McKee announces 34th ‘Bay Day’ in the Ocean State
PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WLNE) — Governor Dan McKee announced the return of the annual “Governor’s Bay Day” celebration for this weekend.
McKee announced the 34th Bay Day celebration will take place on Sunday and include free beach parking at all Rhode Island state beaches and free services from the Rhode Island Public Transit Authority.
Local leaders gathered along with members of the Rhode Island Saltwater Anglers Association and recreational anglers, all in attendance to announce that the celebration also opens free saltwater fishing from July 28 to July 30.
The RIDEM shared this photo of the Governor’s team with Ocean State anglers.
“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,” McKee said.
“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,” he continued.
Bay Day originated back in 1989 to remind Rhode Islanders of the fragility of Narragansett Bay and coastal waters after about 300,000 galls of oil spilled into the bay, killing fish, sea birds and closing beaches and shellfishing areas.
Parking will be free at all state beaches, which are as follows:
- Charlestown Breachway, Charlestown
- East Beach, Charlestown
- East Matunuck State Beach, South Kingstown
- Misquamicut State Beach, Westerly
- Roger W. Wheeler State Beach, Narragansett
- Salty Brine State Beach, Narragansett
- Scarborough State Beaches (North and South), Narragansett
For more information on Governor’s Bay Day, visit the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management’s webpage.
