India Point Park facts for kids
Quick facts for kids India Point Park |
|
|---|---|
 |
|
| Location | Fox Point, Providence, Rhode Island |
| Area | 18 acres (73,000 m2) |
| Created | 1974 |
| Visitors | 75,000 |
.jpg)
India Point Park is a fun park located in the Fox Point area of Providence, Rhode Island. It sits right where the Seekonk River and Providence River meet. The park got its name because ships used to sail from here to places far away, like the East and West Indies.
The East Bay Bike Path starts at the park's eastern side. This path crosses the Washington Bridge and goes all the way to Bristol. India Point Park is also part of the Washington–Rochambeau Revolutionary Route, a historic trail.
Contents
Park History: From Port to Playground
India Point was once Providence's very first port. It was set up in 1680 and was a busy place for ships and trade for 250 years. A man named John Brown started his tea and spice business here. This is how the park got its name. India Point Park stayed an important trade spot until the Great Depression in the 1930s.
Busy Transportation Hub
In the early 1800s, Fox Point became a major center for travel in Providence. As many as seven different steamship lines used to dock here. In 1835, a railroad also opened on India Street.
Shipping Goods Around the World
During the 1800s, Providence had some of the biggest factories in the country. Companies like Brown & Sharpe and Gorham Silverware shipped their products from India Point. Providence sent out things like cotton, wool, machines, and engines. In return, ships brought in raw materials like cotton, leather, and iron.
By the late 1800s, ships were mostly bringing coal to Providence. In 1878, almost a million tons of coal arrived! This coal was stored in big yards along the harbor. You could still see parts of the old docks a hundred years later.
Bringing People to Providence
On August 22, 1821, the steamboat Robert Fulton was the first to travel directly from New York to Providence. Besides cargo, Fox Point also had many passenger steamship lines. These big, fast, and comfy ships brought people from cities like Philadelphia, Boston, and Baltimore. In the 1920s, one company, Merchants & Miners, had six ships and three trips a week from Baltimore. This service continued until 1941, when the ships were needed for the war.
In June 1911, the French Fabre Line started bringing people across the Atlantic Ocean to Providence. Between 1912 and 1913, Fabre brought almost 12,000 immigrants, mostly from Italy and Portugal, to the Lonsdale Dock. This route was so popular that Fabre built another pier in 1914.
Changes and Challenges
By the 1940s, after a big storm called the 1938 New England hurricane and with many ships taken for the war, trade at India Point mostly stopped. The main port of Providence moved to a deeper area. The old coal yards at India Point became scrap yards.
In the 1960s, a new highway, Interstate 195, was built. This highway cut India Point off from the rest of the neighborhood. An expert named William McKenzie Woodward felt the walkway built over the highway wasn't good enough.
Becoming a Beautiful Park
In the 1960s and 1970s, Providence worked hard to make the city more beautiful. As part of this effort, India Point was finally turned into a public park. It officially opened in 1974.
The old walking bridge over I-195 was taken down in 2005. A new, wider bridge opened a few years later. This new bridge made it much easier for people from the Fox Point neighborhood to reach the park. Walking has also become easier with the George Redman Linear Park, which finished in 2015.
Even with all the improvements, the Green Jacket Shoal still shows signs of the past. This part of the Providence River has a lot of old debris from a century of storms and tough economic times. You can still see parts of old docks, shipwrecks, and abandoned ships sticking out of the water. As the area changed from industrial to a place for fun, this debris became a safety concern for anyone using the water.
Park Views: A Wide Look
Modern Features: Bridge and Amphitheater
The new walking bridge over Interstate 195 is much wider than the old one. It connects the park to East Street. The bridge has benches, cool lights, and pretty plants like flowers and small trees. A watering system was put in place in 2009.
The ramp leading to this bridge also acts as seating for an outdoor theater, or amphitheater, at the park's shoreline. Big events, like July 4th performances by the Rhode Island Philharmonic Symphony Orchestra, have happened here.
Other things you can find at the park include the Hilton Garden Inn Hotel, the Marston Boathouse (used by Brown University), and sports fields on the east side of the park.
