Rhode Island beaches open

By: Chloe Leshner

Cleshner@abc6.com

@CLeshnerABC6

MIDDLETOWN, R.I. — State beaches opening up today and marking the unofficial start of summer. Despite cooler temperatures, many made the trip.

It’s not the best day to get a tan and a dip in the ocean would be far from refreshing, but the first official day of Rhode Island beach season was perfect for surfers.

"It’s waves, we’re all here for the surf," says Quincy resident Brad Pinta.

The wind making for decent sized waves.

"I was surfing in California a few weeks ago, this is better," says Pinta

An opportunity dozens of surfers eager to get back in the water couldn’t pass up.

"When I got here in the morning there was a ton of cars here and my shift starts at 8 o’clock in the morning and the entire parking lot was packed with all the surfers," says Sachuest Beach gate attendant Taryn Conley.

Overcast skies and water temperatures in the 50’s make for an otherwise quiet opening day but the beach manager says that actually gives them more time to prepare for the rest of the season.

"We’re getting an opportunity to put our lifeguards on the stands and have our lifeguards training a little bit and practicing rescues and all of our workers are doing the little things to make the place nice and neat," says Tim Coen.

Coen expects that as weather improves, this could be the only time the beach is this empty.

"For the last 5 years here the beach has gotten more and more popular and busier and busier," says Coen.

Rhode Island residents get to take advantage of reduced parking fees again this year. It will be $6 on weekdays and $7 on weekends, double for out of state residents.

© WLNE-TV / ABC6 2017