Sandy Point Island facts for kids

Sandy Point Island, often just called Sandy Point, is a 35-acre island. It sits in Little Narragansett Bay. Most of the island is in Westerly, Rhode Island, and a small part is in Stonington, Connecticut. This island is about 1 mile long. It's a very important place for nature and for people to visit. Sandy Point is the westernmost land in Rhode Island.

How Sandy Point Island Was Formed

Long ago, before a big storm in 1815, Sandy Point was connected to Napatree Point. It was a curved piece of land near Watch Hill, Rhode Island. This area was once covered with trees. After the "Great September Gale of 1815," almost all the trees were gone. Coastal plants then grew in their place.

Even when it was connected to the mainland, no houses were built on Sandy Point. Fort Mansfield was at the end of the developed land. In 1926, the fort closed. The government decided to sell Fort Mansfield and all the land beyond it, which was Sandy Point.

A builder from New York wanted to divide Sandy Point into many small lots. But people from Watch Hill bought the land instead. They wanted to protect their village and keep the area natural.

The 1938 Hurricane's Impact

Before the 1938 Hurricane, Napatree and Sandy Points were still one long piece of land. When the huge hurricane hit, it destroyed all the houses on Napatree Point. It also cut several channels through the land. Only one of these channels stayed open. This channel separated Sandy Point from Napatree Point forever.

Today, Sandy Point is still an island. Napatree Point is now the westernmost point on mainland Rhode Island.

Protecting the Island

In 1940, Alfred Gildersleeve of Stonington, Connecticut, became the owner of Sandy Point. His family later gave Sandy Point to the Avalonia Land Conservancy in 1982. This group works to protect natural areas. They made Sandy Point a nature preserve.

Sandy Point's Location and Landscape

Sandy Point Island is a narrow, 35-acre strip of land. It is about 1 mile long. Its shape changes over time because of storms and how sand moves along the coast. The island is in Little Narragansett Bay. This bay is where the Pawcatuck River meets Fishers Island Sound. Sandy Point is about one mile north of Napatree Point. The water between them is very shallow.

Island Features

The island is low and flat, much like Napatree Point. Its northern and southern ends have sand dunes. These dunes are covered with beachgrass, shrubs, and a few trees. The middle of the island is a sandy area. It has some rare plants that grow in sand.

Tidal flats stretch out into Little Narragansett Bay. These are flat areas of sand or mud that are covered by water at high tide and exposed at low tide.

The island is mostly flat, with only a few small dunes. Since it became an island, Sandy Point has been moving slowly to the northwest. The northern five acres are now in Connecticut. The other thirty acres are still in Rhode Island.

Sandy Point Nature Preserve

Since the Avalonia Land Conservancy took over in 1982, Sandy Point has become very important for wildlife. It is a safe place for many birds to rest and have their babies. These birds include the piping plover, American oystercatcher, and least tern. Many types of gulls also use the island. A large number of horseshoe crabs also come to the island to lay their eggs.

Protecting Wildlife

In 2009, the Avalonia Land Conservancy asked the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service for help. They wanted to better manage the preserve for the endangered shorebirds that nest there. In 2015, the Fish and Wildlife Service began working closely with the Conservancy. Their goal was to include Sandy Point in the Stewart B. McKinney National Wildlife Refuge.

The island is now managed by the Rhode Island National Wildlife Refuge Complex. This partnership allows the Avalonia Land Conservancy to still own the island. They also get help from the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service to protect the wildlife.

Visiting Sandy Point Island

Sandy Point Island is a popular spot for people with boats and for beachgoers. They enjoy its soft sand and shallow water. It's important to find a balance between letting people visit and protecting the island's nature.

Each year, when birds choose their nesting spots, these areas are roped off. This usually happens at the northern and southern tips of the island, and sometimes in the middle. The rest of the island stays open for visitors. From Memorial Day to Labor Day, you need a permit to visit.

Most visitors now understand why some areas are closed. The Fish & Wildlife Service has put up signs with information. Rangers also walk the island to check on the wildlife and talk to visitors.

Sandy Point is an island without a dock, so it can be tricky to reach. The easiest way to get there is by kayak or a boat that can go in shallow water. Bigger boats can go to the island too. But you will need to drop anchor offshore and then row or swim to the beach.