Narragansett Town Beach in more sedate times
From Robert Whitcomb’s “Digital Diary,’’ in GoLocal24.com
Regarding the May 22 brawl at Narragansett Town Beach: I wonder if the Rhode Island State Police and municipal cops have enough officers to oversee the beaches in this summer of pent-up demand. This is not only a matter of public safety; it’s also an economic issue. Rhode Island’s beaches draw many visitors, and their money, from out of state. For the state’s beaches to develop a reputation for rowdiness, or worse, will scare many away.
I’ve always been surprised by the number of people who want to be at a beach with hundreds or thousands of other people, cheek by jowl, with at least a few stoned, drunk or both.
It seemed particularly strange that so many people showed up last weekend with the water still quite frigid. Then there’s the glare of the sun, that vaguely itchy feeling of salt on your face, sand in and on everything….
I don’t get the allure but I do hope that beach lovers will bring their wallets from out of state to the Ocean State’s many lovely beaches, nearby restaurants and places to stay. When they leave after Labor Day, I’ll walk on the beach.
