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Charlestown approves Atlantis Rising sand-sculpture event with wildlife buffer, safety conditions
Summary
The council approved the Atlantis Rising sand-sculpture competition for May 30—06/01/2025 at 90 Brook Park with insurance, fee and public-safety conditions, and required the organizer to work with Fish & Wildlife and Parks & Rec on buffer and lighting limits.
CHARLESTOWN, R.I. — The Charlestown Town Council on Dec. 9 approved a request from the South County Tourism Council to hold the Atlantis Rising international sand-sculpture competition May 30—06/01/2025 at 90 Brook Park, subject to conditions on insurance, fees, noise buffers and safety staffing.
Joy Corteo of the South County Tourism Council told the council the event will be open to the public over three days and that organizers had reduced hours and agreed to increase the buffer separating event activities from the adjacent Ninigret National Wildlife Refuge lands. Corteo said organizers expect higher attendance over multiple days but described the 28,000 figure on the application as an upper-range estimate.
The council approved the event with listed conditions: $6 million general-liability insurance, $2 million liquor liability if applicable, a $9,000 permit fee, and discretionary waivers under the town code at the chief of police—s direction. The Parks & Recreation director must confirm final event details; the town solicitor will review contracts. Councilors also required the organizer to work with Fish & Wildlife and the Parks & Rec director to define the final buffer and to minimize amplified sound and artificial lighting near the refuge.
Councilors discussed parking and public-safety logistics; organizers said the fire department will handle parking operations and work with the police department, following the same model used for the town seafood festival. A town staff letter from a Fish & Wildlife representative recommended locating amplified activities as far from refuge lands as feasible and completing any environmental screening required by the National Park Service; the council incorporated that direction into its approval.
The motion to approve passed by roll call vote 5-0. Council minutes record additional approvals that evening for other 2025 events, including the Seaside Classic soccer tournament and the Apple Lumpkin Family Fall Festival, all subject to Parks & Rec and police review.
