Newport Comprehensive Land Use Plan - Existing Conditions | Page 134

Newport Comprehensive Land Use Plan Passive Enjoyment In addition to opportunities for active recreation, a key role of parks is to provide places for passive enjoyment. Park features like benches, open lawns, shade, and pathways contribute to its ability to provide high quality places for enjoying scenic views, relaxing with friends, taking a walk, or spending a quiet moment alone. Many of Newport’s parks, including many of its waterfront parks, offer passive enjoyment opportunities. Currently, Newport offers two shelters—one at King Park and one at Easton’s Beach. Covered picnic areas can also be opportunities for rental income, which can help support the overall park network financially. A gap exists in the availability of covered picnic shelters. Sasaki and Associates recommends at least five are needed to meet year-round demand, with an additional two to five needed to accommodate increased demand in the summer. Martin Recreation Center Known as “The Hut”, the Martin Recreation Center is a recreation center with a full size gym, fitness classes, and sports programs. The recreation center is used for school vacation camps and can be rented out for other special occasions. The Hut is located near the Newport Library. Trails The Cliff Walk is a 3.5-mile path that extends from Memorial Boulevard to Ocean Drive. The walk provides views of the ocean as well as the mansions along Bellevue Avenue. Also, the Harbor Walk extends the length of the harbor and identifies various points of interest such as wharves, King Park, and the Pell Bridge. Ocean Drive Ocean Drive is a ten-mile tour along Bellevue Avenue. The drive includes views of the mansions along Bellevue Avenue and of Chateau-sur-Mer. Newport Port Harbor Along with the Harbor Walk, the Newport Harbor also contains four city landings, three state landings, and four designated mooring areas. The piers and mooring areas are largely used for recreational activities. State Owned Parks State owned lands are managed and conserved by the State of Rhode Island. These include Brenton Point and Fort Adams. These are identified in Table 9-2 and shown on Map 9-3. Page 9-10 Draft Existing Conditions (March 2016)