Parks & Recreation

People (wrongly) think of parks as shared space. The greatest shared portion of Rhode Island, over 120 square miles (10% of total area), consists of 12,915 linear miles of highways, roads and streets, not counting parking lots, sidewalks and such paved areas, as well as zones required alongside. Access by road is expected; few are private, except driveways, or require tolls, something fiercely independent residents despise. Sharing seems an alien concept considering how most motorists drive, cutting others off and ignoring traffic controls. Parks, on the other hand, are not always so accessible - you can hardly visit some - or occupy as much acreage. They range from off-limits management areas to overrun neighborhood playgrounds not listed. Cranston alone boasts of 32 fields, playgrounds, and tracks, Providence 100. The multitude of uses for parks include buffers for enterprises and estates, campsites for the homeless, common sites of protests, event venues for everything from culture to sports, family picnics, shooting galleries for junkies, and somewhere to “park” the unwanted. You can saunter nonchalantly in many - linear parks were solely built with bicycling and walking in mind - though hazards vary by location and time.

What does “recreate” even mean? Do you again create anything by visiting parks? Well, maybe. Your interest means cities and towns feel compelled to improve and maintain them. Although recessions cut budgets and volunteers, a few do accept this challenge for many reasons, some of which are self serving. Most people agree parks fill some function, though many never visit them and wouldn’t know why. Artificial surroundings are abstractly comforting yet emotionally disturbing. Parks remind humans they live integrated within nature.

While one of the wealthiest states per capita in the nation in the 19th Century, Rhode Island only spent 1% of its income on public spaces. Exploitation of resources and rivers haphazardly left swarths of inaccessible and unused land later designated as parks and reserves. Birds must have trees to roost, fauna and fish unpolluted waterways, but humans rushing to develop out of greed and need for sure forget kin of feather, fin and fur.

This represents the most comprehensive list based on maps and multiple sources, since official websites seldom get updated or skip locations based on jurisdiction or size. Consult maps or websites for grid coordinates. Entries are operated by cities or towns (unless indicated as national or state). Several state facilities remain totally undeveloped. Any distinction among entries is blurry at best. All offer natural respite, some more than others. By listing them one hopes they won’t simply disappear to relentless development or stingy neglect. Elected officials would love to sell public properties to balance budgets after raiding revenues. Taxpayers are your hosts, whether they welcome visitors or would rather not.

Beaches: Maintained by city and state taxes, you’d think only residents could visit these coastal parks, yet anyone can after a fashion. However, fees and tags for using adjacent parking lots fleece locals and inspire private competitors. Nobody owns tidal land, so, should you arrive by bike or foot, excluders cannot keep you from strolling shoreline through Blue Shutters, Bonnet Shores, Briggs, Buttonwoods, Collins, Dunes (Weekapaug), Dunes Club (Narragansett), Easton, Fogland, Gooseberry, Goosewing, Green Hill, Grinnell, Hazard’s, Jerusalem, Jim’s, Kelly, Moonstone, Napatree Point, Ocean House, Quonochontaug, Ray Carpenter, Reject’s, Round Meadows, Second, South Shore (Little Compton), Spouting Rock, Tappens, Teddy’s, Third, Warrens Point, and Watch Hill Beaches, as well as whatever overlooked patches of sand readers might complain wasn’t mentioned. Due to widespread ground water and road runoff pollution, it’s unsafe to swim in fresh water other than where listed. Salt water in Greenwich Cove and Narragansett Bay north of Patience Island is also questionable for swimming, though boaters, sunbathers and those who can’t afford gasoline to drive further do enjoy.
Andy’s Way, Block Island
Arcadia Pond (state, fresh water), Hopkinton
Aunt Carrie’s, Point Judith, Narragansett
Barrington Town, Barrington
Briar Point, Coventry
Bristol Town, Bristol
Burlingame (state), Charlestown
Calf Pasture Point, North Kingstown
Charlestown, Block Island
Charlestown Breachway (state), Charlestown
Charlestown Town, Charlestown
City Park, Warwick
Conimicut Point, Warwick
Crescent, New Shoreham, Block Island
East (state), Charlestown
East Ferry, Jamestown
East Matunuck (state), Charlestown
Fenway, Weekapaug, Westerly
Fred Benson, New Shoreham, Block Island
Fort Getty, Jamestown
Fort Adams, Newport
Frank Moody (state, fresh water), Lincoln Woods, Lincoln
Geogiaville Pond (fresh water), Smithfield
Gilleran's Pond (fresh water), Gazzaville, Burrillville
Goddard Park, Warwick
Greenlake, Slack’s Pond (fresh water), Smithfield
Hope Pond (fresh water), Scituate
Island Park, Portsmouth
Jack's Island, Tiverton
Juniper Trail, Bristol
King's Park, Newport
Juniper Trail, Bristol
Little Compton Town, Little Compton Longmeadow, Warwick
Misquamicut (state), Westerly
Mackerel Cove, Jamestown
Moonstone (state, closed to bathing), South Kingstown
Narragansett Pier, Narragansett
Navy, Middletown
North Kingstown, North Kingstown
Oakland, Warwick
Pascoag Club (fresh water), Burrillville
Pebbly, Block Island
Plum, North Kingstown
Point Judith Back, Narragansett
Quonnie, Charlestown
Roger Wheeler (state), Narragansett
Sachuest, Middletown
Salty Brine (state), Narragansett
Sandy Point, Warwick
Sandy Point, Portsmouth
Scarborough (state), Narragansett
Scotch, Block Island
Seaside, Weekapaug, Westerly
Spinks Neck, Davisville, North Kingstown
Spring Lake (fresh water), Black Hut, Burrillville
Stony, Jamestown
Union Street, Bristol
Vail, Block Island
Warren Town, Warren
Weekapaug, Westerly
Westerly Town, Weekapaug, Westerly
Wuskenau Town, Westerly

