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News Release
RI Department of Environmental Management
235 Promenade Street, Providence, RI 02908
(401) 222-2771 TDD/(401) 222-4462
For Release: December 5, 2002
Contact: Gail Mastrati 222-4700 ext. 2402
Stephanie Powell 222-4700 ext. 4418

DEM WARNS: NO SAFE ICE YET AT STATE PARKS
State Park Ice Information Telephone Line Open; Online Ice Safety Guide Available

PROVIDENCE - Despite the early cold spell, the Department of Environmental Management says that, as of today, there is no safe ice at Rhode Island state parks.

DEM's Division of Parks and Recreation provides information about Lincoln Woods State Park in Lincoln, World War II Memorial State Park in Woonsocket, Meshanticut State Park in Cranston, and Goddard Memorial State Park in Warwick on its 24-hour Ice Information telephone line, 222-2632, which is now operational.

DEM does not monitor ice conditions in local communities. Residents should contact their local recreation departments for skating opportunities and conditions in individual communities.

Ice must have a uniform thickness of at least six inches before it may be considered safe for skating by DEM. It generally takes at least five to seven days of temperatures in the low 20s before ice may become safe. Even then, the strength of the ice is determined by a number of factors such as the size and depth of a pond, presence of springs or currents, and local temperature fluctuations. Ice rarely becomes safe this early in the season because water temperatures are not yet at their lowest point.

DEM has an ice safety guide that can be found online at its website, www.dem.ri.gov, by clicking on Parks and Recreation under Programs. Developed by DEM's Ice Safety Committee, the guide has safety tips, information on ice strength, and information on what to do if a person were to fall through the ice. The first safety tip: never assume the ice is safe. Among the others: never skate alone or on an untested lake or pond; never use the ice for a shortcut; and never go out onto the ice after an animal or a toy.

DEM encourages skaters to utilize skating rinks to ensure ice safety. The guide lists municipal ice skating rinks and their telephone numbers, and provides links to those with websites.

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For General Information 222-6800 • After Hours Emergencies 222-3070 • Disclaimer