Letter: Another way to raise money at Barrington Beach

Posted 6/8/16

To the editor:

People like me who wait all year to spend hot, sunny summer days at the beach, are called "Beach Lovers" and a love affair it truly is. 

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Letter: Another way to raise money at Barrington Beach

Posted

To the editor:

People like me who wait all year to spend hot, sunny summer days at the beach, are called "Beach Lovers" and a love affair it truly is. 

All winter long we yearn to be there, wishing our lives away just to return to summer and go back to the beach again. We sometimes travel great distances to be at the place we love. When we are there, we willingly shed our clothes, lie down on the beach, and are caressed by soft sand lovingly warmed by the sun. We finally relax and surrender to a mesmerizing spectacle of God and nature that lifts the heart and soothes the restless mind. What's not to love?

Barrington Beach is extremely precious to everybody in Barrington. It's not about exclusion, it's about preservation and love. 

What's disturbing is the ease and comfort the town council displays as it offers up the beach we love to any Tom, Dick, and Harry that comes along for just $10 a pop. That's no way to treat a beach.

The only "announcement" to the public was item #24 mentioned on the agenda list, "Discuss and Act on Non Resident Beach Parking" on the town website. The video of the May 2 council meeting when the issue was decided is not available, yet. The minutes of the meeting and Michele Geremia's "detailed analysis" have not been made available, either as of today. No revenue projection or impact study has surfaced.  

It's no secret that the concession at the beach isn't doing the business it needs to do in order to survive as a viable business venture. We all want it to succeed but the fact is that Barrington residents eat at or bring food from home and do not need food when they're at the beach. 

Non resident parking increases the chances of selling food because the non residents are not so close to home. Unfortunately, the amount of revenue generated that goes to the Town of Barrington is not worth the strain on the facility and imposition on the tax-paying residents who built, maintain, and adequately use the beach.

My suggestion for revenue raising and non resident parking is different. 

Extending our beautiful beach to non profit organizations should be considered. Offering free beach passes to Hasbro Children's Hospital and The Tomorrow Fund for families of children in treatment for cancer and other diseases at the hospital, parking for vans and transports for special needs organizations and inner city youth organizations that have little access to a beach, and special event rental available to residents for occasions like birthdays, reunions, even weddings. That might sell a few hot dogs.

Love is a powerful thing. Love your beach.

Alan Sorrentino

Barrington

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