Providence Parks

History

The Fox Point Community Garden, built in the 1990s, marks the first community garden in a Providence park.

The basketball court complex is named after revered community activist, John “Johnny” Britto. Johnny devoted his life to helping the youth in the community and greater Providence, particularly through his work at the Fox Point Boys & Girls Club.

The ballfield (Field 1 on the West side of the park) was once home to the world famous fast-pitch softball team Local 57, a semi-professional team of operating engineers named for the union located on Gano Street. Around 2007, the field dimensions were reduced to accommodate little league play, but a section of an old outfield fence remains in place.

Since the banks of the Seekonk River once came up to Gano Street, the park sits on land fill that the city put down in the early 20th century. Part of the land fill might have included mounds of oyster shells from adjacent processing facilities of a bygone era.

The park is 12 acres with an additional 1+ acres of the Bike Path under Parks Department care. The park may be accessed via the bike path, or public right of ways that dead end in the park, east of Gano St: Power St, Fremont St, and East Transit St. Travelling the half mile on the bike path through the park from Pitman St to Trenton St is one-quarter mile shorter of a route compared to navigating neighborhood streets.

Recent Improvements

• Improvements to the Gano Steet Baseball Fields are nearing completion in Fall 2026- including the addition of field lights and new dugouts.
• The Basketball Courts were remodeled and a ribbon cutting ceremony was held on August 22, 2026.
• The old bleacher was removed in 2020 due to safety concerns. It featured a mural by local artist, Jay West.
• Bike path installed in 2017. In partnership with RIDOT, the Parks Department maintains the length of the path from Pitman St south to the Gano St Boat Ramp.
• Boat Ramp 2014

Baseball Field 1

• Little league youth play – 46/60
• Equipped with irrigation, lights, dugouts, bleachers, scoreboard, and press box.
• LF 200ft – CF 200ft – RF 200ft
• Infield renovated, lighting added in 2026

Baseball Field 2

• Little league youth play – 46/60
• Equipped with irrigation, dugouts, bleachers, scoreboard, and bullpens.
• LF 200ft – CF 200ft – RF 200ft
• Dugouts rebuilt in 2026.
• Known as the Water’s Edge field
• Infield cutouts designed after Texas Rangers Field

Basketball Courts

• Two lined courts with lights, fenced baselines, regulation free throw and (high school) 3-point lines, and breakaway rims
• Court 1 : South  94ft x 50ft (NBA-sized) with bleachers
• Court 2 : North 85ft x 50ft (larger than high school regulation) with Cabo Verde flag-inspired paint design
• Courts rebuilt in 2026

Soccer Pitch

• Irrigated field equipped with bleachers
• 8ft x 24ft regulation goals
• 102m x 64m meets FIFA regulation for International Association Football (Soccer)