RI - Fisherman's Memorial State PArk

[Makers Mark]

Topic’s Subject: Fisherman’s Memorial State Park
Narragansett Rhode Island

Campground Information:
Campground Name: Fisherman’s Memorial State Park
Campground Address: Route 108, 1011 Point Judith Road, Narragansett, Rhode Island 02882
Campground Phone #: Fishermen's Memorial State Park - (401) 789-8374
Campground Web Site: http://www.riparks.com/fisherma.htm

Campground Visit / Stay Information:
Date(s) of Visit/Stay: 9/2006, 10/2007, 7/2008
Length of Visit/Stay: 1 week each

Area 1: Electric, Water, and Sewer (No Canvas) - 40 sites available
Residents- $20.00 per night
Non-Residents - $35.00 per night
Areas 2 & 4: Electric and Water - 107 sites available
Residents - $18.00 per night
Non-Residents - $25.00 per night
Area 3:
No Hook-ups (Canvas Only) - 35 Sites Available
Residents - $14.00 per night
Non-Residents - $20.00 per night
Other Fees:
Visitors - $2.00 per car

Reservations are a must. http://rhodeislandstateparks.reserveamerica.com/

Level Sites (Yes/No; rating: 1 low – 3 high): Yes -3
Wide/Open Sites (Yes/No; rating: 1 low – 3 high): Yes -3
Restroom Cleanliness (1 low – 3 high): This year moderate -3
Store (Yes/No; rating: 1 low – 3 high): None
Game Room (Yes/No; rating: 1 low – 3 high): None
Pool (Yes/No; Heated/Not Heated; Clean, rating: 1 low – 3 high): None

Campground Impressions:
Kid Friendly (Yes/No - Activities): Yes Playgrounds, Overlooks, Clamming.
People Friendly (Yes/No): Yes
WiFi Friendly (Yes/No; - Charge?/Service Provider?): None
Cell Phone Coverage (Yes/No - Service Provider?): Yes, ATT

Pet Friendly (Yes/No): Yes

Personal Comments: This is one of my Favorites.
• Bike ride away from 2 State Beaches
• Bike ride away from Block Island ferries
http://www.blockislandferry.com/blockisland.htm
• Short trip to Newport and Mansions
http://www.newportmansions.org/
• 10 Day non-residents claiming license $11. 1 Peck per day.
• Port of Galilee a bike ride away. Buy lobster off boats. Stay away from the shedders (about $6) Ask for the 1 ¾- 2# lobsters about $10 a piece.
• Great seafood everywhere, Iggy’s Dough Boys, Georges, Champlins, Aunt Carries, Charlie O’s and many more.
http://www.narragansettri.com/

[Makers Mark]

Just wanted to bump this thread up to make people aware of a problem @ Fisherman's Memorial. Just return from a weeks visit and there was two nights of vandals roaming the camp ground stealing items from people's sites. Not just a few , but many people reported items missing. Reported to the park administration and was told that not much can be done about it. Too few people on at night to patrol 4 different state facilities spread over a few miles. Beautiful park, but beware.

[GoodoleBob]

I camp there occasionally. So far no such problems. What area were the thefts in ? What site number did you have? I'll be careful not to leave anything important outside if this is happening. Kids out of school for the summer are often a nusiance and yes there is little security there after hours.

Thanks for the heads up.

[Gene]

Sorry to hear of poblems at Fisherman's, it really upsets me that the current Park Police are so ineffective particularly since they raised the camping fees for out of state people. You should file a complaint with RI State Police since they have ultimate juristiction and tell them park administration did nothing. Out of state vistors need better treatment than that.

Many years ago my son was a member of the park police and had arrest powers. He and his partner only had one campground to cover and there was Park Police at all RI facilities. They seemed to manage 1 or 2 arrests an evening. His last summer they made them "Park Rangers", took away the arrest power and put all Park Police in a different section of state government. My son and most of the Park Police quit.