Bicycling/Walking Paths: Major bikeways are state installed but locally maintained. They run through all sorts of scenery: Industrial backsides, parks/playgrounds, pond edges, quiet forests, railroad sidings, river overlooks, suburban neighborhoods, and train trestles. Whether their roughly 70 miles are clear or not of fallen branches or snow cover depends on city/town budgets and user vigilance. Designed for mixed use, expect dog walkers (long leashes), families with kids, horseback riders, in-line skaters, potential assailants, skiers after heavy snows, and teen gangs. Parks and sports facilities often have sidewalk loops or tracks, too, but bicycling is usually excluded.
Belmont Park Loop (0.5 mi.) - Warwick
Blackstone River Bikeway (11.6 mi.) - Lincoln, Cumberland, Woonsocket
Burrillville Bike Path (1.2 mi.) - Burrillville
East Bay Bike Path (14.5 mi.) - Providence, East Providence, Barrington, Warren, Bristol
Meadow View Avenue Bike Path - Warwick
Northwest Trail (aka Fred Lippitt Woonasquatucket River Greenway, 5.0 mi.) - Providence, Johnston
Pawtuxet Spur off WSBP (0.5 mi.)- Warwick
Quonset Bike Path (2.5 mi.) - North Kingstown
Rocky Point Path (1.0 mi.) - Warwick
Ten Mile River Bikeway (2.0 mi.) - East Providence, Pawtucket
Tongue Pond Loop (0.5 mi.)- Cranston
Warren Bike Path (1.0 mi.) - Warren
Washington Secondary (aka West Bay) Bike Path, (18.9 mi.) including Coventry Greenway and Trestle Trail - Cranston, Warwick, West Warwick, Coventry
William C. O’Neill Memorial (aka South County) Bike Path, (7.8 mi.) - Kingston, Narragansett
Wilson Park Bikeway (1.0 mi.) - Wickford, North Kingstown

