2022 Alison J. Walsh Award for Outstanding Environmental Advocacy
Barry Schiller
Barry Schiller has been a champion for Rhode Island’s environment and Rhode Islanders’ quality of life for over 50 years. He embodies the tenacious spirit of Alison J. Walsh, the Save The Bay staff member whose memory is honored with this award. As an active member of many organizations, and through his personal initiative, Barry has been a leading advocate for mass transit, bikeways, and social equity. His early advocacy for the East Bay Bike Path and Rhode Island’s network of bikeways has connected Rhode Islanders from all communities with the coastal shorelines and riverbanks of Narragansett Bay and its watershed.
As a vocal supporter of mass transit, Barry has been a vital player in reducing polluted runoff from streets and parking lots and ensuring that all Rhode Islanders have a way of reaching and enjoying Rhode Island’s spectacular beaches and coastal parks. He has volunteered his time and energy to the State Transportation Advisory Board, RIPTA Board of Directors, and the Environment Council of Rhode Island. Like Alison Walsh, Barry was instrumental in the startup of effective, lasting community organizations, most notably the R.I. Bicycle Coalition and the R.I. Transit Riders.