[Makers Mark]

Bob,
We were in area 2 site 60. Those sites are the closest to Point Judith Rd. Further investigation on our part discovered many trails that come up to the camp ground from Pt Judith Rd. I am sure the kids use that access to the sites. Here’s the deal on what they took and why not many people reported it. It was beer and alcohol. Since alcohol is not allowed in the park, many people kept quiet about it. Two families next to us had over $200 worth of booze and beer stolen. I keep my good bourbon inside the coach so the only thing they took from me was a solar light I used as a night light outside. Guess they needed a night light for their party!
MM

[Makers Mark]

Gene,
Yes it is a shame with most of the state budgets they cannot supply the services that we have enjoyed in the past. Not blaming RI they are in the same boat as many states and I guess it is going to be the norm in the future. It is sad. There was one ranger with the police powers that had to patrol 2 beaches, a large 4 section campground, a fishing jetty and parking lot. All a few miles away from each other so it is a difficult job at best. My daughter and family were tenting outside our coach. You are allowed and tent and up to 6 people per site which is good. My son in law is a cop, so the second night he slept with the spot light and “one eye open”. Sure enough around 3 am he heard some noise and caught 3 teens (2 boys, 1 girl) going through coolers. He hit them with the spot and the two boys scattered leaving the girl, go figure. She eventually ran away two. I think he may have scared them a bit. Have to put some blame on parents too, what are these kids doing out at 3am?
MM

[Jim-Bev-2363]

A short rant about kids..... It is time we made the kids responsible for crimes they commit. Sure parents take part in it but the kids are the culprits. They know better but have no fear of consequences.

What is seen in public places, campgrounds, shopping centers, etc. is now happening in our neighborhoods. No justice to be found. The cops are like fishermen on a catch and release program.

End of rant.

jim

[Makers Mark]

Continuation of rant,
You are correct Jim, kids today are not taught responsibility or respect. Winston Churchill said "the price of success is responsibility." Makes you wonder what will become of today's youth in the future.
Now I will end before I begin to sound like my father!

[Jim-Bev-2363]

LOL! I feel like my own grandpa. They did a song about it.

‪Grandpa Jones---I'm My Own Grandpa‬‏ - YouTube



jim

[mainah]

I work for a Sheriff dept my office is in the county jail. We rented a pod (living area) to the State to house their juveniles while they built a new facility and I asked one of the officers what percentage of these kids got any kind of parental guidance and he said "at best 10%" no wonder they run amuk.

[Gene]

Originally Posted by Jim-Bev-2363

..... It is time we made the kids responsible for crimes they commit. ...

AMEN! Totaly agree.

MM, ok I understand why people didn't want to report it. My son said he never bothered the ones that had a "beverage" or 2 but the noisy and wild groups would get "cooler inspection". If they got belligerent about it they also got cuffed and a free ride to the local PD.

[OPIE]

Originally Posted by Gene

AMEN! Totaly agree.

MM, ok I understand why people didn't want to report it. My son said he never bothered the ones that had a "beverage" or 2 but the noisy and wild groups would get "cooler inspection". If they got belligerent about it they also got cuffed and a free ride to the local PD.

Does anyone else see the irony of wanting kids to be responsible for the crime of sneaking a beer out of someone's cooler, when having the beer and drinking it on public land is illegal in RI? We could have prevented this crime by being responsible adult role models, and not breaking the law ourselves. I know there is a difference between public drinking by adults and theft by minors, but both are crimes....It's funny how people always think the other guy's faults are more serious than one's own.

Not trying to start anything, just an observation.

[Makers Mark]

OPIE,
You have to understand that my cooler only contained spring water and vitamin water bottles, as well as a freezer bag of cut up watermellon. Still they took my solar lamps and they tossed the watermellon. I guess I should of had a beer in the cooler for them to "sneak" and they would have left my lamps alone?? I was there with my grandchildren, enjoying every night at the campfire telling stories and toasting somores, not drinking. You think we should give them a pass on stealing because the items they stole were against the rules?? Yes I do understand the need for the rules, but as Gene said responsible drinkers will not have a problem, they need to have the rules to give them the right to regulate the "blow out" parties. However those rules DO NOT give anyone the right to take anothers posessions.
MM

[Jim-Bev-2363]

I would bet the people wanting young law breakers to be held accountable are law abiding citizens. The ones that see little wrong with kids having a beverage are breaking the laws themselves. Birds of a feather seem to flock together, usually.

The problem of youth raiding campgrounds is not only is public campgrounds. Some of the KOA or other private business sites are dangerous as well. It does pay to seek references about how safe a place is.

jim

[OPIE]

Sorry if I came off the wrong way. You are correct, stealing is wrong, no matter what. No arguement there. Drinking on public property is illegal in RI. Not a campground rule, it is illegal. To me, if you choose to drink there it won't bother me at all, but even if you are quiet and responsible about it, you still broke the law. The example it sets for kids is: It's OK to break the rules sometimes. The circumstances involved may be beyond the understanding of the kid out at 3am, or he may jsut not care.

Again, not trying to rile anyone up or pick a fight, just stating an opinion, and that's the last I'll say on the subject.

[Makers Mark]

Agreed, a wrong is a wrong no matter what.