Shaping A Future: Aquidneck Island Achievements 1997-2002 AQUIDNECK ISLAND PARTNERSHIP A project of URI Coastal Resources Center/Rhode Island Sea Grant Additional copies of this publication are available from the Rhode Island Photo Credits Sea Grant Communications Office, University of Rhode Island Bay Campus, Cover photo: LANDSAT Photo of Narragansett Bay courtesy of Coastal Resources Center Narragansett, RI 02882-1197. Order P1634. Photo of Peter Merritt courtesy of Aquidneck Island Land Trust Loan copies of this publication are available from the National Sea Grant Page 4: Background photo by Elizabeth Matthews; inset courtesy of Fort Adams Trust Depository, Pell Library Building, University of Rhode Island Bay Campus, Narragansett, RI 02882-1197. Order RIU-G-02-001. Also available at the Page 5: Photo of John Tucker by Katharine McDuffie; photo of Dr. Robert Quigley by Katharine McDuffie; photo of Sister M. Therese Antone courtesy of Salve Regina University; photo of David Newport, Middletown, and Portsmouth public libraries. Hunter by Sue Kennedy Page 6: Photo by Ann Madden This publication is sponsored in part by Rhode Island Sea Grant, under NOAA Grant No. NA 16RG1057 and by the University of Rhode Island Coastal Page 7: Bike photo courtesy of Coastal Resources Center; Perrotti Park sculpture photo by Sue Resources Center, Alletta Morris McBean Charitable Trust, Prince Charitable Kennedy; Fort Adams photo by Sue Kennedy; group photo courtesy of Norman Bird Sanctuary Trusts, Prospect Hill Foundation, and van Beuren Charitable Foundation. The Page 8: Photo by Monica Allard Cox views expressed herein are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect Page 9: Thames St. photo by Monica Allard Cox; lighthouse photo courtesy of Rose Island the views of NOAA or any of its sub-agencies. The U.S. Government is authorized Lighthouse Foundation; Rose Island photo courtesy of Puffin Enterprises to produce and distribute reprints for governmental purposes notwithstanding any copyright notation that may appear hereon. Page 10: Background photo courtesy of Church Community Housing Corporation; inset photo by Sue Kennedy This document should be referenced as: Page 11: Student photo by Sue Kennedy; community police photo by Sue Kennedy; child photo courtesy of Norman Bird Sanctuary; chef photo by Melissa Devine McCann, J., S. Kennedy, and E. Matthews. 2002. Shaping a Future: Aquidneck Island Achievements, 1997-2002. Rhode Island Sea Grant. Page 12: Festival photo courtesy Rhode Island Tourism Division; child photo courtesy of Sullivan School Family Center; house photo courtesy of Church Community Housing Corporation; Church Narragansett, RI. 24 pp. Community Housing Corporation staff photo by Sue Kennedy Aquidneck Island Partnership Coastal Management Report # 3308 Page 13: Windmill photo by Celeste Allard; Child & Family Services photo by Sue Kennedy; bridge photo courtesy Puffin Enterprises Printed on recycled paper Page 14: Photo courtesy Rhode Island Tourism Division Page 15: Anechoic chamber photo courtesy of Naval Undersea Warfare Center (NUWC); Elms photo courtesy Rhode Island Tourism Division; skater photo by Monica Allard Cox Page 16: Inset photo by Elizabeth Matthews; sailboats photo courtesy of International Yacht Restoration School; lobsterman photo by Elizabeth Matthews Page 17: NUWC engineer photo courtesy of NUWC; farm photo by Sue Kennedy; business- woman photo by Sue Kennedy Page 18: Background photo by Elizabeth Matthews; inset photo courtesy Puffin Enterprises Page 19: Bicyclist photo by Celeste Allard; walker photos by Sue Kennedy; RIPTA photo by Rhode Island Monica Allard Cox Page 20: Plane photo by Sue Kennedy; Ochre Court photo by Sue Kennedy; students photo by Sue Kennedy; RIPTA photo by Monica Allard Cox Page 21: Photo by Ann Madden AQUIDNECK ISLAND PARTNERSHIP A project of URI Coastal Resources Center/Rhode Island Sea Grant Inside back cover photo by Celeste Allard Shaping A Future: Aquidneck Island Achievements 1997-2002 1 Shaping a Future: Aquidneck Island Achievements, 1997– 2002 is dedicated to the memory of Peter Merritt, whose vision raised islanders’ awareness of land, social, economic, and transportation issues. Merritt was one of the people who helped make the idea of protecting resources a goal for all islanders. As a founding board member of the Aquidneck Island Land Trust, Merritt played a key role in preserving open spaces and cultural sites that are intrinsically Aquidneck Island. He served on the boards of Child & Family Services and The Foundation For Newport, and was a principal of the Newport Appraisal Group. In recognition of his ability to find creative solutions to difficult problems, the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Manage- ment awarded Merritt the 