Elm Street Pier slated for repairs. How you can help maintain a swimming spot this summer

A popular Newport swim spot could be closed for the season unless the city gets its band aid solution through the CRMC’s approval by this summer.

Elm Street Pier is nestled next to the historic Hunter House, roughly two blocks north of the bridge connecting Goat Island to the rest of the city. Over the years, it has been used as a swim spot for locals and tourists alike as well as a touch-and-go location for boaters. However, the wooden pier sustained significant damage from winter storms that hit Newport in December and January, making the city close the unstable pier as they worked toward a permanent fix.

The city has a permanent solution, but it has to wait for Newport voters to approve a $98.5 million infrastructure bond in November that, along with full repairs to Elm Street Pier, will fund several other capital improvement projects.

Instead of closing the pier entirely until November rolls around, the city is hoping to quickly get approval from the Coastal Resource Management Council to demolish the unstable outer portions of the pier and add temporary floating dock extension and a couple of swim ladders to make the pier still accessible to those looking to take a dip in Newport Harbor.

While this solution will still allow people to swim around Elm Street Pier, the city won’t be able to open the pier’s use to touch-and-go boaters.

The city is hoping that those who enjoy using Elm Street Pier will write in to the CRMC via email at cstaff1@crmc.ri.gov to speed the process along with the hope that it can get the work down and completed by July 1.

This article originally appeared on Newport Daily News: Newport seeks CRMC approval for temporary Elm Street Pier dock