H O U S E R E S O L U T I O N
RESPECTFULLY REQUESTING THAT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT PROVIDE FUNDING FOR THE PURCHASE OF BARTON FARM (A.K.A. PERRA FARM) AS FARMLAND/OPEN SPACE
WHEREAS, The health, safety and welfare of the City of Warwick, and the State of Rhode Island are matters of paramount importance to this House; and
WHEREAS, Barton Farm represents a primary natural resource as farmland and open space; and
WHEREAS, Barton Farm has been in continuous use as a dairy farm since about 1780; and
WHEREAS, It is one of only four remaining farms in Warwick, thirty-five in the State; and
WHEREAS, The City of Warwick has a legacy built on farming; and
WHEREAS, The Barton Farm represents an historic view of New England life; and
WHEREAS, Preserving this part of Warwick's past shows a commitment to family, future generations and all citizens of Rhode Island by demonstrating a commitment to historical land use preservation; and
WHEREAS, Farmland can provide substantial benefit to the environment by providing food and shelter to wildlife; and
WHEREAS, Research at URI has shown that farms using Best Management Practices are much better for the environment than house lots; and
WHEREAS, Maintaining farms and open space reduces stormwater runoff produced by development; and
WHEREAS, Greenwich Bay Initiative has documented runoff from this area as having a direct impact on Greenwich Bay; and
WHEREAS, Farms and other undeveloped areas provide a welcome, "soothing" relief from the urban/suburban landscape; and
WHEREAS, Urban sprawl has converted much of Warwick's and Rhode Island's valuable farms into urban areas; and
WHEREAS, The Barton Farm is under eminent danger of development; and
WHEREAS, The city has designated the protection of the Barton Farm as a top priority; and
WHEREAS, The Barton Farm is identified as an asset in the Comprehensive Community Plan of the City of Warwick under Natural Resources, Open Spaces, Recreation, and in Historically Significant Properties, and also in the Statewide Historical Preservation Report K-W-1; and
WHEREAS, President Clinton recently announced a federal Open Space and Farmland Preservation Act; and
WHEREAS, Sufficient funding to purchase and preserve Barton Farm as farmland and open space would be needed from several sources, including federal, state, and city funds; now therefore be it
RESOLVED, That this House of the State Rhode Island and Providence Plantations hereby requests that the Governor, and the federal government provide funding for a purchase of Barton Farm to preserve the farm as farmland/open space; and be it further
RESOLVED, That the Secretary of State be and he is hereby authorized and directed to transmit a duly certified copy of this resolution to Governor Lincoln C. Almond, the entire Rhode Island delegation to the United States Congress, United States Secretary of the Interior Bruce Babbitt, Chief of the United States Department of Agriculture Pearlie S. Reed.