets in Watch Hill are considered public rights of way, the Town Council had both an easy and a hard time. After some discussion and a consensus among members Monday, the council first voted unanimously in support of the state Coastal Resources Management Council's designation of Everett Avenue as a right-of-way.