Providence Parks
About the Parks Department
We are the essence of Providence - where every park is not just a space, but a shared moment of connection in the lives of our community.
The City's Most Cherished Asset
To be the city’s most cherished asset, creating parks that are more than spaces – they are living parts of Providence that reflect our shared history, our diverse present, and our future aspirations.
The Essence of Providence
We are the essence of Providence, where every park is not just a space, but a shared moment of connection in the lives of our community. We create and maintain exceptional, accessible, responsive spaces that serve as the foundation for wellbeing, quality of life, and environmental stewardship. Providence parks are where lasting memories are made – reaching out through generations as part of our city’s living legacy.
Three Priorities Guide Our Work
Our strategy is organized around three priorities: maximizing the value of our parks, sharing our story, and building a generative future through sustainable partnerships and diversified resources.
Board of Park Commissioners
The Board of Park Commissioners provides oversight and strategic guidance for the Providence Parks Department, ensuring that parks continue to serve the needs of all Providence residents.
Learn more about the Board of Parks Commissioners as defined by the City Charter (Estatutos autónomos en español) under Article 10, City Departments, 1003.
Visit the Open Meetings Portal
Department Overview
- 123+ parks & open spaces managed
- 31,000+ street trees maintained
- 26 park buildings citywide
- 350+ work orders completed monthly
- $14.3M in park improvements (2025)
- 4 operational divisions
- Part of City of Providence government
Annual Report
Did you Know?
- 1/10th of the City’s acreage is Parks
- 3 Parks have been home to movie sets over the past 4 years- Paul Grande, Brown Street, and Dexter Training Ground
Board of Park Commissioners
Chairman
Commissioner - City Council
Commissioner - City Council
Commissioner
Commissioner
Commissioner
Commissioner
Staff - Office of the Superintendent
Superintendent of Parks
Manager of Fiscal Operations
Confidential Executive Assistant to the Superintendent of Parks & Graphic Designer
Deputy Superintendent of Parks
Staff - Design
Landscape Designer
Landscape Architect, Design Team Manager
Landscape Designer
Landscape Designer
Senior Landscape Architect
Associate Project Planner
Staff - Roger Williams Park
Director of Neighborhood Parks Services & Roger Williams Park
Director of the Botanical Center
Director of the Museum of Natural History & Planetarium
Visitor and Event Services Specialist, Gateway Center
Executive Director, RI Zoological Society and Roger Williams Park Zoo
Staff - Operations
City Cemeteries Director
Director of Neighborhood Parks Services & Roger Williams Park
Parks Systems Specialist
Facilities and Operations Manager
City Forester
Staff - Events, Programming, and Meals
Director of Athletic and Event Facilities
Conservation Program Coordinator Providence Urban Wildlife Conservation Partnership
Programming Supervisor - Meals and Rink
Director of Parks Programs
General Correspondence
Providence Parks creates and maintains exceptional, accessible green spaces that serve as the foundation for wellbeing, quality of life, and environmental stewardship in Providence, Rhode Island.
Contact
Providence Parks Department
City Hall, 25 Dorrance Street
Providence, RI 02903
Superintendent: Wendy Nilsson
providenceri.gov/parks