Update, 2019: New, unnamed bit of bike path in Providence inspired by blog author runs from Gano Street beneath George Washington Bridge to Waterman Square
Hiking Trails: Popular paved walkways include Narragansett Pier’s Promenade, Newport’s Cliff Walk, and Providence’s Riverwalk. Scores of unpaved trails exist, some marked with trailhead signs alongside roads. They range from flat urban ambles to forbidding vertical challenges. Several combine to form the rugged 78 mile North-South Trail along the western border of state, though it also uses rural unpaved roads. Clubs facilitate segmented outings by stationing buses at day’s end to return you to your vehicle at start. Also consult Farms, Preserves, Refuges & Sanctuaries and Management Areas (below), many of which feature improved hiking trails, or these sites: All Trails.com and Trails and Walks RI.
Arcadia’s Ben Utter (3.2 mi.), Breakheart (6.8 mi.), Hemlock Ledges (3.5 mi.), and Mt Tom (4.2 mi.) - Exeter
Audobon Envrionmental Education Center, boardwalk (0.25 mi.) and trail (0.5 mi. (0.5 mi.) - Bristol
Awkright Riverwalk (1.0 mi.) - Coventry
Blackstone Boulevard (1.8 mi.) - Providence
Donald Roch Riverwalk (1.2 mi.) - River Point, West Warwick
Jerimoth Hill (0.5 mi.) - Foster
Maxwell Mays (2.3 mi.) - Coventry
Pachaug-Tippecansestt Loop (10.5 mi.) - Richmond, Exeter, West Greenwich
Pawtuxet River Trail (2.0 mi.) - Cranston/Warwick
Pettaquamscutt Rock (2.0 mi.) - Narragansett
Phenix-Harris Riverwalk (0.3 mi.) - West Warwick
Purgatory Chasm (0.5 mi.) - Middletown
Rockland Walking Trail (1.0 mi.) - Scituate
Tefft Trail (0.5 mi.) - Town Hall, West Greenwich
Tillinghast Pond Loop - West Greenwich
Wenscott Reservoir (1.0 mi.) - Lincoln
Westconnaug Meadows Trail (1.3 mi.) - Scituate
West Warwick River Walk (1.0 mi.) - West Warwick

