Providence Parks

History

Garibaldi Square has been a public space for a long time. It was once the location of the Federal Hill bath houses when life in tenements made access to hot water difficult. At that time, it was known as Franklin Park. Today’s park came about as part of the Atwells Avenue improvement efforts in 1975.

The bronze bust in the park honors Giuseppe Garibaldi, a famous Italian nationalist and war general of the 19th century. He is most known for conquering Sicily and Naples, leading to the unification of Italy under the Risorgimento movement (Encyclopedia Britannica). Before its placement in Garibaldi Square, the bust had a nomadic trajectory. The Board of Park Commissioners initially refused to locate it next to Union Station downtown and, with the support of Governor Case, moved it next to the Rhode Island College of Education (now the University of Rhode Island’s Providence campus). In 1975 the city relocated the statue to mark the downtown entrance to Federal Hill (Outdoor Sculpture of Rhode Island).

This area is co-managed by OMNI Development in partnership with Providence Parks Department.