2000 Alfred Hawkes Award for Peter Merritt, July 15, 1943–June 15, 2000 environmental achievement. The Aquidneck Island Partner- ship dedicates this publication to Merritt, honoring his vision and the steps being taken to achieve it. 2 Aquidneck Island: Shaping a Future In the last decade, development pressures have made island residents more aware of the limitations of their island boundaries. In 1997, Aquidneck Islanders undertook a community visioning process to determine those attributes of their island that they wanted to enhance and preserve for future generations. People sought to preserve land and public access points, attract good jobs, improve transportation, enhance neighborhood safety, prepare for an aging population, and provide quality education and health care. These desires are captured in the 1999 publication Aquidneck Island: Our Shared Vision. Shaping a Future: Aquidneck Island Achievements 1997–2002 documents the progress islanders have made towards their vision by highlighting recent accomplishments in four key areas identified in the Shared Vision: a Livable Landscape, Social Well-being, a Strong Local Economy, and Multiple Modes of Transportation. These stories show how individual accomplishments can collec- tively improve community life. For those who would like to join in these efforts, or for more information, contact the organizations listed beginning on page 22. Those who would like to create and implement a guiding vision for their own communities can now look to Aquidneck Island’s example. 3 Preserving the island’s unique character and quality of life 4 The 2001 People’s Choice Award Winners: Leaders of the Aquidneck Island Shared Vision As the culmination of the 2001 Aquidneck Island Celebration, a month-long series of events showcasing the accom- plishments islanders have made towards achieving their shared vision, the Aquidneck Island Partnership hosted a reception to honor the winners of the People’s Choice Awards. The winners are models of the progress being made by the community since 1997 to preserve or enhance natural, social, and economic resources on Aquidneck Island. John Tucker: Tireless Volunteer for Salve Regina University: Students Hop Transportation and Zoning Issues RIPTA Buses and Cut Traffic Congestion As a member of the Middletown Planning To alleviate traffic congestion in the city, Board and Middletown Comprehensive Plan Newport’s Salve Regina University banned Committee, John Tucker has addressed island- its boarding students from keeping cars on wide transportation issues, organizing a campus and partnered with the Rhode demonstration and successfully lobbying Island Public Transit Authority (RIPTA) to island communities to fund a bike map. The turn school identification cards into RIPTA Middletown resident is working to create an bus “passes.” Students now take RIPTA Agricultural Zone for Middletown. trolleys and buses to classes and down- John Tucker, town, as well as to other colleges and Sister M. Therese Antone, Middletown resident destinations. President of Salve Regina University Dr. Robert Quigley: Leader for Islandwide Coordination and Municipal Cooperation Glen Manor House Authority: Self-supporting Dr. Robert Quigley’s efforts on the West Side Historic Home Enriches Island Culture of Aquidneck Island have advanced island Island residents recognized Glen Manor planning and brought divergent groups House Authority volunteers for saving the together. A member of the Aquidneck Island Glen Manor House, a historic manor that Planning Commission (AIPC), vice chair of the would likely have been torn down or con- Rhode Island Transportation Advisory Com- verted into town houses if left unattended. mittee, and a Portsmouth Planning Board Volunteers, armed with a clearly defined member, Quigley has encouraged coopera- vision and action plan, formed the authority tion and special initiatives among Newport, Dr. Robert Quigley, AIPC West Side Master in 1975, and by the late 1980s had obtained Middletown, Portsmouth, and Naval Station Plan Task Force Chairman the money and expertise needed to preserve David Hunter, Chairman Newport. Quigley, a Portsmouth resident, has Glen Manor House the manor. In 2000, the house authority, helped create statewide interest in, and Authority through tours, special events, and facility support for, the island’s regional planning rentals, supported additional refurbishing of the property and approach. contributed $96,000 to the town of Portsmouth general fund. 5 Preserve access to the coast and link open space areas 6 Livable Landscape Link open space areas so that individuals may walk or ride their bikes from one end of the island to the other Island Accomplishments • During the spring of 1999, the Aquidneck Island Partnership (AIP) led