Neighborhood cookouts to be held at recreation centers from 6:00pm-8:00pm throughout the summer, offer free food and family-friendly activities
July 16, 2018
PROVIDENCE, RI – Mayor Jorge O. Elorza today joined Providence Parks and Recreation, the Department of Art, Culture + Tourism and the Healthy Communities Office to announce the schedule for citywide summer cookouts which will offer free food and family friendly activities and be held in recreation centers on select dates from 6:00pm-8:00pm.
Providence fields, parks, pools, waterparks and recreation centers have seen vast improvements and an expansion in programming in recent years through investments supported by Mayor Elorza and the Providence City Council. This season, city pools will offer new outdoor grills, beach tables and chairs as well as shading structures to enhance the experience of visitors.
Mayor Elorza will join Providence Recreation Director Michael Stephens and staff as well as community members at Zuccolo Recreation Center on Monday, July 23 at 7:15pm to kick off the citywide summer cookouts. Press is invited to join.
The Citywide Summer Cookout schedule is below:
- Due to rain, the cookout scheduled for Tuesday, July 17 at Zuccolo Recreation Center, 18 Gesler Street, has been rescheduled to Monday, July 23
- Tuesday, July 24 at Davey Lopes Recreation Center, 227 Dudley Street
- Monday, July 30 at West End Recreation Center, 109 Bucklin Street
- Tuesday, August 7 at Neutaconkanut Recreation Center, 675 Plainfield Street
- Wednesday, August 15 at Rogers Recreation Center, 60 Camden Avenue
Last year, the City launched EAT, PLAY, LEARN PVD, a one-stop-shop to provide youth access to engaging summer programming and healthy, nutritional summer meals. As part of the effort, public pool facilities and waterparks also serve as summer meal sites that offer free meals to Providence residents ages 18 and under. City pools are open Monday through Saturday, from 12:00pm to 5:00pm while waterparks are open Monday through Saturday, from 12:00pm to 7:00pm.
Pool locations include:
- McGrane Pool at West End Recreation Center, 404 Dexter Street
- Almagno Pool at Neutaconkanut Recreation Center, 675 Plainfield Street
- Selim Rogers Recreation Center, 60 Camden Avenue
- Zuccolo Recreation Center, 18 Gesler Street
- Davey Lopes Recreation Center, 227 Dudley Street
Waterpark locations include:
- Al Carrington Water Park – at Richardson Park, 64 Richardson Street, corner of Richardson Street and Prairie Avenue
- Billy Taylor Water Park, 124 Camp Street, off Cypress Street
- Sackett Street Water Park, 110 Sackett Street, across from Sackett Street Recreation Center
- Harriet & Sayles Water Park, 375 Sayles Street, corner of Harriet and Sayles Streets
- General Street Water Park, 11 West Drive, off Admiral Street
- George West Water Park, 1266 Chalkstone Ave, corner of Chalkstone and Mt Pleasant Ave
- Fargnoli Water Park, 945 Smith Street, close to Academy Ave
- Fox Point Water Park – at Cabral Park, 505 Wickenden Street, next to Vartan Gregorian School
- Neutaconkanut Recreation Center Water Park, 675 Plainfield Street, near Killingly Street
- Wallace Street Park, 1 Wallace Street
- Pastore Park, corner of Knight Street and Tell Street
- Joslin Recreation Center, 17 Hyatt Street
- Chad Brown Water Park, Chad Brown Street
All Providence youth 18 and under are eligible to receive free summer meals through the USDA’s Summer Food Service Program (Summer Meals). Last summer over 145,000 meals were served at recreation centers, parks, and in collaboration with youth- serving organizations and programming. No registration is required to participate.
Summer meal locations and hours include:
Elmhurst · Valley · Mt. Pleasant
- Fargnoli Park 12:00pm-2:00pm Smith Street (Across 950 Smith Street)
- George J. West Park 12:15pm-2:15pm Chalkstone/ Mt. Pleasant Avenue
- O’Brien Park 11:15am-1:15pm Corner of Regent Street/River Avenue
Federal Hill · West End
- Pastore Park 12:15pm-2:15pm 18 Gesler Street
- Dexter Training Ground 11:00am-1:00pm 73 Dexter Street
- Wiggins Village 11:15am-1:15pm 207 Cranston Street
- Codding Court PHA 11:30am-1:30pm 144 Dodge Street
South Side
- Ellery Park 11:00am-1:00pm Ellery Street (Across 84 Ellery Street)
- Harriet and Sayles Park 11:45am-1:45pm 199 Oxford Street
- Rollins Rec Center/Pool 12:00pm-2:00pm 674 Prairie Avenue
- Pearl Street Playground 11:45am-1:45pm Pearl and Providence Street
- Jennifer Rivera Park 11:30am-1:30pm 40 Niagara Street
- DHS Headquarters 10:45am-12:45pm 206 Elmwood Avenue
- Peace and Plenty 11:00am-1:00pm Peace and Updike Street
- McGrane Pool (Bucklin Rec Center) 12:15pm-2:15pm 404 Dexter Street
- Davey Lopes Rec Center 12:00pm-2:00pm 227 Dudley Street
Charles · Wanskuck · Smith Hill
- Father Lennon/Camden Ave 12:00pm-2:00pm 60 Camden Avenue
- General St./Prov Recreation HQ 11:45am-1:45pm 11 West Drive
- Chad Brown Waterpark 12:15pm-2:15pm Chad Brown Street
- Metcalf Field 11:15am-1:15pm Across from 200 Hawkins Street
- Corliss Park 11:00am-1:00pm 30 Corliss Street
East Side
- Fox Point Park 11:45am-1:45pm Wickenden Street (Across B/G Club)
- Billy Taylor Playground 11:30am-1:30pm Camp Street (Across 135 Camp St.)
Olneyville, Hartford, Silver Lake
- Riverside Park 11:15am-1:15pm 50 Aleppo Street
- Donigian Park 10:45am-12:45pm Valley Street
- Hartford Park 11:00am-1:00pm Across 300 Hartford Avenue
- Joslin Park 11:30am-1:30pm 17 Hyat Street
- Neutaconkanut Park 11:45am-1:45pm 675 Plainfield Street
- Manton Heights 12:30pm-2:00pm 21 Salmon Street
- Wallace Street Park 12:00pm-2:00pm Corner of Wallace and Cumerford
For more information and to find the nearest open recreation facility, residents can call the Providence Recreation Department’s main office at 401-680-7300, visit https://www.providenceri.gov/providence-recreation/ or contact the Mayor’s Center for City Services by dialing 3-1-1 or visiting https://www.providenceri.gov/pvd-311/.