Under a Park Use Agreement with the Department of Environmental Management, the City of Warwick has assumed responsibility for the maintenance of Salter Grove for 20 years until 2034.
Stormy weather and careless visitors have added to the demands of this agreement. A large shade tree that just missed falling on one of the benches on Audubon Hill and a shattered wooden guard rail near the playground were the latest challenges.
Hats off to Warwick’s DPW for promptly addressing these incidents!
UPDATE 3/3/18: Bids of three contractors were accepted on April 2nd.
Warwick engineers Eric Earls (yellow jacket) and Eric Hindinger (motioning) brief contractors about causeway repair at Salter Grove.
Warwick Engineers Eric Earls and Eric Hindinger briefed representatives from 14 companies interested in bidding on repair of the causeway at Salter Grove. The obligatory briefing on March 5th started in the Council Chambers at City Hall and finished on site at George B. Salter Memorial Grove.
Earls advised contractors to focus on the low-lying area near the plastic culverts and the deep cut previously crossed by a foot bridge, which he described as “treacherous” at high tide. The focus should be on providing safe access to the breakwater, with any other improvements being “gravy.”
The footbridge on the causeway at Salter Grove was washed away in 2012 and crossings now pose a potential safety hazard.
Access to and from the Salter Grove breakwater, which is very popular with fishermen and picnicking families, should become safer. A new footbridge is planned to replace that washed away by Hurricane Sandy in 2012.
A view of the Salter Grove Causeway leading to the breakwater, during high tide. The impassable footpath at high tide presents a risk for visitors and anglers. (Credit: Jason Major)
Our ongoing efforts to improve Salter Grove has been featured in an article in the Warwick Post, along with quotes from Rep. Joseph McNamara and FoSG member Jason Major.
According to the article, written by Rob Borkowski, McNamara said Lisa Primiano, Chief of the Division of Planning and Development at DEM, is working to secure funding for a plan to raise the height of the causeway above the high tide line, eliminating the drowning risk. “So things are moving along as quickly as they can with an environmental project,” McNamara said.
Friends of Salter Grove 