Barrington Beach Facelift Designed to Improve Water Quality

Work to better protect Barrington Beach from erosion and runoff is underway. It is giving the beach a facelift at the same time.

The beach was closed to parking on Oct. 21 so that workers from William Anthony Excavating of North Kingstown could start the $358,000 project. Most of the cash is coming from a streets and drainage bond. A State Revolving Fund Loan for “green infrastructure” improvements is covering the rest. 

The work is being done primarily to handle runoff and beach erosion. But the parking and overall look of the beach will change, too. 

Changes to the beach will include a new parking configuration, razing of the concrete-block building at the entrance on Bay Road, removal of the metal and wooden guardrails, replacement of the guardrails with bollards, new benches, racks for 26 bicycles, and a variety of plantings that will help to funnel and filter runoff from Bay Road while also preventing heavy waves from undermining the parking area.

A drainage swale also will be built on Water Way to handle runoff on the walkway on the hill overlooking the west end of the beach, where bacteria counts are always the highest.

Town Planner Phil Hervey said most of the work should be completed before winter. The reconstruction will definitely be complete next spring in time for next summer

There will be a net loss of 28 parking spaces, said Hervey. But the grassy area near the new beach house will be set up as an alternate lot if needed.

Hervey said most of the work should be completed before winter. The reconstruction will definitely be complete next spring for the summer of 2014.