Temperatures and humidity soared in the SouthCoast the second day in a row as locals searched for ways to get some relief from the sweltering weather.
On Saturday in Tiverton, people flocked to the new and improved Grinnell’s Beach and on Sunday morning beachgoers trickled into the parking lot and on to the beach to claim their spot.
“It was so hot here,” said Brynn Chouinard as she collected parking fees from out of state vehicles from the new from the new guard shed at the beach entrance. “Maybe they had enough after yesterday.”
The old Stone Bridge has a new promenade built on top of it with a paved walkway, new lighting and fencing, jutting out 200 yards into the Sakonnet River.
The formerly rocky beach now has soft sand and there’s a new bath house and a sail pavilion for shade.
The old gas station that was located at the entrance of the beach is a long-gone bad memory.
“It was a dump,” said Pam Durkin, who at one time was a lifeguard at Grinnell's Beach and her father was the head of recreation for the town. “What they have done here is spectacular. They should have done it years ago.”
Gate attendant Michael Lebakis, Durkin’s son, say people visiting are excited about the improvements to Grinnell's Beach.
“They come and are so surprised how nice everything is,” said Lebakis.
The promenade cost $2.6 million, paid for by the state Department of Transportation. The $500,000 cost for beach improvements were paid through a $400,000 state grant, town appropriations and private donations.
Town Councilor Patricia Hilton, the chairwoman of the Grinnell’s Beach Improvement Committee and a driving force for the upgrades to the beach, surveyed the grounds and walked over to pick up a piece of litter and toss it into one of the receptacles.
Hilton said she’s really pleased with the restoration of Grinnell’s Beach.
“It’s great to see Tiverton residents using Grinnell’s again,” said Hilton.
At Government Center in Fall River, an emergency cooling center opened for the weekend where people could stop by cool down, have a doughnut and water or some iced coffee.
Director of Emergency Management Richard Aguiar said on Saturday about 25 people stopped by to cool off and Sunday morning about eight people showed up before noon.
“It hasn't been too busy, people have been coming in sporadically,” said Aguiar.
It wasn’t the usual crowd of beachgoers for a Sunday at the Swansea Town Beach in Ocean Grove.
“It wasn’t that busy yesterday. I think it’s too hot and too humid,” said lifeguard Keagan Lecomte. “Actually it’s usually busier than this (for a Sunday).”
Email Jo C. Goode at jgoode@heraldnews.com.