Rhode Island’s largest landowner is actually the government of Rhode Island itself. The State of Rhode Island currently has around 70,00 acres of land. The state itself only has about 1,214 square miles , so that many acres is around 10% of the whole state.
As you’d probably guess, much of this land is in state parks, islands , beaches , wildlife areas, and campgrounds. The state has converted most of it into public use, making it one of the most accessible states in the country. If you want to go hiking, camping , or swimming , there are plenty of places to do it.
The Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management controls all of this land. According to their website, this government agency’s role is to protect the state’s ecosystem. They control all the parks, beaches, and other wildlife areas.
If you travel to any state park in Rhode Island, you benefit from the state government being such a large landowner.