State acquires R.I.’s highest point, Jerimoth Hill

FOSTER – Officials celebrated the state’s acquisition of Jerimoth Hill, Rhode Island’s highest point at 812 feet, on Wednesday morning.
The 5.58-acre parcel of land on Route 101 was acquired by DEM from Brown University.
Six years ago, the state purchased the abutting Mosley property, which provides legal access to Jerimoth Hill.
Obtaining legal public access to the high point and liability concerns over the public use of the Brown University property had been a constant concern for the state, Brown University and for hikers, according to a press release from the governor’s office. The Brown University site provides final resolution to these issues, it said.
“I am pleased to see the culmination of an effort I started as a U.S. senator,” Gov. Lincoln D. Chafee said in a statement. “I wanted to ensure that Rhode Islanders and the ‘highpointers’ will have access and be able to enjoy our state’s highest elevation. I commend Rhode Island’s Department of Environmental Management for working hard to secure the deed to Jerimoth Hill. With this deed, Rhode Island gains another great natural asset.”

Chafee was joined at the event by state Department of Environmental Management Director Janet Coit, as well as other state, local and Brown University officials, and members of the Highpointers Club.

“Jerimoth Hill is the highest natural point in our state, and thanks to the efforts of Governor Chafee, it now belongs to the people of Rhode Island,” Coit said.

Jerimoth Hill is immediately open to the public, and DEM will be making improvements at the site to provide for increased public access. The abutting Mosley property will be developed to provide for a permanent entrance to Jerimoth Hill, signage and a small parking area for the site.

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David Targan, associate dean of the college at Brown University and director of the Ladd Observatory said, “We look forward to continued collaboration with state and local officials so that this area can be preserved for anybody wishing to experience the splendor of the night sky, unimpeded by light pollution. The astronomy staff and faculty of Brown’s Department of Physics are committed to helping visitors to this site take advantage of the dark skies that this site has to offer, for viewing comets, meteor showers or other objects that are invisible from the city.”

As part of the agreement, the state will allow Brown University to continue to utilize a 2,000-square-foot portion of the property for astronomical study for a 50-year period. An additional non-exclusive easement area will be retained by the university as a “No Obstruction Zone” to prevent obstructions for night sky observations.

The purchase price for the parcel was $100,000, with $80,000 in funding provided from the R.I. Department of Transportation’s Federal Highway Enhancement Program. The remaining $20,000 comes from the state’s Open Space Bond program.

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