The University of Rhode Island (URI) has announced plans to reopen the W. Alton Jones Campus in West Greenwich, following approval from the University’s Board of Trustees. This decision is part of an agreement with the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management (RIDEM), which will invest in infrastructure and natural resource protection.
“The W. Alton Jones Campus is a vital natural resource that holds significant value not just for URI, but for our state and for communities across Rhode Island,” stated URI President Marc Parlange. The campus has been a center for environmental research and education since its donation to URI by Nettie Marie Jones in 1962.
The agreement allows RIDEM to manage day-to-day maintenance and invest in critical infrastructure such as forest and dam management. URI will continue using the campus for educational and research purposes, with potential future expansions.
Public access to the campus was closed in 2020 due to high management costs and financial challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic. Abby Benson, vice president for administration and finance at URI, expressed hope that reopening would align with their mission as a land-grant institution while preserving research and educational uses.
The agreement spans ten years, with an option for renewal. RIDEM’s use of the property includes administrative functions, educational programming, wildlife research, and expanded public access. However, the Whispering Pines Conference Center remains reserved for URI or third-party use.
RIDEM Director Terrence Gray emphasized the ecological value of the property: “The W. Alton Jones campus has an incredible history… We are very proud to be able to partner with URI for the future use of the campus.”
This partnership follows a request for information initiated by URI in November 2024 to explore potential uses for the campus while ensuring sustainability principles are upheld.
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