Misquamicut State Beach

Misquamicut State Beach
Rhode Island State Park
Country  United States
State  Rhode Island
County Washington
Town Westerly
Elevation 7 ft (2 m) [1]
Coordinates 41°19′23″N 71°48′17″W / 41.3230°N 71.8046°W / 41.3230; -71.8046Coordinates: 41°19′23″N 71°48′17″W / 41.3230°N 71.8046°W / 41.3230; -71.8046 [1]
Established 1959
Management Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management Division of Parks & Recreation
Location in Rhode Island
Website: Misquamicut State Beach

Misquamicut State Beach is a Rhode Island state park in the town of Westerly.[2] It is a part of Misquamicut Beach which is a three-mile length of beach that extends westward from Weekapaug to Watch Hill and separates Winnapaug Pond from the Atlantic Ocean.[3]

History

The state beach was created in 1959 after a devastating hurricane in 1954 destroyed much of the Misquamicut community. In 1992, the state beach area was nearly forced to close when the forty-year-old septic system broke. The Division of Parks and Recreation was not allowed to build a new septic field so a switch was made to a waterless form of waste management. In 1999, the state built a $1.5 million bathing pavilion (the James J. Federico Jr. State Beach Pavilion) with heated shower stalls and Clivus Multrum composting toilets. The building project was completed in 2000 with a $700,000 expansion and paving of the parking lot.[3] The lot now holds up to 2700 cars.[4]

James J. Federico Jr. Pavilion at Misquamicut State Beach

Activities and amenities

The state beach offers over a half-mile of oceanfront recreation. The beach pavilion includes a gift shop, shade gazebos, lifeguard towers and outdoor cold showers.[2] Two annual music festivals, Springfest and Fallfest, are held each May and September under the auspices of the Misquamicut Business Association.[5]

References

  1. 1 2 "Misquamicut State Beach". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey.
  2. 1 2 "Misquamicut State Beach". State of Rhode Island Division of Parks & Recreation. Retrieved September 1, 2014.
  3. 1 2 "Misquamicut State Beach History". State of Rhode Island Division of Parks & Recreation. Retrieved September 1, 2014.
  4. ↑ "Beaches". Greater Westerly-Pawcatuck Area Chamber of Commerce. Retrieved September 1, 2014.
  5. ↑ "Misquamicut Business Association". Misquamicut Business Association. Retrieved September 1, 2014.
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