Parks: Especially important in congested cities, they generally have ponds, sidewalks, streams, trees and/or waterviews. Ones in italics exemplify the notion and reward your attendance. Not to be confused with burial grounds, industrial sites, or place/village names, though either could be just as parklike. A visit to a cemetery can be more rewarding with greenery than some parks, scores of which only cover a block or two. Many visit Scituate with its stands of trees and vistas across state’s biggest reservoir, ironically, since fewer parks have been designated there than any other city or town, though they do have a Green Acres program to develop more and several athletic fields.
Agawam, East Providence
Albion, Lincoln
Aquidneck, Newport
Arcadia (state), Exeter
Beach Pond (state), Exeter
Beavertail (state), Jamestown
Belmont, Warwick
Biltmore, downtown, Providence
Blackstone, Providence
Blackstone River (state), Lincoln
Blackstone River Valley National Heritage Corridor (state), Lincoln/Woonsocket
Bold Point, East Providence
Booth Pond , North Smithfield
Brenton Point (state), Newport
Brickyard Pond, Barrington
Bridge Point Commons, Narragansett
Brook Avenue, East Providence
Bucklin, Providence
Bucks Horn (state), Coventry
Burlingame (state), Charlestown
Burnside, downtown, Providence
Burr Hill, Warren
Camp Meehan, Lincoln
Captain Steven Olney Memorial, North Providence
Casimir Pulaski (state), Glocester
Casino & The Towers, Narragansett
Cass, Woonsocket
Chepiwanoxet Point, Warwick
City, Warwick
Clarke Road Camp, Narragansett
Cliff Walk, Newport
Cocumcossoc (mostly undeveloped state) and Smith Grove, North Kingstown
Cold Spring, Woonsocket
Colt (state), Bristol
Collier Point, under I-way, Providence
Common Fence, Portsmouth
Conanicut Battery National Historic, Warwick
Conimicut Point, Warwick
Columbia, Providence
Crescent (has a Looff Carousel), East Providence
Davis, Providence
Dawley Memorial (state), Richmond
Deerfield, Smithfield
Dexter Training Ground, Providence
Diamond Hill (state), Cumberland
Domenic Christofaro, Narragansett
Donald Downs, Allenton, North Kingstown
Dunnell, Pawtucket
Dyerville (state), Johnston
Eastward Look, Narragansett
Esek Hopkins, Providence
Esmond, Smithfield
Evans, Lincoln
Fairlawn, Lincoln
Fell/Greystone, North Providence
Fisherman’s Memorial (state), Narragansett
Flat Top, West Warwick
Forest, North Kingstown
Forster Memorial, Coventry
Fort Adams (state), Newport
Fort Barton, Tiverton
Fort Getty, Jamestown
Fort Wetherill (state), Jamestown
Francis H. Sherman Memorial, Johnson’s Pond, Coventry
Freebody, Newport
Freedom Green, East Providence
Gano, Providence
Gazebo Park, Narragansett
George C, Narragansett
George Washington Picnic Grove, Smithfield
Glen, Portsmouth
Glenlyon, East Providence
Globe Park, Woonsocket
Glocester Memorial, Chepachet, Glocester
Goddard (state), Warwick
Governor Notte, North Providence
Guiteras, Bristol
Grassy Plains, East Providence
Green Hill, South Kingstown
Haines Memorial (state), Barrington
Heritage, Chestnut Oak, Glocester
Hope, Scituate
India Point, Providence
Jenks, Central Falls
John L. Curran (closed), Cranston
John Lewis, East Providence
Johnston Memorial, Johnston
King, Newport
Leroy Thomson Memorial Park, Narragansett
Lime Acres, Lincoln
Lincoln Woods (state), Lincoln
Lippett, Providence
Lombardi, Barrington
Lonsdale, Lincoln
Manville Memorial, Lincoln
Margaret S. Walsh, Howard, Cranston
Mattity Road, North Smithfield
McCarthy, North Kingstown
Merino, Providence
Meshanticut (state), Cranston
Mettatuxet Park. Narragansett
Miantonomi, Newport
Monastery, Cumberland
Morton, Newport
Mystic Woods, East Greenwich
Neutaconkanut, Cranston
Ninigret, Charlestown
Old Mountain Field, South Kingstown
Pacheco, North Smithfield
Paull, Chestnut Street, Bristol
Pawtuxet (state), Warwick
Pettaquamscutt, Narragansett
Peter Randall (undeveloped state), North Providence
River Point, West Warwick
Riverside, Olneyville, Providence
Riverside Square, East Providence
Rocky Point (state), Warwick
Rocky, Jamestown
Rocky Hill, North Smithfield
Roger Williams (has only zoo), Providence
Roger Williams National Memorial, Providence
Rosegarden, East Providence
Rose Larisa Memorial, East Providence
Rotary, Westerly
Rovensky, Newport
Ryan (undeveloped), North Kingstown
Sabin Point, East Providence
Sandy Acres, Coventry
Sayesville, Lincoln
Scalloptown, East Greenwich
Seaside, Jamestown
Signal Rock, North Kingstown
Slater (has a Looff Carousel), Pawtucket
Slater Grove Memorial, Warwick
Slater Historic Site, Pawtucket
Sprague Memorial, Narragansett
Snake Den (undeveloped state), Johnston
Social, Woonsocket
South Prudence Bay Island, Prudence Island
Squantum Woods (state), East Providence
Stillhouse Cove, Cranston
Ten Mile River (state), Pawtucket
Touro, Newport
Town Hall, Lincoln
Town Farm, South Kingstown
Treaty Rock, South Kingstown
Trestle, Quidnick, Coventry
Trestle Trail, Coventry
Tri-Pond, South Kingstown
Tucker Field, Cumberland
Tuckertown, South Kingstown
Upper East Woonsocket, Woonsocket
Valley Falls Heritage, Cumberland
Veterans, New Shoreham, Block Island
Veterans Memorial, Narragansett Pier
Village Way, North Smithfield
Wanskuck, North End, Providence
Washington Grove, Smithfield
Waterplace, downtown, Providence
West Kingston, South Kingstown
Weetamoo Woods, Tiverton
Wheeler Common, Little Compton
Whipple, Smithfield
Wilcox, Westerly
William Brousseau, South Kingstown
Willow, Smithfield
Wilson, Wickford, North Kingstown
Witherby, Richmond Square, Providence
Woody Lowden Recreation Area, Foster
World War II Veteran’s (state), Woonsocket

