Newport will serve as the venue for the third community forum dedicated to Rhode Island’s statewide coastal resilience plan 2025, offering residents a chance to help shape the state’s response to rising seas and extreme weather.
The forum is scheduled for Tuesday, Sept. 10, from 5:30-7 p.m. at Newport Library, located at 300 Spring St. The event will also be available online for those unable to attend in person.
Kim Korioth, Rhode Island’s chief resilience officer, emphasized the importance of community input in developing the plan, which addresses challenges from sea level rise, extreme weather and climate change.
“Hearing from local communities across Rhode Island is a vital part of this process and plan,” Korioth said in announcing the forum.
The third forum will focus specifically on asset prioritization, featuring interactive engagement opportunities for attendees to share their experiences and priorities. The session will include a brief presentation followed by small group discussions.
Newport’s coastal location makes it particularly relevant for discussions about resilience planning. The city has faced ongoing challenges from storm surge, flooding and erosion that threaten both historic properties and modern infrastructure.
Attendees can access free parking from Golden Hill Street behind the library. Public transportation users can take the 60 bus from Kennedy Plaza to the Marlborough stop before Farewell, then walk approximately 0.6 miles along Farewell Street and Spring Street to reach the venue.
The Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management is organizing the forum series as part of the comprehensive statewide planning process. Previous forums have gathered input from communities across the state.
Refreshments will be provided at the event, and families are welcome to attend. Translation services will be available in Spanish and Portuguese to ensure broad community participation.
Those planning to attend must RSVP here in advance. Virtual meeting information will be sent via email to registered participants.
The forum represents part of Rhode Island’s broader effort to develop strategies for protecting communities, infrastructure and natural resources from the impacts of climate change. The state has been working to create a comprehensive approach to coastal resilience that incorporates local knowledge and priorities.
For more information or to register for the Sept. 10 forum, residents can contact Kimberly.Korioth@dem.ri.gov.
