| Steet Designation | R-O-W Designation No. The following descriptive information for the sites was obtained from http://www.onlinebristol.com/index.cfm/ID/75/Page/Shoreline_Access_Points |
| Beach Road | S-1 Located at the westerly end of Beach Road, off Hope Street, this site is a narrow, paved right-of-way leading to a guardrail and two benches overlooking northern Narragansett Bay. Parking is limited on the narrow streets. This access point is marked with a CRMC sign. |
| Surf Drive | (Town) Located at the northerly end of Surf Drive, this right of way was granted to the Town as part of a subdivision dedication. It is a 10 foot pathway to the shore on Narragansett Bay. |
| Gibson Road | S-2 Though there is no apparent public ROW at the end of Gibson Road, the ROW is offset to the south and is now almost completely occupied at its western end by a rip-rap drainage swale. Town plans to improve the ROW with a walkway, handrails, ramps, benches and landscaping. This access area has been recognized as public by CRMC and is marked with a CRMC coastal access sign. |
| Fales Road | S-3 An extension of the west end of Fales Road, off Hope Street, this right-of-way is a concrete ramp leading down to a cobble beach on Narragansett Bay. Not suitable as a trailered boat launch, it offers a nice view of the Bay and is popular for shell fishing. Fales Road access area is marked with a CRMC coastal access sign. |
| Constitution Street | S-4 Located at the end of Constitution Street, off Thames Street in downtown Bristol. This ROW provides access to a small beach via a ramp through the seawall at the end of the road. It is located between the Coast Guard station on the south and a carpet factory and the Elks Lodge on the north. There is a CRMC coastal access sign at the site. |
| Union Street | S-5 Located at the westerly end of Union Street, off Hope Street, this is a 40-foot wide right-of-way with a grassy area and benches. It leads down to a seawall and a ramp walkway to a sandy and gravel beach. This site is ideal for wading and swimming or for viewing the harbor and boats. There is onsite parking and a CRMC access sign. |
| Walley Street | S-6 Located at the westerly extension of Walley Street, off Hope Street, there is an expansive lawn sloping down to a cobble shoreline of Bristol Harbor. The grassy area is good for sunbathing, picnicking, or viewing the harbor and boats. There is limited parking on site. There is also a CRMC coastal access sign at the site. |
| Low Lane | S-18 At the end of Low Lane, off Ferry Road, is a 150-foot long overgrown, uneven dirt path leading down to a cobble beach and a small breakwater on the upper East Passage of Narragansett Bay. This site offers a nice view of the Newport Bridge, Hog Island, and passing boats. It is possible to walk a short distance down the beach in either direction. Parking is available for one or two cars in the ROW, and there is limited additional parking on the street. Low Lane is a CRMC-designated public ROW. |
| North Street | S-7 A narrow extension of North Street off Slocum Street, this right-of-way (ROW) is a dirt road leading about 30 yards to the shoreline of the Kickemuit River. There is a nice view of the river and boats, and the spot could be used for launching small boats. However, there is no onsite parking available and only limited parking on very narrow streets. This site is a CRMC-designated access point. |
| Butterworth Avenue | S-8 Small right-of-way located at the end of Butterworth Avenue. This ROW leads into a thick stand of reeds which you can't see around or get through to the Kickemuit River without crossing private property. No good parking on site. Best if left for neighborhood use only. CRMC coastal access sign at site. |
| Azalea Drive | S-9 Located at the extension of Azalea Drive off Hawthorne Street, this is a paved right-of-way located in residential area between two houses, leading to a steep dirt ramp to the Kickemuit River. It is possible to launch boats here, but it would be tricky, and there is no trailer parking. There is a CRMC coastal access sign at site. |
| Fatima Drive | S-10 This is a narrow right-of-way (ROW) at the east end of Fatima Drive, off Everett Street. It leads between two fences to a seawall above a fringing salt march on the Kickemuit River. No parking is permitted in the ROW, but there is limited parking allowed on the street. This access point is recognized by CRMC and has a coastal access sign. |
