Roger Williams Park facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Roger Williams Park Historic District
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Bandstand and Casino
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 Location in Rhode Island
Location in the United States
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| Location | Providence, Rhode Island |
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| Built | 1872 |
| Architect | Horace William Shaler Cleveland |
| Architectural style | Colonial Revival, Queen Anne |
| NRHP reference No. | 66000002 |
| Added to NRHP | October 15, 1966 |
Roger Williams Park is a large, beautiful city park in Providence, Rhode Island. It covers about 427 acres and is also a special historic area listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The park is named after Roger Williams, who founded the city of Providence and helped start the state of Rhode Island.
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Park History and Origins
The land for Roger Williams Park was a special gift to the people of Providence. It was given in 1872 by Betsey Williams. She was the last person in her family to own the land that once belonged to Roger Williams.
The Williams Family Land
This land was originally the Williams family farm. It was part of the first land given to Roger Williams in 1638. This gift came from Canonicus, the chief of the Narragansett tribe.
The family farmhouse was built in 1773. Today, it is known as the Betsey Williams Cottage. You can still see the cottage and the Williams family burial ground in the park. Betsey Williams herself is buried there.
The park started with about 100 acres. In 1891, more land was bought to the south. This new land was mostly woods and ponds. It cost $359,000 and made the park about 400 acres in total. The park's natural history museum opened in 1895.
Recent Park Improvements
In 2016, the Rhode Island Foundation began to update parts of the park. This project celebrated their 100th anniversary. They started by fixing the park's old bandstand in December 2016.
These improvements will continue for other park buildings and entrances. In June 2017, a special lane for bikes and walkers was added. This new lane is on Frederick Green Memorial Boulevard.
Exploring Roger Williams Park
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Roger Williams Park has seven lakes, which cover about 98 acres. The park is located in the southern part of Providence. It is right next to the city of Cranston.
The park was designed by Horace Cleveland in 1878. Most of it was built in the 1880s. Many of the roads, bridges, and paths were built between 1935 and 1940. This work was done by the Works Progress Administration. In 2000, the National Trust for Historic Preservation called Roger Williams Park one of the best city parks in the United States.
Fun Things to Do in the Park
The park offers many exciting attractions for visitors. You can find something fun to do for everyone.
Some of the main attractions include:
- The Roger Williams Park Zoo
- The Roger Williams Park Museum of Natural History and Planetarium
- The Roger Williams Park Botanical Center
- Beautiful Japanese Gardens
- Lovely Victorian Rose Gardens
- The Providence Police Department's Mounted Command center
- The Dalrymple Boathouse, where you can rent boats
- Historical tours to learn about the park's past
- A fun Carousel Village
- The "Hasbro Boundless Playground," which is designed for children with disabilities
- The Temple to Music, a beautiful outdoor stage
- The Roger Williams Park Casino
- Many miles of paths perfect for walking
Images for kids
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Ground was broken on the new visitor center in August 2021
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The casino
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Betsey Williams Cottage (1773)
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The carousel
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Clark Dalrymple Boathouse (1896)
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Roger Williams Park Botanical Center
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The Temple to Music is the site of community events
See also
In Spanish: Parque Roger Williams para niños
