Providence Parks

History

Deeded to the City in 2001, the park opened in 2019.

Bordered by Adelaide Avenue on its northeast edge, the Huntington Business Park on its northwest edge and Ocean State Plaza off Reservoir Avenue to the south. It is a part of the Pawtuxet River Watershed – the largest watershed in Rhode Island – fed by the waters of Tongue and Spectacle Ponds in Cranston, and in turn feeding into the Roger Williams Park ponds. From there, water ultimately drains into Narragansett Bay. Mashapaug Park is located on the site of the former site of the Gorham Silver Manufacturing Plant, a remediated brownfield, and is the result of over 15 years of work by the City of Providence, the State of Rhode Island, the Reservoir Triangle Neighborhood Association, UPP Arts, Textron, environmental organizations including the Environmental Justice League of Rhode Island, and community members.

The Mashapaug Pond area was once a thriving Narragansett settlement, part of the land Roger Williams acquired from the Narragansett in 1636. In the early 1800s, its shores became home to an ice harvesting company owned by the Carpenter family, and by 1890 it was the heart of American silver manufacturing when Gorham Manufacturing Company started operations on its eastern shore. While Mashapaug Pond remains polluted due to surface water run-off and industrial discharges, the surrounding land has been substantially remediated, allowing for the construction of Dr. Jorge Alvarez High School, athletic fields, and now Mashapaug Park, a tranquil natural area to be enjoyed by residents and visitors.

Mashapaug Pond was for years the focal point of UPP Arts’ annual Urban Pond Procession and is today capped with a geotextile barrier covered by 12 inches of clean fill. The area, including wetlands, has been revegetated with native plants and wild-flower garden to complement the area’s trees and many vistas. Mashapaug Pond and the surrounding area are home to a range of birds and other wildlife.

Recent Improvements

• A project to improve and connect trails and parks around the river, with a focus on improving the health of the water is in the early stages of design development in 2026.