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Providence Journal / Mary Murphy
An aerial photo of the Rocky Point Shore Dinner Hall, center, and other buildings at the former Warwick amusement park just before it was purchased last year by the city and state.

My colleague Barbara Polichetti reports (DEM eyes purchase of Rocky Point)

WARWICK -- The state Department of Environmental Management wants to acquire a portion of the former Rocky Point amusement park that had been set aside for private development and preserve it as open space.

DEM Director W. Michael Sullivan yesterday successfully asked the State Properties Committee for permission to begin surveying and appraising the roughly 82 acres that developers have been eyeing for luxury housing. Sullivan said he hopes to create an expansive coastal state park by coupling the land with the 41-acre shoreline portion of the old amusement park that was acquired by the city and state last year.

While a public park would be lovely, a 21st-century amusement park with retro touches could be a hoot. It needn't be tacky or grubby, as Rocky Point was in its final years. And it needn't be glitzy, overblown and overpriced like Disney or Six Flags -- most Rhode Islanders are frugal, down-to-earth people. But we do love to have fun, and the waterfront amusement park with its clam cakes and chowder, Tilt-A-Whirl and bumper cars ("Dodgems"), foosball and pinball machines struck just the right note of family fun in a Rhode Island summer.

Check out Joe Nisil's great Rocky Point photos site, from which this pic of my favorite comes, as well as Art In Ruins' Rocky Point collection.

I read somewhere recently, "When there's less bread the people need more circuses."

This could be a grand public art project, involving the imaginations of Rhode Island's creative community, planners, engineers and construction workers.

What would you like to see there?

 Tags  Rocky Point

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5 Comments

Karen Anne said:

An amusement park. Recreate Rocky Point as it was.

Link | February 19, 2009 6:14 AM
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michael antonelli said:

I THINK IT WOULD WORK WITH RIGHT PEOPLE TO WORK IT.

Link | February 19, 2009 8:26 AM
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Scott said:

I'd love to see an amusement park there. If there is one thing this state needs, it's something for families to do. But let's face it, a state run amusement park would be a disaster, just like everything else the state does.

Link | February 19, 2009 9:39 AM
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George said:

I'd love to see the Castle of Terror (later renamed House of Horrors) re-created:

http://www.laffinthedark.com/articles/rp/rp1.htm

In the U.S., the only amusement park owned and operated by a local government is Playland Park in Rye, N.Y. Westchester County has owned the park since its 1928 debut. It's a great park with lots of classic rides. But it has its share of critics in that county, as you'll see if you research it online. As somebody very close to the amusement park industry I can tell you that it's a very challenging business which requires a high level of expertise.

That said, I'd still love Rocky Point to rise from the ashes. I really miss it.

Link | February 19, 2009 11:09 AM
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Ed said:

Nice aerial shot. Remodel and open shore Dinner Hall,this could be leased with the money going toward upkeep of the park. Build a walk out into the water with benches for the old folks to enjoy. Open kiddie rides for the small fry, tickets would be cheap, maybe 25 cents Open the park May -September, maybe have Dinner Hall open a little longer. Provide security year round. Let's keep the last of the good old days (alive), remember Crescent Park?

Link | February 20, 2009 2:31 PM
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