Governor McKee has signed an executive order that makes this coming Sunday as the 34 th annual Bay Day.
The annual celebration of parks and beaches will include free beach parking at all state beaches and free RI Transit Authority Bus service to the beaches as well.
“Bay Day is about having fun and I invite all Rhode Islanders to take advantage of the opportunities we’re offering to have fun here in the Ocean State,” Governor McKee said. “But it’s also a reminder of how lucky we are to have Narragansett Bay as our state’s most iconic natural resource – and how important it is that we protect it.”
According to his office, McKee was referring to the origins of Bay Day, which began in 1989 to remind Rhode Islanders of the fragility of Narragansett Bay and coastal waters in the aftermath of the grounding of the tanker World Prodigy at Brenton Point in Newport. The collision, which took place on June 23, 1989, caused the release of around 300,000 gallons of oil, which washed ashore, killing fish and sea birds and closing beaches and shellfishing beds. Bay Day marks this event and exists to showcase the beauty of the bay and highlight the threats it faces.
RI beaches remain popular and have been for years. They average about nine million people and generates about 315 million dollars to the economy each year.
(Photo by FETHI BELAID/AFP via Getty Images)
Photo: FETHI BELAID / AFP / Getty Images