Newport's Cliff Walk Controversy

by Alison Wellner (RSS feed)
Aug 9th 2009 at 10:01AM

Newport's Cliff Walk is a 3.5 mile stretch along the Atlantic Ocean, a public right-of-way carved out of some 64 private properties -- properties that certainly have to be among the priciest in the Northeast. It's one of the oldest public walks in the country, mentioned by name in the Rhode Island Constitution, and its preservation has been a concern to Newporters for decades -- Claus Von Bulow, for instance, chaired the Cliff walk Commission in the 1970s.

Now, the Cliff Walk -- or, at least, the City of Newport, the State of Rhode Island and the Preservation Society of Newport County, owner of the Breakers mansion, whose grounds the path crosses -- is the target of a lawsuit before the Rhode Island Supreme Court, according to a story in The Providence Journal by reporter Mike Stanton.

The argument: it's hard for tourists to determine where the path-proper ends, and dangerously unstable rocky terrain begins. That's what happened nine summers ago to one honeymooning tourist, Simcha Berman, then 23. He was walking along the path with his new wife when they took a few steps towards the ocean to get a better look at the waves. The path gave way beneath him, Berman fell on to the rocks below, and is now a quadriplegic. It's not the first major incident on the Cliff Walk either, Stanton's article cites two deaths in the late 1980s and early 1990s, and the newspaper's blog reports that just last summer, an Indiana woman fell from the path to serious injuries.

The court will decide whether Berman is entitled to millions, and the question is, what, if anything should be done to the Cliff Walk to prevent such accidents from occurring? Should the walk be fenced off? It's easy to see how that would really interfere with the experience of the ocean vista. Or is this a case of tourists simply not using common sense? (That seems to be the take of the Providence Journal, given the headline: Visitors to Newport Often Put Themselves at Risk.)

When I visited Newport a couple of weeks ago, I did spot a warning sign near the Breakers. It first concerned itself with making sure that tourists properly respected the rights of the the property owners, but then, it clearly stated "this trail has rugged terrain and can be difficult to pass." Although, I have to say, this particular sign didn't say anything about the potential for serious injury or even death on the walk. Perhaps it's implied, but a stroll along the Cliff Walk certainly didn't seem like anything too frightening, even on that particular moody, foggy gray day.

One of Newport's grand Cliff Walk estates, Hopedene is on the market for $19.5 million. Pictures are below.

Gallery: Hopedene

Tags: clausvonbulow, lawsuit, newport

Filed under: Luxury Travel & Hotels, Crimes and Misdemeanors

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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Donna Aug 10th 2009 2:49PM

Why can't they put a railing up at the end of the walkway??? duh!

melbik Aug 10th 2009 3:10PM

CAVETE EMPTOR and, be not stupid. Maybe along with giving away millions for being stupid, careless, and a profound clutz, they should provide a free dog poop washing service just in case you misstep somewhere within the state.

Susan Aug 10th 2009 7:47PM

Strange that Claus Von Bulow chaired the Cliff Walk committee in 1907-he was born in 1926! Um, yeah, right...Look it up.

blackwings68 Aug 10th 2009 3:31PM

um.....reading is fundamental...it says 1970's....

Alison Wellner Aug 10th 2009 3:23PM

Thank you Susan, for pointing out the typo -- Von Bulow chaired the committee during the 1970s, not the 1907s (which would be nonsensical in any event).

Shell Aug 10th 2009 3:55PM

If the picture is of the path then its pretty easy to see that the path is paved
where sidewalk ends you turn around you climb on rock you fall easy enough..
We should not put up ugly side rails or wall becuase people lack common sense ..

Susan Aug 10th 2009 7:59PM

Yes, Blackwing, reading IS fundamental-hence the nice thank you note I received for pointing out the typo in the article which has since been repaired.

mtmslg Aug 12th 2009 2:41PM

I've been to Cliff Walk on dozens of occasions and don't quite get the controversy. As I recall, over the years, the Walk has been stabilized by no less than the Army Corps of Engineers! On one side you have the beauty of nature, on the other the beauty of architecture. The last thing it needs is a muddle of lawyer-approved signs marring the vista cautioning the obvious! And what happened to common sense? It's a miles long CLIFF WALK that clings over the ocean. It is outside, y'know --- in nature! Can't control nature and can't underestimate the stupidity of human beings to try.

jestafford Aug 14th 2009 1:25PM

The picture is of the cliff walk. As a right of way, the various owners control the condition of the path -- in places (such as the beginning), it is very nice. However, significant stretches are scrambles over loose rock which are unsuitable for small children or people lacking mobility. It would be impossible to install handrails without major reconstruction.