Jef Nickerson
Photo from Art In Ruins
Sheila talks today on her blog about the DEM’s desire to purchase the Rocky Point property in Warwick to create a state park. DEM would like to combine the 82 acres slated for residential development (which they hope to acquire) with the 41 acres the City of Warwick acquired last year to create a new state park. They are talking about trees and trails and stuff, Sheila thinks they should build a new Rocky Point, and I agree.
While a public park would be lovely, a 21st-century amusement park with retro touches could be a hoot. It needn’t be tacky or grubby, as Rocky Point was in its final years. And it needn’t be glitzy, overblown and overpriced like Disney or Six Flags — most Rhode Islanders are frugal, down-to-earth people. But we do love to have fun, and the waterfront amusement park with its clam cakes and chowder, Tilt-A-Whirl and bumper cars (“Dodgems”), foosball and pinball machines struck just the right note of family fun in a Rhode Island summer.
I can taste the clam cakes now.
Greater City Providence
I think just about everyone would agree that a small amusement park from the days of old (think turn of the century parks around the area). The problem would be getting past all those damn politics.
I also agree. RI does have a lot to offer, but IMHO has a gaping hole in the family fun/amusement sector. I’m still a bit sore that RI didn’t land 6-flags years ago before they decided to buy what was then Riverpoint Park up in Agawam. A moderately done and sized park in RI would really add to the tourism draw and fabric of offerings for residents and visitors alike.