RI to buy 82 acres of Rocky Point Park

WARWICK, R.I. (WPRI) -- A beloved local landmark could soon belong entirely to Rhode Island taxpayers.

State leaders have unveiled a plan to purchase the remaining privately-owned land at Rocky Point to preserve the former amusement park property for generations to come.

• Photos: RI to Buy 82 Acres of Rocky Point Park

If everything goes according to plan, the state will buy the rest of the property to develop a state park and preserve the Warwick landmark.

The stairs are crumbling, the turnstile is rusted over, and the old midway is so overgrown that you can barely make out its path.

The amusement park at Rocky Point hasn't hosted a visitor since 1995, but many remember when it was the place to be.

"The music, the cotton candy, the rides, the people, the Fourth of July...this place would be open until 2:30 a.m. It was nice," recalls Joe McNamara of West Greenwich.

The state already owns 41 acres of shoreline at Rocky Point, and has agreed to buy an additional 82 acres for $9.65 million. The money comes from a $10 million "open space bond" approved by RI voters in 2010.

The Director of the Department of Environmental Management says the agency is hoping a public-private partnership will operate the new park, but wouldn't elaborate on specific amenities there may be in the future.

Over the years, private developers have failed at several attempts to develop the land.

"Every developer that proposed something turned around and said 'if we're not going to own the shoreline, that really is going to devalue everything else'," said Warwick Mayor Scott Avedisian. "I think this is the best use for everybody and it preserves public access."

The purchase agreement still has to be approved by a court, and we're told that that is expected to happen within the next few months.