Subject to the approval of the city or town council and financial town meeting, the commission may receive gifts of funds, lands, buildings, or other properties in the name of the municipality, and may also acquire by gift, purchase, grant, bequest, devise, lease, or otherwise, the fee in those lands or water rights or any lease interest, development right, easement, covenant, or other contractual right, including conveyances, and, shall manage these gifts and acquisitions in accordance with the purposes established in this chapter. However, nothing in this chapter shall be construed to deny to the people access to the lands for all legitimate purposes. No city or town may deny or restrict to the people free access to the lands, or to any other land held by or for the city or town for recreation purposes.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 45-35-3
Acquisitions — Free access to public land not restricted
Applied in 1 court decision — leading case 701 F. Supp. 302 - Zaroogian v. Town of Narragansett (1988)
Most recently applied in 701 F. Supp. 302 - Zaroogian v. Town of Narragansett (December 1988)
P.L. 1960, ch. 203, § 3; P.L. 1965, ch. 139, § 2.
Official source: Rhode Island General Assembly. Reproduced from public-domain Rhode Island statutes; confirm against the official source for the current text. Not legal advice.