The Westerly Sun — Westerly council to look into Town Beach access complaints

Nov 25, 2021

By Dale P Faulkner

WESTERLY — On hot days in the middle of the summer it can be difficult to find room to put a towel down on the Town Beach. Members of the Town Council say they will soon look into finding ways to ensure the premium real estate is only available to individuals who applied for and received parking passes for the beach and consider whether use of the beach can and should be limited to residents.

The passes are sold annually to town taxpayers and full-time residents who can prove they live in the town by providing a copy of a full-year lease. The passes can also be used at Wuskeneau Beach, where non-taxpayers and non-residents are allowed to purchase them because state funds were used when the town purchased the property.

Some residents and members of the council say the Town Beach, known by many as the Old Town Beach, is intended only for taxpayers and residents, but the parking passes are being transferred to renters and others, leading to residents being crowded out of using the beach.

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