Protecting Rhode Island’s Small Spaces

By TIM FAULKNER/ecoRI News staff

Saving large swaths of open space and farmland has long been the mission of land trusts and environmental groups. But some land preservation organizations are starting to think a little smaller.

In addition to protecting large rural tracts of land, the Aquidneck Land Trust (ALT) is trying to preserve Newport parks and residential lots, so city dwellers can readily enjoy the scarce open space along with the aquatic habitat.

In 2009, ALT began protecting parks that, despite being open to the public, might still have been developed. Some land donors request open space protection, but not all have permanent building restrictions. So despite the wishes of donors and promises from city officials, most land owned by a city or town can still be sold off.

“Intentions change all the time, especially with political changes every two years,” said Ted Clement, ALT's executive director.

Last year, ALT paid Newport $50,000 to buy perpetual conservation easements for more than 9 acres at King and Spencer parks, keeping waterfront land from becoming liquid assets.

Privately owned vacant lots also are being targeted for protection by ALT. “You have some neighborhoods where kids can’t walk safely to a green space,” Clement said. ALT has identified about 100 such lots in Newport and created a priority list to keep them from being developed. Clement won't reveal any locations to keep prices from escalating, but the Van Zandt Avenue area is one where lots now sitting behind a fence may soon become a passive recreation area, a playground or community garden.

ALT board chairman Bill Corcoran said the lots where he played as a child have mostly vanished. "Newport is getting filled in, every little square inch of it," he said. But if the new program succeeds those public spaces can come back. "If we can turn them into a pocket park instead of a house we can make them a much better place for the neighborhoods." 

To be successful, Clement said, city leaders, landowners and the ALT must work together to be sure all tax and legal considerations are addressed. “We know real estate is a commodity here even in a recession," he said. "Collaboration is essential.”

The small public-space phenomenon is also taking place in urbanized areas like Pawtucket and densely suburbanized towns like North Providence and Westerly.

For several years, a legal battle in North Providence is being fought to save 15 acres of the former Camp Meehan property from becoming a housing subdivision. “Any significant land gets gobbled up pretty quickly for development because of density,” said Ken Conte, president of the North Providence Land Trust.

In the meantime, the town of only 5.7 square miles has found that “postage stamp” lots are also worth preserving. Without needing loans or grant money, the quasi town-run land trust acquired two lots and is working with neighborhood residents to decide the best public use for the properties, such as a playground or garden.

Conte said this “low-hanging fruit” offered by backyard lots might be quicker to acquire and preserve. But they still require a big investment in doing it right, as well as some luck. “It’s a difficult task," he said.

In Newport, negotiations are underway with at least one landowner, but within the past year two lots on the priority list have had house built on them.

“The window of opportunity is closing quite quickly here. We've got to seize this moment,” Clement said. “We need to act while we still have time."