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Outdoors in RI: Count the ways to enjoy Parks, Beaches, Earth Day, Arbor Day, RITree
This is National Park Week
There are more than 400 national parks of different shapes, sizes, and kinds to experience. 60 Years of Memorializing Roger Williams’s New & Dangerous Opinions. Celebrate the 60th Anniversary of the establishment of Roger Williams National Memorial. The Act, passed in 1965, established the Roger Williams National Memorial in the city of Providence, Rhode Island.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, . . . for the purpose of establishing thereon a national memorial to Roger Williams in commemoration of his outstanding contributions to the development of the principles of freedom in this country.
The National Memorial in Action
Roger Williams was severely punished for speaking his beliefs, including the belief that the King had committed illegal acts in the name of religion, “a solemn public lie,” and that American colonies should separate from England. The Massachusetts Bay officials persecuted anyone who challenged their power. Roger Williams’s “dangerous” opinions were a threat to that power, setting the stage for over a century of tension that lead to the American Revolution.
In response to his banishment, Roger Williams created a new form of government that protected the rights of anyone to speak their mind and worship according to their conscience. Nobody was banished from the colony for expressing their beliefs. And religious liberty was guaranteed by prohibiting the government from enforcing any religious doctrine. Over the next several generations, these ideas evolved and spread across the colonies, eventually becoming a cornerstone of the liberties enshrined by our founding fathers in the US Constitution. Limited powers of government, democratic principles, and freedom of expression are values that contributed to the intellectual and economic prosperity of the nation. And at the core, these values establish the origin of political power as no more than the consent of the people and strict limits on the authority of government officials.
Visit this park from 10am to 4pm, Wednesday through Saturdays at 282 N Main St, in downtown Providence. The visitor center has exhibits, a short film, restrooms, bookshop, and rangers to provide information. Learn more, here: https://www.nps.gov/rowi/index.htm
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RI Tree to Celebrate Arbor Day 2025 at Providence Country Day School
Rhode Island Tree Council (RI Tree) will host this year’s celebration of Arbor Day at The Providence Country Day (PCD) School, 600 Waterman Avenue, East Providence, RI, on April 25th, starting at 11:00 a.m. This free event includes a tree-planting ceremony on PCD grounds, speakers, and a Tree City USA Awards presentation to the host communities. Tulips, London planes, and Elm trees will also be planted on PCD’s grounds as part of a school reforestation effort.
This year’s celebration will be the state’s 138th. Arbor Day recognizes the importance of trees, which provide numerous benefits to residents, including purifying the air, helping cool the earth, boosting property values, and soothing the human psyche. Trees also beautify where we live, work, and play and slow and absorb stormwater, saving taxpayers millions of dollars in annual flood damage and treatment costs. Rhode Island Energy and RI DEM are sponsoring the event. Join us as we recognize the importance of trees on this very special occasion.
For more details or questions about this year’s Arbor Day, contact RITree at 401-764-5885 or email [email protected].
Rhode Island has had a long history with Arbor Day. According to the Rhode Island Department of Education records, the first event held in Rhode Island to honor trees occurred on April 29, 1886. The Barrington Rural Improvement Society and took place on public land near the railroad station in West Barrington sponsored the event.
Arbor Day is about celebrating and appreciating trees. The day has grown from a small celebration in Nebraska in the 1800s, through ratification by the Nixon Administration, to now being celebrated all over the world. Today, it’s the most extensive effort of its kind on Earth. Trees clean our air, protect our drinking water, create healthy communities, and feed the human soul, says the Arbor Day Foundation.
Arbor Day is America’s official tree holiday. The country has celebrated it since the end of the 19th century to recognize the importance of trees. The first Arbor Day occurred in Nebraska in 1871. Former Nebraskan Agriculture Commissioner Sterling Morton, a well-respected philanthropist who had earlier founded the Morton Salt Company, organized the event.
The Rhode Island Tree Council has been a leading organizer of the Rhode Island Arbor Day Program since 1998. This year, the Tree Council has had the help of several key partners, without whom this annual endeavor would not have been possible. We appreciate and acknowledge their generous support. They are the United States Forest Service, the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management, and the Rhode Island Energy Company.
About RITree
The Rhode Island Tree Council is a tax-exempt, non-profit group dedicated to improving the state’s tree resources and educating the public on tree benefits. Composed of members, consultants, and volunteers, RITree administers its programs through its Board of Directors, Advisors, and Trustees. The group’s mission is to create healthy urban and community forests that underpin the state’s verdant ecological tapestry, support its vibrant economy, and enrich its residents’ lives. Membership is open to all. For more information about RITree or any of its programs, contact Robin Enos, Rhode Island Tree Council, at (401) 764-5885, Email: [email protected], or visit the Rhode Island Tree Council’s website at www.ritree.org.
Address for directions to: Providence Country Day School, 600 Waterman Avenue, East Providence, RI 02914, (401) 438-5170 – CONTACT: Robin Enos, Volunteer Coordinator, Rhode Island Tree Council – e-mail: [email protected] – Telephone: 401-764-5885
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Beach More, Wait Less – Buy Your State Beach Parking Pass Now
The Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management (DEM) encourages you to purchase your 2025 state beach season parking passes now. DEM starts online sales of these passes annually in January to give you plenty of time to prepare. Don’t wait until the hot weather hits and you want to get to the beach. You can purchase resident, non-resident, or senior parking passes online at www.beachparkingri.com. For step-by-step details on purchasing your state beach parking pass online, click here.
