EDITORIAL

Our children are waiting

Posted 1/22/15

We were at Rocky Point to photograph the sun rise on New Year’s Day last year. Our photographer could have yelled his lungs empty, yet no one was close enough to hear him.

We were at Rocky Point …

This item is available in full to subscribers.

Please log in to continue

E-mail
Password
Log in
EDITORIAL

Our children are waiting

Posted

We were at Rocky Point to photograph the sun rise on New Year’s Day last year. Our photographer could have yelled his lungs empty, yet no one was close enough to hear him.

We were at Rocky Point to photograph the sun set on the last day of the year. Our photographer again found himself alone.

In between, we’ve seen incredible things happen to the park in 2014. Members of the Beacon staff formed a team of 13 to take part in the Rocky Point 5k last spring. We saw a Bio-Blitz wildlife survey identify over 1,000 species of life that call the park home.

After obtaining the state’s permission, which required a $1 million liability insurance policy and agreements not to disturb the property, we were granted access to the state-owned portion of the park to photograph existing conditions. We were saddened by what we saw in the old Shore Dinner Hall and Palladium, at the old cottages and the former Midway.

We followed with eager anticipation the cleanup efforts in the park last summer. We were awed at the transformation that took place, the amount of effort it took to complete the project, and the massive piles of debris that were removed.

We were encouraged by the state’s opening day ceremonies in October, where dignitaries spoke of the ghosts of the park’s past. We were stunned by the turnout at the park’s open house the following day, where nearly 15,000 came to see what some have now referred to as “Rhode Island’s Field of Dreams.”

We cheered when the fence separating the state and city was finally taken down, giving free access to the entire property.

We’ve spoken with nearly every state agency, political figure and volunteer organizations affiliated with the park. We’ve also volunteered for the Rocky Point Foundation, of which our publisher, John Howell, is president.

We’ve taken our families and children to the park and have created more memories there in the last 12 months then the last two decades. We’ve heard countless park stories from our readers, and we’re thrilled with the park’s progress.

But we still feel empty inside. And when we visit the park, more often than not there are only a handful of people there.

Rocky Point has always been best served when enjoyed by groups. The more, the merrier. Evidence of this can be seen in the attendance of the park’s first official event of 2015, the First Day Hike, where roughly 300 people joined, nearly 10 times the anticipated number.

With the new year upon us, let 2014 be the last year that children’s laughter from riding an amusement style ride goes unheard. Be it from a traveling carnival, a local fundraising event, or a Rocky Point Day celebration, let’s embrace the long history of the park, if only for a day.

In 1994, just before the park closed, longtime Beacon writer Joe Kernan wrote the following about the Rocky Point Carousel:

“Save this ride for getting close to your smallest child. There is something about comforting an apprehensive toddler on a merry-go-round that is as timeless as summer itself. The soothing motion and sweet calliope music will become memories of a shared adventure for a young family, and no mother or father deserving of the name would deny a child or themselves the gentle drama of the carousel. It’s one of the few moments in one’s career as a parent where you can say, ‘Everything is going to be all right,’ with no reservations at all.”

Rocky Point has reopened, and our children are waiting.

Comments

3 comments on this item Please log in to comment by clicking here

  • JohnStark

    As a frequent critic of government, allow me to be the first to commend those public officials who worked to turn the old park into an absolute gem. A few humble suggestions:

    1. Open the back (large) parking lot in the spring. The Rocky Point Rd/Palmer access will not accommodate the number of cars when the weather turns warm.

    2. Link a Clean Up Day with the annual Buckeye Brook clean up in the spring. And because there are very few trash barrels on the property, encourage visitors to "Carry In, Carry Out".

    3. Install signs at all entrances warning people that neither the city nor state is not responsible when you act like an idiot and fall off one of the cliffs.

    Other than that, I wouldn't change or add a thing.

    Thursday, January 22, 2015 Report this

  • mthompsondc

    Well said.

    Thursday, January 22, 2015 Report this

  • ddavejb

    I took a long hike around the park today. It was the first time I had been back since the opening ceremonies in October, and also the first time since the city fence came down. At first I was struck by the vast beauty and serenity of it all. Then, as I got to where the old midway and rides were, and saw the Skyliner towers and the Arch, I was overwhelmed with all of the memories of my time spent in that wonderful amusement park. I was actually surprised at how emotional the experience of being there was. I know a generation of people have come along that never had the chance to experience Rocky Point the amusement park, and I'm a little sad about that, but I couldn't be happier this very special property is open for the enjoyment of the public again.

    Friday, January 23, 2015 Report this