Farms, Preserves, Refuges & Sanctuaries: Provide green space for birds and fauna, though some can be hiked or visited.
Aldrich Marshall Woods, Lincoln
Ballard’s Farm, Lincoln
Bayside Field, Warwick
Beach Pond Reservation, Exeter
Bradford Preserve, Westerly
Briggs/Boesch Farm, East Greenwich
Butterfly Smith Farm, Lincoln
Canada Pond, Providence
Canochet Farm, Narragansett
Casey Farm, North Kingstown
Casimir Pulaski Memorial (state) Forest, Glocester
Cedar Swamp Wetland, West Greenwich
Chase Farm, Lincoln
Claire D. McIntosh Wildlife Refuge, Bristol
Coggeshall Farm, Bristol
Conanicut Island Sactuary, Jamestown
Dame Farm, Johnston
Davis Memorial Wildlife Refuge, North Kingstown
Dundery Brook Preserve, Little Compton
Eagles Nest Conservation Area, Lincoln
Emelie Ruecker Wildlife Refuge, Tiverton
Fisherville Brook Wildlife Refuge, Exeter
Florence Sutherland Fort and Richard Knight Fort Nature Refuge, North Smithfield
Foster Memorial Park Conservation Area, Coventry
Frenchtown Park and Frye Family Nature Preserve, East Greenwich
Forest Park Sanctuary, Quidnessett, North Kingstown
Galille Bird Sanctuary, Narragansett
George B. Parker Woodland, Coventry/Foster
George Washington Memorial (state) Forest, Glocester
Great Swamp Wildlife Reservation, Richmond
Hall Conservation Area, Coventry
Handy Pond Conservation Area, Lincoln
Hines Farm - Millers Oak, Cumberland
Hope Meadows & Sandy Acres, Coventry
Hopkins Woodland Town Forest, Glocester
Hunts River Preserve, East Greenwich
John H. Chaffee Nature Preserve (state), North Kingstown
Kimball Sanctuary, Charlestown
Lathrop Pond Wildlife Refuge, Westerly
Lawton Farm, Scituate
Lewis Dickens Farm, New Shoreham
Lime Rock Preserve, Lincoln
Long Pond Woods, Hopkington
Mahoney Property, Coventry
Marshmeadows Wildlife Preserve, Jamestown
Maxwell Mays Wildlife Refuge, Coventry
Merrill S. Whipple Conservation Area, Coventry
Minturn Farm, Bristol
Mount Hope (Montaup) Farm & Haffenreffer Lands, Bristol
Mowry Conservation Area, Smithfield
Narragansett Bay National Estuarine Research, Patience and Prudence Islands
Neylon Property, Coventry
Ninigret National Wildlife Refuge, Charlestown
Norman Bird Sanctuary, Middletown
Olivia’s Forest, Smithfield
Osamequin Nature Trails and Bird Sanctuary, Barrington
Pawtuxet River Reservation, Cranston
Phillip’s Land, Smithfield
Portsmouth Wildlife Refuge, Portsmouth
Powder Mill Ledges Wildlife Refuge, Smithfield
Queen’s Fort Reservation, Exeter
Quonochonntaug Breachway, Charlestown
Rodman’s Hollow, Block Island
Rome Point (state), North Kingstown
Sachuest National Wildlife Refuge, Middletown
Seapowet Marsh Wildlife Preserve, Tiverton
Shady Brook Conservation Area, Lincoln
Sprague Farm & Town Forest, Glocester
Sunset Farm, Narragansett
Thompson, Narragansett
Touisett Marsh Wildlife Refuge, Warren
Trustom Pond National Wildlife Refuge, South Kingstown
Valley Marsh Conservation Area, Cumberland
Walker Farm Preserve, Coventry
Waterman (Sisson) Pond, Coventry
Watson Farm, Jamestown
Westerly Town Forest, Westerly
West Greenwich Land Trust (Racoon Hill), West Greenwich
Wilbur Woods, Little Compton

Management Areas: Patrolled by hunters in season, mountain bikers, and out-of-state all terrain enthusiasts year-round. Nicholas Farm is mostly used by Connecticut residents. Hikers report seeing amphibians, bats, bears, beavers, bobcats, coyotes, deer, fisher cats, foxes, mountain lions, possums, rabbits, raccoons, rats, reptiles, sasquatch (disputed), skunks, voles and wolves.
Arcadia, Exeter/Richmond
Beach Pond, Exeter
Beaudoin Conservation, Coventry
Big River, West Greenwich
Black Hut, Burrillville
Buck Hill, Burrillville
Burlingame Wildlife, Charlestown
Carbuncle Pond, Coventry
Carolina, Richmond
Durfee Hill, Glocester
Dutch Island State, Narragansett Bay Islands
Fry Pond Conservation, West Greenwich
Hawkings Pond Forest, Glocester
Hog Island, Narragansett Bay Islands
Moosup River, Coventry
Newton Swamp, Westerly
Nicholas Farm, Coventry
Ponagansett, West Greenwich
Pratt Conservation, Coventry
Rockville (hiking among Blue, Ell, and Long Ponds), Hopkinton
Round Top, Burrillville
Simmons Mill Pond, Little Compton
South Shore, South Kingstown
Wickaboxet, West Greenwich
Woody Hill, Westerly