Purchasing passes in advance helps reduce wait times at entry booths. Once purchased, passes take up to 24 hours to validate, as residency, age and payment are verified. New this year, returning customers with unchanged registration information can bypass the verification process. These updates are part of DEM’s new contract with parking vendor, LAZ Parking.
If you are a frequenter at Roger Wheeler State Beach, be aware it is getting a major makeover and will open later than usual this year – mark your calendars for Saturday, June 14th. While construction will pause during the 2025 beach season, visitors can expect a smaller beach area with sections of beach being rocky. There will be fenced-off construction zones along the East and West sides of the beach, extending into the parking lot and beach front itself. Beach access will be available at both ends of the parking lot, with most visitors entering through the pavilion. The good news? Restrooms, showers, and concessions will be open for your convenience and lifeguards will be on duty. Thank you for your patience as we work to enhance you beach experience for the future.
“For many Rhode Islanders and visitors alike, the cold days of winter and rainy days of spring have everyone longing for the upcoming beach season at the Ocean State’s spectacular state beaches,” said Governor Dan McKee. “The more beachgoers who buy their parking passes ahead of time, the faster we’ll all be able get on our beautiful beaches during the busy summer ahead.”
“Now is the time to plan for this summer’s hazy, hot, and humid beach days ahead by buying your 2025 state beach season parking pass for some of the best beaches around,” said DEM Director Terry Gray. “Beach parking passes make a great gift for loved ones, friends, and co-workers any time of year, while offering quicker access to beach lots during the busy summer season.”
Beach season parking passes are available at the following rates: Resident passes – $30, Non-resident passes – $60, Resident senior passes – $15, Non-resident senior passes -$30. No-cost disability beach parking passes are available for eligible individuals; contact RI State Parks Headquarters at 401-667-6200 for more information. Season passes are non-refundable, so be sure you purchase the correct pass based on residency and/or age.
Gift certificates are available to purchase online. The gift certificates are non-refundable and cannot be redeemed for cash. If a gift certificate is lost, please contact [email protected] for assistance.
Also new this year, DEM will have a new office location to purchase beach season parking passes in person at Fishermen’s Memorial State Park & Campground at 1011 Point Judith Road, Narragansett. We hope to have this office open before Memorial Day, so please stay tuned for more information and operating hours.
Season Pass Holders can use express lanes for speedier access. Purchasing a season pass online helps keep express lanes open. Express lanes are available at all state beaches except for East Beach, Charlestown Breachway, and Salty Brine. DEM’s parking vendor, LAZ Parking, uses license plate recognition (LPR) to confirm payment for fast entry. Please allow space at the gate for LRP scanning; bumper-to-bumper driving may cause delays. Season passes are linked electronically to your license plate, so no physical pass is needed.
For more information on DEM programs and initiatives, visit www.dem.ri.gov. Follow DEM on Facebook, Twitter/X (@RhodeIslandDEM), or Instagram (@rhodeisland.dem) for timely updates. Sign up here to receive the latest press releases, news, and events from DEM’s Public Affairs Office to your inbox.
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Earth Day
In celebration of Earth Day, Governor Dan McKee and First Lady Susan McKee were joined by Cranston Mayor Ken Hopkins and state and local officials for a community cleanup at Cooney playground in Cranston as part of the First Lady’s Litter-Free Rhode Island initiative.
Litter-Free Rhode Island brings together the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management (RIDEM), the Rhode Island Department of Transportation (RIDOT), and the Rhode Island Division of Motor Vehicles (RIDMV) to engage Rhode Islanders in keeping our state clean, beautiful, and litter-free.
RIDEM is reminding Rhode Islanders that applications for Litter-Free Rhode Island’s Spring microgrant are open through May 15, 2025, and are available here. Grants up to $500 are available to qualified applicants who host volunteer cleanups or beautification projects. Cleanups and projects must be completed by June 30, 2025. Awards will be given out on a rolling basis and are issued through the Rhode Island Infrastructure Bank.
To address the significant amount of litter being found along Rhode Island’s roadsides, RIDOT has launched a public awareness campaign urging motorists to do their part in keeping Rhode Island litter-free.
RIDMV is now distributing reusable Litter-Free Rhode Island “litter bags” and playing a litter-free informational video at DMV offices statewide to help spread the program’s message. New to the program this year is the Litter-Free Rhode Island coloring book, co-authored by the First Lady and members of the Governor’s Young Leaders Advisory Group. The First Lady has been travelling to schools across the state to distribute the coloring books and encourage students to help keep our state clean.
Some litter facts:
- More than one million gallons of litter cleaned off state roads in 2024
- More than $100,000 in microgrants awarded to 166 community organizations and volunteer groups to support cleanups and beautification projects across the state
- Approximately 2,000 Litter-Rhode Island coloring books distributed to local schools and community groups to encourage kids to help keep our state beautiful
- More than 5,000 reusable litter bags distributed through Rhode Island DMV offices to help prevent littering on our roads
- ri
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