Black Point’s waterfront helps put the “beach” in “Beach Community”. But the infrastructure – the piers/groins, boat ramp, sea walls, and revetments require maintenance to keep them safely serviceable.

This work is informed by one of the four main goals of the Community Master Plan:

Invest in and Improve the Waterfront and access ways to 
Support Long-Term Resiliency and Community Access

Examples of maintenance to these structures include the following. In 1986, the Jersey barriers were placed at the four piers in an effort to help retain sand at the beaches. In 2006, “rip rap” (large stones/boulders) were placed at the Nehantic, Sea Breeze, and Osprey piers to help protect these structures. In 2016, the boat ramp was renovated as its concrete deck had failed. In 2019, the steel pier (between Nehantic and Sea Breeze) was restored by placing new steel pilings along the north face of the structure.

On the west side of Black Point, the Association owns a parcel with frontage to the Pattagansett estuary. An informal wood walkway used to provide access but was removed circa 2004 as DEEP (Department of Energy and Environmental Protection) determined that it was unpermitted. Attempts to provide a permitted structure circa 2010 did not proceed due to the challenges with usability. In 2025/2026, the Association has developed an alternative approach and is seeking appropriate permits to build more user friendly access to the estuary (sometimes referred to as the “backwater”).

Watch this page for updates to progress on these important efforts.