I-Team: Residents oppose campground expansion
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Campground Opposition
Some residents of Narragansett don't want to see a state campground expand.NARRAGANSETT, R.I.—Rhode Island’s planned expansion of the campground at the Fisherman’s Memorial State Park in Narragansett is coming under fire.
The NBC 10 I-Team revealed last year that the Coastal Resources Management Council had issued a cease-and-desist order against the state Department of Environmental Management.
The DEM had cleared acres of land on the Fisherman’s Memorial Campground site that the CRMC says is wetlands.
The DEM wants to expand the campground by adding 22 more campsites.
Residents whose property abuts the proposed new campsite are outraged.
“I’m not happy about it at all for a number of reasons. First of all, this is wetlands. In the springtime, you can look through that fence and see puddles and puddles of water,“ said Vinny Mattera, a resident since 1967.
Fisherman’s Memorial State Park and Campground
Coastal Resources Management Council
Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management
DEM Director Michael Sullivan said the popular campsite needs to expand to meet the needs of Rhode Islanders.
“The property was bought in the 90s explicitly for campground expansion. We paid close to $1.4 million and haven’t fulfilled that expanded need,“ Sullivan said.
Sullivan questions weather the wetlands issue is legitimate. There used to be 10 homes on this same property.
But the residents—and Save the Bay—all oppose the expansion.
But Sullivan said the “not in my back yard” attitude of the neighbors comes second to the public’s needs.
“The campground is sold out from last weekend through Labor Day. So, there’s a need and a greater good,“ Sullivan said.
The public will have a chance to weigh in on the proposed expansion before it becomes final.
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Reader Reactions
if its tents and rv’s who cares there not putting foundations in and they arnt getting eaten alive by mosquito’s and horse flies. Sub division no campgrounds yes i like camping and its a good way to experience the environment as long as people dont trash the place. Many fishing places I frequent people smash bottles and litter, its a shame because dem busts everyone"s beans who goes there because of a few a$$holes. I always try and pick up what i can when necessary.
Mr. Sullivan continues to ignore the wetlands issue and distract by his NIMBY remark. DEM is in EVERYONE’s backyard in RI…the area cleared is acknowledged wetlands and his comment about “the greater good” is in direct conflict with his own agency’s mission.
There is no “greater good” than our environment.
This is just like the people on Nantucket who oppose the cape wind farm windmills. They should learn from the Narragansett people and use the wetlands approach to slow it down in court too. Why didn’t they think of that ?
Hay in the spring i see puddles on Rt. 44, it must be a wetland. 
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