Environment and Land Conservation Groups Urge
State to Stop Sale of Camp Pastore
Gov’s FY08 Budget includes revenue from selling land in Charlestown that was once part of Burlingame State Park
Charlestown, RI—A coalition of environmental and land conservation organizations are urging state officials to stop the sale of up to fifty acres of land that were originally part of Burlingame state park and then used for Camp Pastore in Charlestown. The proposal to sell the land is included in Gov. Carcieri’s FY08 budget, which projects $3.4 million in revenue from the sale of the property.
The Camp Pastore property comprises fifty predominantly wooded acres on Watchaug Pond in Charlestown, adjacent to Burlingame State Park. A popular trail in Burlingame State Park that encircles Watchaug Pond runs directly through the property.
“Rhode Island has already lost too many of our state’s scenic natural treasures to sprawl,” said Matt Auten, Advocate for Environment Rhode Island. “Instead of selling this beautiful former park land for development, Gov. Carcieri should withdraw his proposal or the General Assembly should reject it, so that Camp Pastore can be returned to Burlingame State Park and preserved for future generations.”
The coalition opposing the land sale includes the Nature Conservancy, Rhode Island Land Trust Council, Environment Rhode Island, Audubon Society of Rhode Island, Grow Smart Rhode Island, South County Conservancy and Conservation Law Foundation.
In a letter sent to legislative leaders, the groups claim that the sale would contradict and be incompatible with existing law.
"For decades, The Nature Conservancy has worked closely with the State to protect Rhode Island's natural treasures -- and Watchaug Pond is one of our most exceptional. It would be such a shame to see these critical woodlands on Watchaug's shoreline be developed, especially when the State already paid to protect them back in the thirties," said Janet Coit, State Director of The Nature Conservancy.
The land that is now Camp Pastore was purchased in 1934 by the Metropolitan Parks Commission (the predecessor to the Department of Environmental Management (DEM)) as part of Burlingame State Park.
The property was used by the Department of Mental Health, Retardation & Hospitals (MHRH) under an agreement with DEM for recreation purposes. In 1986, the property was transferred to MHRH upon their request. The well-maintained sign leading to the property reads “Pastore Leisure Center.” Now MHRH is proposing to sell the land as part of the FY 08 budget.
The Camp Pastore property is wholly located within a Rhode Island Natural Heritage site. Natural Heritage sites are defined as those that contain, “Rhode Island’s rarest and most vulnerable natural features.” The sale and development of the Camp Pastore property would be inconsistent with the State Guide Plan and the Comprehensive Plan of the Town of Charlestown.
Since the 1980s, Rhode Island’s program for acquiring land to expand the state’s parks and management areas has acquired thousands of acres. A priority of this program has been to focus on acquiring properties that expand existing state parks and management areas.
Rhode Island voters have been strong supporters of the program and consistently and overwhelmingly approved open space bonds for the purpose.
"It’s difficult to understand how the State is treating this land as surplus property in 2007 when, even in the 1930’s Rhode Island’s leaders recognized the state significance of the natural resources in this area and invested in its protection as a State Park," noted Rupert Friday, Director of Rhode Island Land Trust Council.
The first public hearing on the proposed land sale will happen on Wednesday, March 14th when the Senate Finance Committee will take up the FY08 budget for MHRH.
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