Newporters Invited to Help Shape Future of Parks and Open Spaces

NEWPORT, RI—A second community meeting to give Newporters the chance to help shape the future stewardship of the city’s parks and open spaces is planned for later this month.

The first meeting in September brought more than 160 residents who wanted to play a role in guiding the Newport Open Space Partnership as it carries out its mission drafting a new Open Space Master Plan.

The upcoming meeting, on Jan. 28 at the Pell School at 6 p.m., will focus on ideas and options.

The full press release is below:

Newport Plays. Newport Bikes. Newport Surfs. Newport Walk. What do you want to do in Newport? Every resident of Newport is impacted by the Open Space Master Plan. We all enjoy our parks, public space, streets, beaches, and scenic walks. This is the environment, both natural and manmade, that creates a healthy, vibrant city. Over 160 participants gathered at the Pell School in September to launch the first citywide open space planning effort since the early 1900’s. This ongoing effort, led by the Newport Open Space Partnership, gives Newporters the opportunity to help create a vision of parks and open space for the next century.

The second community meeting, Thursday, January 28th at the Pell School, will focus on Ideas and Options. The agenda for the night is an Open House from 6-6:30pm, followed by a Presentation and Interactive Discussion from 6:30-7:30pm. The presentation details opportunities to enhance waterfront access, improve walking and bicycling connectivity, and enrich existing parks. Input from the first community open house in September and results of the online survey, completed by over 500 park users, will also be reviewed. A key finding of the Phase 1 Existing Conditions assessment was a lack of open space and active recreation amenities exists in the North End. Participation is important to ensure the community guides the vision and defines priorities for the plan. All ages and opinions are welcome. Newport Plays. Newport Bikes. Newport Surfs. Newport Walks. What do you want to do in Newport? Come tell us!

A photo accompanies release

Caption: Mountain Biking at Miantonomi Park Newport

Photo Attribution: Mark Chesterton, Bike Newport

The Newport Open Space Partnership is a partnership between the City of Newport, the Newport Tree & Open Space Commission, the Aquidneck Land Trust, the Aquidneck Island Planning Commission, and the Newport Tree Society. It is funded through grants from The Alletta Morris McBean Charitable Trust and the van Beuren Charitable Foundation (other grant awards pending). This initiative will be the first citywide open space planning effort since Olmsted’s 1913 “Proposed Improvements for Newport.” Visit our website at www.newportopenspace.org for more information.