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Bear Ground – Roger Williams Park

Roger Williams Park Bear Ground beginning of the bioretention area looking across the stairs from Maple Ave
Roger Williams Park Bear Ground looking down Hillside Ave which is closed to vehicular traffic
Roger Williams Park Bear Ground interpretive sign and stone dust path to the play area
Roger Williams Park Bear Ground play sculpture features rock climber style handhold panels and log climbing structures
Roger Williams Park Bear Ground inside the play sculpture are ropes, belts, and rock climber style handholds to access the slide deck
Roger Williams Park Bear Ground play sculpture features a slide
Roger Williams Park Bear Ground play sculpture
Roger Williams Park Bear Ground features log seating and areas for open play
Roger Williams Park Bear Ground play sculpture looking down from the slide deck at the log climbing access
Roger Williams Park Bear Ground play sculpture looking down the slide from the top deck
Roger Williams Park Bear Ground play sculpture in spring with buds on the trees
Roger Williams Park Bear Ground in spring entrance from Maple Ave
Roger Williams Park Bear Ground picnic area features 3 tables one of which is ADA-accessible
Roger Williams Park Bear Ground looking down Hillside Ave towards Roosevelt Lake in Spring
Roger Williams Park Bear Ground view looking down Hillside Ave in Spring
Roger Williams Park Bear Ground view of the play area from Hillside Ave in Spring
Roger Williams Park Bear Ground late sunset facing East toward Carousel Village
Roger Williams Park Bear Ground late sunset facing west toward Hamlin St
Roger Williams Park Bear Ground late sunset facing west into the sun
Roger Williams Park Bear Ground late sunset facing south towards Roosevelt Lake
Roger Williams Park Bear Ground play sculpture close-up of eye with loft area behind
Roger Williams Park Bear Ground picnic area has ADA-accessible table
Roger Williams Park Bear Ground looking down the stairs in Summer
Roger Williams Park Bear Ground looking up the slide and past the play sculpture to Maple Ave
Roger Williams Park Bear Ground looking down at the play sculpture access
Roger Williams Park Bear Ground beginning of the bioretention area looking across the stairs from Maple Ave
Roger Williams Park Bear Ground looking down Hillside Ave which is closed to vehicular traffic
Roger Williams Park Bear Ground interpretive sign and stone dust path to the play area
Roger Williams Park Bear Ground play sculpture features rock climber style handhold panels and log climbing structures
Roger Williams Park Bear Ground inside the play sculpture are ropes, belts, and rock climber style handholds to access the slide deck
Roger Williams Park Bear Ground play sculpture features a slide
Roger Williams Park Bear Ground play sculpture
Roger Williams Park Bear Ground features log seating and areas for open play
Roger Williams Park Bear Ground play sculpture looking down from the slide deck at the log climbing access
Roger Williams Park Bear Ground play sculpture looking down the slide from the top deck
Roger Williams Park Bear Ground play sculpture in spring with buds on the trees
Roger Williams Park Bear Ground in spring entrance from Maple Ave
Roger Williams Park Bear Ground picnic area features 3 tables one of which is ADA-accessible
Roger Williams Park Bear Ground looking down Hillside Ave towards Roosevelt Lake in Spring
Roger Williams Park Bear Ground view looking down Hillside Ave in Spring
Roger Williams Park Bear Ground view of the play area from Hillside Ave in Spring
Roger Williams Park Bear Ground late sunset facing East toward Carousel Village
Roger Williams Park Bear Ground late sunset facing west toward Hamlin St
Roger Williams Park Bear Ground late sunset facing west into the sun
Roger Williams Park Bear Ground late sunset facing south towards Roosevelt Lake
Roger Williams Park Bear Ground play sculpture close-up of eye with loft area behind
Roger Williams Park Bear Ground picnic area has ADA-accessible table
Roger Williams Park Bear Ground looking down the stairs in Summer
Roger Williams Park Bear Ground looking up the slide and past the play sculpture to Maple Ave
Roger Williams Park Bear Ground looking down at the play sculpture access

History

This welcome addition to Roger Williams Park opened on November 11, 2022. It features an iconic wooden Bear play sculpture recommended for ages 5-12, seating areas, and a picnic area. It is accessible via a wide 45ft staircase with 7 steps from Maple Ave, or a 400ft stone dust path gently meandering down the hill from Maple Ave at Pine Hill Ave.

There is an interpretive sign at the top of the path detailing the history of the Bear Ground, which in the past held captive bears. The Bear Pen was the location where bears were kept for public display and amusement. In the 1940s, when the number of captive bears rose to ten individuals, a subterranean bunker-like enclosure was constructed and named the Bear Pit. Back then, the ethics that governed animal welfare were quite different than today, and enclosures did little to provide for the bears’ natural needs or enrichment. In contrast, today’s Roger Williams Park Zoo provides natural habitats as they champion conservation, animal care, and environmental stewardship. The Bear Ground pays homage to the bears of the past. The play sculpture offers numerous ways to climb and interact with the bear, and incorporates various natural materials.

The Bear Ground is conveniently located between the Temple to Music, Carousel Village, and Roosevelt Lake. From the Bear Ground, one may catch views of the Lake along with the Bandstand and Casino, and may utilize the non-motorized shortcut of Hillside Ave to check out these and other park attractions. The Bear Ground incorporates a bioretention area to collect and filter stormwater before it enters waterways – please exercise caution and keep children away from any standing water.

 

Details

Status
Open Year-Round
Neighborhood
South Elmwood
Acreage
0.75 acres
Coordinates
41.782122, -71.415956
Address
112 Maple Avenue
Get Directions →

Amenities

Picnic Areas
Playground (ages 2-12)
Playground (ages 5-12)
Seating Areas
Walking Paths

Roger Williams Park

Click to return to Roger Williams Park page

Report an Issue

To report a maintenance issue at this location, submit a request through PVD 311 or contact the Parks Department directly.

PVD 311 →
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Providence Parks creates and maintains exceptional, accessible green spaces that serve as the foundation for wellbeing, quality of life, and environmental stewardship in Providence, Rhode Island.



Contact
Providence Parks Department
Clark Dalrymple Boathouse
Roger Williams Park
1000 Elmwood Ave
Providence, RI 02905

Superintendent: Wendy Nilsson
providenceri.gov/parks