Authorities discouraging public from participating in Aquapalooza due to COVID-19

Police are asking the public to not participate in a yearly event due to COVID-19.

The Portsmouth Police Department along with the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management Environmental Police are strongly discouraging boaters from participating in an upcoming event on July 25, 2020, which is known as Aquapalooza.

This loosely organized event has been a yearly occurrence in Potters Cove off Prudence Island, according to police. Due to COVID-19 restrictions and Governor Gina Raimondo’s Executive Order on social distancing, this year, both the Portsmouth Police and RI Environmental Police want to remind the boating community of potential hazards and potential health risks in attending the event.

“Our departments also wish to remind boaters that enforcement will be of the highest priority. The Portsmouth Police and RI Environmental Police, along with several other law enforcement agencies, will be vigorously enforcing boating safety and rules/regulations in order to maintain the safety of the boating community and to protect public health throughout Rhode Island.”