Providence Parks

History

India Point Park has a rich history as the hub of Providence maritime commerce and in the early 19th century, it was even the location of the first Providence train station. Passengers would arrive from Boston by train and take a boat the rest of the journey to New York City. The pilings visible in the water are remnants of the warehouses that sprung up along the waterfront. As shipping declined, the area next to the river was mostly used as a scrap yard.

In 1974, environmentalist Mary Elizabeth Sharpe pushed the city to turn the land into a public park (RI Heritage Hall of Fame). She convinced the mayor to match her $153,000 pledge and proposed a renovation that included playgrounds, picnic areas, bike paths, a promenade, and a boathouse.

For many years, the park languished because of Route 195 that almost completely separated the park from the Fox Point neighborhood (only a narrow pedestrian bridge connected the two). In 2008, RIDOT replaced the bridge with one that is 6 times as wide (RI.gov). The current, ample pedestrian overpass connects to George M. Cohan Blvd at East St, behind Cabral Park.

A ferry from India Point Park to Block Island ran until the mid-1990s. Seastreak currently operates a seasonal passenger ferry to Newport.

Recent Improvements

• Learn more about Phase three improvements, existing conditions, and in-depth history of the park here.
• The ribbon cutting for Phase two improvements including the Promenade and Playground was held on May 5, 2025. Playground includes ropes and swings for more challenging players as well as a themed play structure and for younger children.
• Southeastern seawall and paths were renovated in 2019 in phase one of a three-phase project.

Soccer Pitch

• 8ft x 24ft regulation goals
• Approx. 100m x 50m regulation for Association Football (Soccer)