News

PROVIDENCE, RI — The Department of Environmental Management (DEM) announces that 2023 State beach season parking passes and gift certificates are available for the 2023 beach season. They are available for purchase online and are for resident, non-resident, or senior State beach season parking passes.
“It might seem counterintuitive to already be planning for this summer’s hazy, hot, and humid beach days, but now is the perfect time to buy your 2023 State beach season parking pass for some of the best beaches anywhere,” said DEM Director Terry Gray. “Beach parking passes make a great gift for loved ones, friends, and co-workers any time of year, and allow for quicker entry into beach lots during the busy summer season.
Beach passes and gift certificates may be purchased at the current state beach season parking rates for residents, non-residents, and seniors. Resident passes are $30, non-resident passes are $60, resident senior passes are $15, and non-resident senior passes are $30. When redeeming a gift certificate to purchase a resident or senior pass, the recipient must provide proof of residency and/or senior status to complete the purchase. The gift certificate cannot be redeemed for cash value. Customers will be notified about approval of their season pass within seven to 10 business days. Please visit www.riparks.com/beachpass to purchase your State beach parking season pass.
If a gift certificate is misplaced, please contact rhodeislandbeaches@lazparking.com as soon as possible. For a full list of restrictions on state season beach passes and gift certificates, please click here. No-cost disability passes are available for those who are eligible. Please contact RI State Parks Headquarters at 667-6200 for questions or to confirm you have your proper paperwork before you arrive to get the 2023 pass.
Season passes allow entry into parking lots at all eight of Rhode Island’s state beaches: Charlestown Breachway, East Beach in Charlestown, East Matunuck in South Kingstown, Misquamicut in Westerly, Roger Wheeler, Scarborough North and South, and Salty Brine in Narragansett. However, it does not guarantee admission on high-capacity days or provide preference over other passes. Entry is on a first-come, first-served basis at all locations. Resident and non-resident status are based solely upon the state in that the vehicle is registered. If you purchase a resident pass, your vehicle must be registered in Rhode Island. The only exception to this regulation is military personnel who are stationed in Rhode Island and provide proof or permanent duty papers. All others are required to purchase a non-resident pass. If the pass does not match the state registration status of the vehicle, the pass will be voided, and the occupants will be required to pay the day-use parking fee. Passes are non-transferable. A parking pass is tied to the specific vehicle.
A discounted senior citizen State beach season parking pass is available to individuals who are 65 or older. An eligible senior must be present in the vehicle and may be required to present identification as proof of age. If a senior is not present in the vehicle, the car will be required to pay the day-use parking fee. Season passes are non-refundable. Please make sure you purchase the correct pass based on your residency and/or age. More importantly, please do not wait until you plan to go to the beach to get your 2023 State beach season parking pass. This process takes a minimum of 24 hours during the summer months to verify residency as well as those who qualify for senior or military rates.
Please note that if you are purchasing a pass for a second vehicle, you will need to use a different email address. Only one email address can be used per vehicle.
For more information about DEM divisions and programs, visit www.dem.ri.gov or follow us on Facebook, Twitter (@RhodeIslandDEM), or Instagram (@rhodeisland.dem) for timely updates.

January 3, 2023
**AS PREPARED FOR DELIVERY**
My fellow Rhode Islanders, it is a great honor to address you today as I begin my first full term as Governor of a state I love.
As you might have seen in my television commercials this past year – family is very important to me. And I’m glad to have them here with me today: my wife Susan, my daughter Kara, my son Matt, my daughter-in-law Laura, as well as my brothers and sisters and many of my nieces and nephews.
And – as the Governor who lives with his mother – I want to thank my mom Willa. I’m so grateful that she’s able to be here with us in person today.
And today, I’m also thinking about my dad who’s not with us anymore. To keep his memory with us for this special day, I have his office chair with me on stage. I’m also thinking about Susan’s parents, Joe and Esther.
Behind us you’ll also see the flags of all 39 cities and towns in Rhode Island. This is a reminder to all of us here on the stage of who we were elected to represent. It reminds us that every community in our state is important and so are the unique and diverse communities that make up our cities and towns.
