Providence Parks

History

This park was deeded to the city in 1907 and later named in honor of James J. “Jimmy” Ahern, a legendary basketball player and coach in Providence. He played on the Providence College basketball team from 1961-1965 and was captain in his senior year. The 1963 team won the National Invitation Tournament, which at the time was the leading college basketball post season tournament. Ahern was a teacher and guidance counselor at both Mount Pleasant and Central High Schools where he also coached until retiring in 1995. He was honored for his many accomplishments in basketball: named the Coach of the Year by the R.I. Interscholastic League, and was inducted into the Saint Patrick Parish Hall of Fame, Hope High School Hall of Fame, the Rhode Island High School Basketball Hall of Fame, Words Unlimited Hall of Fame, and the Rhode Island Interscholastic League Hall of Fame.

Recent Improvements

• Futsal renovations were completed in 2026 including new synthetic turf and goals.
• MyHomeCourt basketball court improvements opened September 19, 2025.
• New water park opened on August 1, 2025. The playground was also renovated with four new play features added during this phase. A new synthetic turf futsal field replaced the natural turf one built in 2019.
• Ballfield irrigation completed in 2024.
• Little League baseball field was renovated in 2019.

Walking

Walking the path around the perimeter of the park is a 0.2 mile loop.

Baseball Field

• 46/60 dimension with grass infield
• Irrigated field, features dugouts and foul poles
• No outfield fence- walking path is the boundary
• LF 175ft – CF 180ft – RF 175ft

Basketball Court

• Lined court with breakaway rims
• 82ft x 49ft
• 2 extra full-sized goals in the half court

Futsal Pitch

• Lined Synthetic turf surface with chainlink fencing behind goals
• 3m x 2m regulation goals
• Pitch size 84ft x 45ft