Barrington will receive grant money to address coastal erosion issues in three locations in town.

The grant, awarded through the Rhode Island Infrastructure Bank, will pay for coastal adaption projects at Latham Park, Allin’s Cove, and Water Way. The grant totals $112,500.

The Latham Park project is intended to address ongoing coastal erosion at the park and adjacent shoreline. According to a press release from the state, the project at Latham Park will also bring “climate-smart improvements to the park grounds.”

The grant will also pay for work at Allin’s Cove — the project is intended to mitigate shoreline erosion that is located close to critical town infrastructure. It will also address erosion on a path that accesses the shoreline. That work will utilize “nature-based solutions.”

The third project is centered on Water Way. The work will “update a green infrastructure solution to better address coastal erosion and stormwater pollution on a section of street that dead-ends at the shore adjacent to the town beach.”

The local projects are part of a larger $12 million program which will address climate resilience work in 19 towns across Rhode Island. Governor Dan McKee announced the grants last week.

“Investing in Rhode Island's communities isn’t just a prudent decision but a crucial step in securing a resilient future,” Gov. McKee said. “The impacts of flooding and storms have been wide-ranging throughout our state, but with this funding from the voter-approved Green Bond, we can mitigate those risks, improve our response, and adapt to meet the climate change challenge.”

Taxpayers approved the Green Bond in 2022 — it is designed  to help communities restore and improve vulnerable coastal habitats, river and stream floodplains, and infrastructure. It also includes $5 million for a small business energy loan program to provide zero-interest and below-market loans for clean energy projects.

William Fazioli, Executive Director of Rhode Island Infrastructure Bank, said Rhode Island has experienced the impacts of extreme storms in the last few weeks. 

“Rhode Island needs to invest in resilient infrastructure solutions now, and that is exactly what this $12 million in 20 Municipal Resilience Program Action Grants will allow 19 communities across our state to do,” Fazioli said. 

Following is a list of other East Bay towns to receive grant money through the program:

• Bristol: $113,225 for the Urban Forest Municipal Resilience Project

• East Providence: $1.8 million for Crescent Park shoreline protection and slope stabilization

• Warren: $1.25 million for Jamiel's Park living shoreline and landfill closure resilience project