When I gave my last inauguration speech, Rhode Island was facing a very different set of challenges stemming from a once-in-a-generation public health crisis. Challenges like we’ve never seen before.
I stood before you and made a commitment that, together, we would get shots in arms, get Rhode Islanders back to work, get teachers and students fully back in the classroom, and get our economy moving again.
I asked for your help because I knew it would take all of us, playing as one team, to get it done. As a former coach, I was proud to see our state’s teamwork in action.
As we all saw, Rhode Island stepped up when it mattered most. Together, we acted with persistence, strength, determination, community and kindness. We reached the highest vaccination rate in the nation, the lowest unemployment rate in our state’s history, the fastest economic recovery in the Northeast, and our kids got fully back to school safely and quickly.
Reminding ourselves of that success is important because it shows that when we work together as one team, we can accomplish what we set out to do. Our past success reminds us of the enormous and exciting potential for our state’s future.
And now, as one team, we must continue the momentum that we’ve built together.
Rhode Island, this is our time.
This is our moment. It’s our turn. And I need your help to make sure we make the most of it. Each and every Rhode Islander has a role to play in this next chapter – and as Governor, I’m asking you to do the work with us.
The good news is, we’re not starting from scratch. We have momentum.
We’re bringing offshore wind to East Providence. We’re building a new State Health Lab in Providence. We’re investing in our world-class fisheries in Galilee. We opened a new education center in Woonsocket. We’re making crucial investments in Quonset. We’re delivering historic tax relief to families. We’re saving Superman and breathing new life into downtown Pawtucket.
And we’re just getting started.
Over the next four years – my team and I will be focused on what matters most to the future of our state, what matters to the families of our state.
And to begin that work, we’re starting with our RI 2030 plan and these three goals:
First: raising incomes for Rhode Islanders in all 39 cities and towns. And when I say raising incomes, I mean investing in all of us and ensuring Rhode Islanders have the skills to get good-paying jobs.
Second: raising education outcomes for our children to reach Massachusetts levels by 2030. We must be all-in on improving education because that is the key to the long-term economic future of our state.
And finally: creating a healthier Rhode Island where we reduce chronic illness and improve health outcomes.
Before I wrap up, I want to share a story from someone I admire quite a bit – John Wooden, a basketball coach and player. The story goes like this:
There was a family that was moving to a small town and they stopped at the local gas station in the small town they were considering moving to.
The family asked the gas station attendant, “What kind of people live around here?”
The attendant said, “What kind of people live back where you’re from?”
The family said, “They’re ornery, mean and dishonest!”
The gas station attendant answered, “Well sir, you’ll find the people around here just like that as well.”
A few weeks later, another family stopped by the gas station and asked the same question.
“Excuse me sir, I’m thinking of moving to this town. Can you tell me what kind of people live around here?”
Again, the gas station attendant said, “Well, what kind of people live back where you’re from?”
The man replied, “I find the people where we live to be kind, decent and honest.”
The gas station attendant said, “Sir, you’ll find the people around here just like that too.”
The reason I tell this story is that it reminds us of something important – you often get exactly what you’re looking for.
Most Rhode Islanders are just like that second family at the gas station. We want to look for the best in this state. We want to look for the best in our fellow Rhode Islanders. And sometimes, looking for the best and seeing the best in what’s around us is half the battle.
One thing is clear to me as I look out into this room today: we have a tremendous opportunity to build a new Rhode Island.
A new Rhode Island where we succeed together by lifting each other up and helping everyone to do and achieve their best. It won’t be easy – but I know Rhode Island is up for the task.
Each and every Rhode Islander has a role to play in this next chapter – and as Governor, I’m asking you to join the team. It’s like my dad would say: “Success is there for you, all you have to do is earn it.”
I believe my dad was right. So let’s work hard, earn that success, and see the best in Rhode Island’s future. Let’s stay focused – not on what divides us, but what makes us stronger and what brings Rhode Islanders together.
I am humbled by the challenges before us, but I’ve never believed more strongly in our state’s future.
Rhode Island, this is our time. Our moment to shine. Our turn to raise everyone up. Now let’s get started.
God bless you, God Bless Rhode Island.?
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