R.I. Gen. Laws § 45-36.1-2: Power to declare municipal land as public trust land.

Pursuant to the proper delegation of powers vested in the general assembly by R.I. Const., Art. I, § 17, cities and towns may formally dedicate any property they hold that was donated to the city or town, or acquired by the city or town for use as a park or for other conservation purposes as a public trust land, to be perpetually protected from conversion to a use other than the use for which it was originally obtained and from development that is inconsistent with the primary recreation, open space, and natural resource purposes as a natural resource land of the state and as a natural environment for the people of the state and to reduce risks of confusion or misunderstanding regarding acceptable and non-acceptable uses of land held by a municipality for outdoor recreation, open space benefits, and natural resource conservation.