| San Miquel Drive | S-11 A paved extension of San Miguel Drive ends at a gentle dirt ramp and a fringing march on the Kickemuit River. Boats could possibly be launched here. There is no onsite parking, but limited parking is available on the street. San Miguel Drive ROW has a CRMC coastal access sign. |
| Sherman Avenue | S-12 This site is a paved extension of Sherman Avenue with a newly constructed concrete boat ramp to the dirt beach on the Kickemuit River. Boats could possibly be launched here. There is no onsite parking, but limited parking is available on the street. There is a CRMC coastal access sign at the ROW. |
| Smith Avenue | S-13 Located at the extension of Smith Street, off Kickemuit Avenue, this right-of-way is a paved extension leading to a rundown concrete boat ramp, to a gravel path, and on through a fringing marsh on the Bristol Narrows section of the Kickemuit River. No onsite parking is permitted but there is limited parking on the narrow street. This site is probably best for neighborhood use only. There is a CRMC coastal access sign located at the ROW. |
| Kickemuit Avenue | S-14 This is a paved ROW at the extension of Kickemuit Avenue, leading to a narrow dirt path through the reeds and down the rocks to a dirt shoreline of the Kickemuit River. Not much of a view and no place to go from here. No parking is permitted in the ROW but there is limited parking on the street. A CRMC access sign is located at the ROW. |
| Narrows Road | S-15 At the end of Narrows Road a tricky path down some rocks leads to a cobble beach on Mount Hope Bay. Narrows Road is a CRMC-designated access point. A road on the left leads out to the Narrows Fishing Area. Narrows Peninsula: A sandy and gravelly spit of land forming one side of the Bristol Narrows. This site is used mostly as a boat launch and fishing area. There is parking available on-site for vehicles and trailers. Site provides a great view of Touisset, Fall River and Mount Hope Bay. This is a new CRMC-designated site. |
| Sunrise Drive | S-16 This site is a paved extension of Sunrise Drive leading to a rock step-down and to a cobble beach with a nice view of Mount Hope Bay, the Bristol Narrows, and Fall River. There is limited onsite and streetside parking. There is a CRMC access sign at site. |
| Anawamscott Drive | S-17 Located at the east end of Annawamscutt Drive, off Metacom Avenue, this site is a wide, paved right-of-way with sufficient parking. While it is tricky getting down the bank, those who make the decent will find a cobble beach with a scenic view of Mount Hope Bay and Fall River. It is also possible to walk the shoreline to the south and connect with the Mount Hope Fishing Access Area. There is a CRMC coastal access sign at the site. Limited parking is available. |
| Mount Hope Fishing Area | S-?? Located off Annawamscutt Drive, this access has a single-width, concrete slab boat ramp with a breakwater fronting Mount Hope Bay. Adjacent to the boat ramp is a cobble beach and a fringing marsh. One can walk along the shoreline in either direction for fishing or for a view of Mount Hope Bay and Fall River. There is parking for about 10 vehicles with trailers or about 20 vehicles without trailers, with possible additional parking along the entrance road. |
| Poppasquash Road (beach lot) | S-19 Located at the head of Bristol Harbor, this site extends generally southeast from a stone wall bordering Poppasquash Road, over a stretch of marsh grass, to a cobble beach bordering the head of Bristol Harbor. (MK note: It is not known if this land includes that east of the condo' complex at the head of the Harbor.) |
| Mill Pond Inlet | S-?? Located off the south side of Poppasquash Road, at the inlet to Mill Pond on Bristol Harbor, this site is a small pull-off parking area. There is a nice view of the upper end of the harbor, Mill Pond, and the East Bay Bike Path. The site is marked with a CRMC coastal access sign. |
| Burton Street | S-23 Located off Hope Street. There is a seawall with sidewalk, but no access to the shoreline. This access point is recognized as a public ROW by CRMC and is so marked by a coastal access sign. |
