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News Release RI Department of Environmental Management 235 Promenade Street, Providence, RI 02908 (401) 222-2771 TDD/(401) 222-4462
DEM RECEIVES NATIONAL AWARD FOR HANDICAP ACCESSIBLE BOAT RAMP PROVIDENCE - The Department of Environmental Management has received the 2002 Outstanding Project Award from the States Organization for Boating Access (SOBA). The award recognizes DEM for outstanding accomplishments in the design, engineering, and construction of the handicap-accessible boat ramp at Haines Memorial State Park in East Providence.The award presentation took place at SOBA's 16th annual conference held this week in Mystic, CT. Frederick Vincent, Associate Director for Policy and Administration, accepted the award on behalf of the Department. "DEM is committed to making Narragansett Bay and nearby coastal waters accessible to all people," he said. "Over the past seven years, we've dedicated six accessible boat ramps in all corners of our state. We extend our thanks to SOBA for its support and recognition of our efforts." "This award helps underscore the remarkable work being done by DEM to improve coastal water accessibility for all Rhode Islanders," said Governor Lincoln Almond, who took part in the June dedication of the Haines Memorial State Park Boat Ramp. "My congratulations to the department's administration and staff for their commitment to resolving handicapped-accessibility issues and for their innovative approaches to attaining this important goal." Completed in June 2002, the boat launch improvement project at Haines Memorial State Park involved replacing the park's decades-old, 20-foot ramp with the new, larger handicap-accessible ramp and floating docks. Located on Bullocks Cove, the facility features a 60-foot wide concrete ramp. Two floating courtesy docks, one eight feet wide that is handicap-accessible and another measuring six feet wide, have been constructed on either side of the ramp. Adjacent to the boat ramp is a new paved parking area with 67 vehicle/trailer parking spaces and 12 vehicle-only parking spaces. The parking lot also includes a drainage and stormwater treatment unit that removes 80 percent of solids, such as sand and gravel, from stormwater entering Bullocks Cove from the lot. DEM's Division of Fish & Wildlife and the Department's Office of Planning & Development oversaw the design and development of the Haines Park project. Since 1996, new handicap-accessible boat launch facilities have been built at Weaver Cove in Portsmouth, Oakland Beach in Warwick, Bold Point in East Providence, Colt State Park in Bristol, Main Street in Westerly, and Haines Memorial State Park in East Providence. The SOBA award, which was presented to DEM in the mid-size access category, recognizes projects utilizing sound engineering principles; economy of design, materials and time; innovative design; ease and cost of maintenance and operation; and new or improved materials, methods, or construction practices. The organization is dedicated to encouraging and promoting federal, state and local programs that provide public boat access to inland and coastal waterways. -30- |
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