Neighbors differ on potential road closure

On March 4, the Barrington Planning Board passed a recommendation to the town council to close South Lake Drive and an extension of North Lake Drive to vehicle traffic and take steps to make it suitable for a walk and bike path. North Lake Drive resident Mike Mangione is determined to keep those roads open.

Mr. Mangione said the road closure would be an inconvenience to those residents who use South Lake Drive as a cut-through from Washington Road. He also thinks it will generate more traffic on North Lake Drive, and perpetuate the underage drinking and partying problem.

"If anything, we want to keep that area open. We want more activity down there," he said.

Mr. Mangione has begun collecting signatures from local residents who feel the same way he does, to present to the town council at their April meeting. He now has approximately 350 signatures on his list.

"I have people calling me saying they'll come to my house, or asking me to come to theirs, to sign the petition," he said. "I think we all feel like there should be another way, another solution, rather than to close this street off."

Susan Brinkworth, a former town council president who lives on Bittersweet Court near North and South Lake drives, signed the petition.

Ms. Brinkworth said she does not use South Lake Drive on a regular basis, so the road closure would not affect her daily travels, but she does not see the point of closing the road.

"I just don't think it should be closed," she said. "I don't see how that would address the trash issue, and it's not going to stop the teens. I would just like to see it kept open."

Helen Tjader, president of the Barrington Land Conservation Trust, wrote a letter to the town council regarding the planning board's recommendation.

"The Land Trust would support the closure of these areas to regular traffic, but we feel that the community would be shortchanged if that measure was taken in isolation without additional review of potential links to the bike path and other trails within our community," she said in the letter. "The Land Trust concurs that littering, dumping, 'partying' and reckless driving are a particular nuisance along South Lake Drive. Although this is not unique to this roadway, the additional isolation perhaps provides a greater opportunity for these activities"

Ms. Tjader said the land trust has worked with other local organizations and police before, to monitor and reduce illegal activities along South Lake Drive, but the issues are still present.

"As is true for all of our properties, the more we clean up, the less future cleanup is needed as visitors hold the property in higher regard," she said in the letter.

What prompted the vote

South Lake area residents Thomas and Susanna Hoagland wrote a letter to the town council Jan. 17 about a range of problems on the one-way road, which prompted a discussion at a February town council meeting, and the planning board's recommendation in March.

Ms. Hoagland said she is most concerned with the amount of trash along South Lake Drive.

She said someone dumped a mattress near the water Sunday night. On Monday morning, Ms. Hoagland found the mattress in one of the ponds on the side of the road.

The Hoaglands said they are also concerned about the wildlife there. Ms. Hoagland said the problems of the dumping trash, beer bottles, food wrappers, chemicals, construction debris, TVs and appliances, condoms, sanitary products and other items, takes its toll on the wildlife there.

"We would like to see it protected, preserved," she said.

Ms. Hoagland said South Lake Drive is a haven for underage drinking and marijuana smoking.

"The police are well aware of the amount of partying, underage drinking and drug use that occurs at night on these roads," The Hoaglands wrote in their letter.

Ms. Hoagland said she would like to see the road closed, as opposed to more heavily patrolled by police, for a couple of reasons.

She said a lot of teenagers in Barrington have scanners, so they have the ability to leave quickly if they hear of police activity. Also, the dumping can happen very quickly, she said.

"These are not just Rhode Island cars," she said. "These people aren't just Barrington people. They come from all over."

Still, Mr. Mangione feels that closing South Lake Drive will not solve the problems plaguing the road.

"There has to be another solution," Mr. Mangione said. "This is overkill."

Would teen drinking be impacted by closing road?

While some residents argue the closure of South Lake Drive might eliminate, or decrease, underage drinking in that area, others say it might perpetuate it.

Kathy Sullivan, the coordinator of the Barrington Adult Youth Team (Barrington's substance abuse prevention task force), said there is no real evidence to support either point of view.

She said that if there is a teen drinking problem on or near South Lake Drive, residents should advocate for an increase in police patrols in that area. If neighbors see teens drinking anywhere in town, she advised them to call the Barrington Police Department's confidential tip line, 437-3933, or e-mail ChiefJLaCross@barrington.ri.gov.

"I don't know that eliminating traffic in that area will help the problem," she said.

If a road closure means lack of adult presence, that area could be even more dangerous for teens, she added.

Joanne Royley, student assistance counselor at Barrington High School, said the teenage drinking problem is a complex one.

"Kids are going to find a way to go where they want to go," she said, "and they're going to go away from adult eyes, to places that are secluded."

Like Ms. Sullivan, Ms. Royley stressed the importance of police presence in areas like South Lake Drive, and of relaying useful information to police officers.

"If neighbors see trash, beer can or teenagers drinking, use that tip line," she said. "That is a police matter. Call the police and let them know."

By Kim Centazzo

kcentazzo@eastbaynewspapers.com

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