Council continues debate over temporary amusement rides at Wuskenau Beach; item moved to May 4

The Westerly Town Council on April 20 heard a lengthy presentation and Q&A on a proposal from Rockwell Amusements to operate temporary, family-oriented rides, carnival games and food booths at the pond-side parking area at Wuskenau Beach. The council continued the item to its May 4 meeting to give staff time to tighten contract language and gather additional public input.

Caswell Cook, speaking on MBA letterhead and representing the local business association’s board, framed the proposal as an attempt to restore family summer attractions that had disappeared over the past decade and said the vendor would assume the financial risk. Cook described asking the vendor to assign the town 15% of gross revenue and emphasized the temporary, removable nature of the equipment. "He's taking 100% of the risk," Cook said, arguing the proposal could bring family-oriented nighttime activity back to the beach.

Councilors asked detailed questions about insurance coverage, porta-potties for the public and staff, hookups and metering for electricity, wastewater/gray-water handling, fire and emergency services notifications, the licensing-board review process, whether the rec board should weigh in, and the potential impact on parking revenue. Town staff said the vendor would provide liability insurance and handle pumping of holding tanks for trailers and food trucks, and noted that licensing-board review would require input from police, fire, DEM and building inspectors.

Because the licensing and state inspection steps remain, and several councilors wanted broader public input and clearer contract terms (including explicit porta-potty, electric-metering and environmental protections), the council voted to continue the item to the May 4 meeting rather than approve it that night.