| Rockwell Park | S-?? Located just north of the Prudence Island ferry dock on Bristol Harbor, this park has recently been redeveloped as a waterfront park with benches, brick walkways, a small playground, and a wooden T dock extending into the water. A nice place to site or walk out on to the dock for a view of the harbor and boats. Two hour parking is available along Thames Street. The site is marked with a CRMC coastal access sign. |
| State Street | S-20 The Bristol Town boat launch ramp is located at the end of State Street off of Thames Street. This single width ramp provides access to Bristol Harbor via a narrow channel between two piers. There is plenty of parking for trailers adjacent to the ramp and on the State Street Pier but the parking is limited to town residents with stickers. Parking for vehicles without trailers is available on Thames or State Streets. The State Street Pier is adjacent to the boat launch. The site is marked with a CRMC coastal access sign. |
| Franklin Street | S-21 Located at the westerly end of Franklin Street, this ROW has been integrated into Independence Park. This ROW is recognized by CRMC and is so marked with a CRMC coastal access sign. |
| Independence Park | S-21/22 This is an open, grassy State-owned park on Bristol Harbor, between the extensions of Franklin Street and Oliver Street. There is a wide concrete road parallel to the shoreline, with room for parking. The shoreline has a rock wall used for fishing, and a gravel beach area that serves as a wide boat launching area. There is parking for vehicles with trailers adjacent to the beach. |
| Oliver Street | S-22 The extension of Oliver Street off Thames Street forms the entrance to the shoreline road and boat launching area in Independence Park as well as the southern extent of the East Bay bike path. This area is recognized as public ROW by CRMC and is so marked. |
| Bradford Street | Not Public |
| Church Street | Unresolved: Church Street Pier, nestled between the rug factory and the community center, this site offers a view of the urban waterfront of Bristol Harbor. No swimming or fishing is allowed from the town pier which is next to the Prudence Island Ferry dock. There is a picnicking area west of the community center. Parking near the pier is limited to boat owners, but two hour parking is available on the street. |
| Bayview (Clipper Way) | S-25 An extension of Clipper Way, this site is not clearly delineated and appears to be private property. This is a newly adopted CRMC site, therefore no sign has been posted as of yet. The ROW is heavily wooded and is not easily traversed. |
| Narrows Peninsula | S-26 A sandy and gravelly spit of land forming one side of the Bristol Narrows. This site is used mostly as a boat launch and fishing area. There is parking available on-site for vehicles and trailers. Site provides a great view of Touisset, Fall River and Mount Hope Bay. This is a new CRMC-designated site. |
| Platt Street | S-27 Platt Street (Narrows Coastal Access): This site is off King Phillip Avenue near the junction with Platt Street. There is a set of concrete stairs and a walkway leading down to a grassy area with benches and nice view of Mount Hope Bay, Bristol Narrows, and Fall River. A set of stairs leads from a cobble beach below. Well marked with a large sign. Parking is available on the street. |
| Aaron Avenue | S-29 Known as ?Narragansett Heights,? this public ROW has long been used and maintained by neighborhood residents. Located at the end of Aaron Avenue, this access area is a large lawn with a great view of Narragansett Bay. |
| Peck Avenue | S-24 Located at the end of Peck Avenue, west of the bike path, this is a partially grassed and overgrown ROW located between two residences. The ROW appears to be a private property and is not clearly delineated or marked. It is a recently adopted CRMC right-of-way. |
| King Philip | S-28 Located off King Phillip Drive, between Leahy Drive and Annawamscutt Drive, this is a wide, grassy right-of-way leading about 40 yards down to a cobble beach with a view of Mount Hope Bay and Fall River. The site is marked with a public right-of-way sign and there is limited on-street parking available. |
Totals:
29 Public
1 Not Public
1 Unresolved
Tot: 31
As of 1992, there are 35 shoreline public access points designated by the Town of Bristol and/or the Rhode Island Coastal Resource Management Council (CRMC) in Bristol. (Provided by the Bristol Town Clerk's office.)