Sen. Jack Reed calls Save The Bay’s project the “completion of a circle” for the property.
Resurrecting a former shipyard with a birds-eye view down Narragansett Bay, to become the future home of Save The Bay’s “Explore the Bay Center” seems almost too perfect. Save The Bay officials aren’t concerned the site known as Sunshine Island — a portion of Field’s Point located on Johnson & Wales University’s Harborside Campus — is a Brownfield. A Brown-field is a federally designated area, where any redevelopment is complicated by actual or perceived contamination.
Instead, many agree it is the perfect place for the new educational facility, an even more perfect fit for the organization’s mission and will eventually become the “centerpiece” for a cleaner Narragansett Bay.
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”I think it’s a tremendous statement,” said Joan Abrams, past president of the organization, and co-chair of its Explore the Bay Capital Campaign. “We are talking about what would have been called ‘polluted land’ and bringing it back for educational purposes. We are absolutely delighted.”
At a press conference last week, Save The Bay announced that it had received a $75,000 grant from the federal Environmental Protection Agency to assess the environmental conditions of the Fields Point property. The assessment determines the level of contamination at the site and estimates the cleanup costs necessary to make the site suitable for development.
”We are anxious to role up our sleeves and go out and do the assessment,” said Mindy S. Lubber, regional administrator at EPA’s New England office. “I think this property is an educational and environmental gold mine.”
U.S. Sen. Jack Reed praised Save The Bay’s proposed use for the land, which has been home to a shipyard, a drive-in theater and the Ice Bowl, the state’s first ice rink.
Campaign co-chairs Joan Abrams and Kate Kilguss Alingul and dir. Curt Spaulding accept a check from Mindy Lubber of the EPA.
”It has come full circle,” Reed said. “Before World War II when this land was turned into a military shipyard, it was a beach. At the turn of the century people walked from Federal Hill and Edgewood to learn about the bay by experiencing it. Now we are once again going to see children and families coming here to experience the bay and learn about it and recognize that the bay belongs to every Rhode Islander.”
According to Abrams, the new museum and marine educational facility will be a family-oriented destination aimed at meeting the needs of the inner city community. With exhibits, maps, simulations, and display tanks inside the building and walking trails, docks, and picnic areas along the property, the idea is for visitors to “linger, learn and appreciate the beauty and bounty of the bay.” Plans also call for public transportation to be available to and from the new center.
”We believe all children and families have the right to have access to the water,” she said. “The key to this effort is to get the under-served community.”
The educational center is only one part of the $6.5 million Explore the Bay Capital Campaign, which was officially launched in March. According to Curt Spalding, Save The Bay’s executive director, more than $2.6 million has already been raised. The additional funds will be used to build two new boats, one of which has been ordered, and a $2 million endowment. Citizen’s Bank also announced a $250,000 grant to the organization at its press conference. According to Mark Formica, vice chairman of Citizens Financial Group, Inc., the grant will be used to provide inner city, middle school students will access to Narragansett Bay.
”Save The Bay is fortunate to have the on-going support of Citizens Bank,” Spalding said. “We have received tremendous support from them in the past and their leadership role in this campaign will provide urban students with bay-based experiences that advance school curriculum.”
Spalding said the effects of teaching school-age children about the importance of Narragansett Bay should have far-reaching effects.
”It’s incredibly important to our mission that we empower children to learn about the bay,” he said. “One day these children will be the voters of this state, will hopefully guarantee this vision and our objectives by ensuring that future generations of leaders, and decision makers will cherish and protect the bay.”
