Providence Parks

History

This rambling 1.5-mile-long walking path was deeded to the City in 1907 and established in 1909 in association with the “City Beautiful” movement, seeking to create Elmhurst’s equivalent to Blackstone Boulevard. The contemporary Parkway’s eastern terminus is at Oakland Ave between Smith St and Chalkstone Ave. However, the overall greenway is nearly continuous as it extends south to Davis Park via the Tom Twitchell Greenway.

Recent Improvements

• Numerous green infrastructures, or “best management practices” (BMPs) were implemented between 2019 and 2020 to provide bioremediation, filtering stormwater before it enters the watershed. The parkway’s channelized stream flows into the Woonasquatucket River, which leads to the Providence River and Narragansett Bay.
• Stormwater BMPs are devices, practices, or methods that are used to manage stormwater runoff by controlling peak runoff rate, improving water quality, and managing runoff volume. These include stormwater infiltration basins and tree plantings.
• Planned investments are underway to improve stormwater drainage and redesign a pedestrian bridge.