Here are some interesting news items for boaters in the East Bay area. From the top to the bottom of the bay, towns are investing in their nautical appeal and making strides to improve their waterfronts. 
On Aug 11, around 315 linear feet of waterfront property outside of the Robin Rug Factory was deeded to the town of Bristol. Located near the Elks Lodge and Rockwell Park this deed grants the town the right to build docks, slips and piers on the shore and will give the public new area to walk along the water. A public gazebo and boardwalk have been proposed, directly connecting this area to Rockwell Park. The project will greatly expand the Church Street pier, adding around 95 slips and will no doubt make the large number of boaters on the waiting list for slips very happy. The town is not planning to build this year but hopes to find a grant to aid in construction. This transformation will open up the Bristol Harbor waterfront to more Ocean State boaters, allowing them to experience all of the charm of a quintessential New England shore. 
In Little Compton, this nautical appeal is also improving as the 66-foot, 7-story Sakonnet Point Lighthouse undergoes $1.45 million in restoration. The lighthouse has endured 125 years of ocean waves, including two in 1938 that topped the structure, and is a beloved landmark in the town. The tower, which contains a light seen from up to seven miles out at sea, will be revamped from the top floor down as rust is hydro-blasted and bolts replaced. All of the plates will be newly primed and painted. This project, which began mid-June, is expected to be completed at the end of next summer and will restore the lighthouse to its former beauty. When completed, both boaters and beach-goers in the area will enjoy this spectacular ocean view. Both endeavors add to the long list of why it’s great to be a boater in the Ocean State.
On Aug 11, around 315 linear feet of waterfront property outside of the Robin Rug Factory was deeded to the town of Bristol. Located near the Elks Lodge and Rockwell Park this deed grants the town the right to build docks, slips and piers on the shore and will give the public new area to walk along the water. A public gazebo and boardwalk have been proposed, directly connecting this area to Rockwell Park. The project will greatly expand the Church Street pier, adding around 95 slips and will no doubt make the large number of boaters on the waiting list for slips very happy. The town is not planning to build this year but hopes to find a grant to aid in construction. This transformation will open up the Bristol Harbor waterfront to more Ocean State boaters, allowing them to experience all of the charm of a quintessential New England shore. In Little Compton, this nautical appeal is also improving as the 66-foot, 7-story Sakonnet Point Lighthouse undergoes $1.45 million in restoration. The lighthouse has endured 125 years of ocean waves, including two in 1938 that topped the structure, and is a beloved landmark in the town. The tower, which contains a light seen from up to seven miles out at sea, will be revamped from the top floor down as rust is hydro-blasted and bolts replaced. All of the plates will be newly primed and painted. This project, which began mid-June, is expected to be completed at the end of next summer and will restore the lighthouse to its former beauty. When completed, both boaters and beach-goers in the area will enjoy this spectacular ocean view. Both endeavors add to the long list of why it’s great to be a boater in the Ocean State.
