Gooseberry Beach, Newport Rhode Island. Photo Credit: John Phelan. This file is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported license.

The Rhode Island Department of Health (RIDOH) recommends closing Gooseberry Beach in Newport for swimming because of high bacteria levels.

Historically, beach closures in Rhode Island have been closely tied to precipitation, according to RIDOH’s website, “Stormwater runoff from roads, parking lots, and other impervious surfaces transports contamination (including bacteria) to our fresh and salt-water bodies”. 

RIDOH says that it will continue to monitor and review beach water quality regularly to ensure safe bathing throughout the summer season. The status of a beach may change as new data become available. The most up-to-date beach information is available through a recorded message on RIDOH’s beaches telephone line (401-222-2751).

2022 Beach Season Closures

BeachCity/TownClosed OnRe-OpenedNumber of Days Closed
Gooseberry BeachNewport6/8/22  
2022 Statewide (for bacteria)   0
    0

Ryan Belmore is the owner and publisher of What's Up Newp. He took over the publication in 2012 and has grown it into a three-time Rhode Island Monthly Best Local News Blog (2018, 2019, 2020). He was named LION Publishers Member of the Year in 2020 and received the Dominique Award from the Arts & Cultural Society of Newport County the same year. He has been awarded grants for investigative and community journalism, and continues to coach and mentor new local news publications nationwide. Ryan...