Slater Park facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Slater Park
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Daggett House, built circa 1685, is located within the park
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 Location in Rhode Island
Location in the United States
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| Location | Pawtucket, Rhode Island |
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| Built | 1685 |
| NRHP reference No. | 76000004 |
| Added to NRHP | June 30, 1976 |
Slater Park is the oldest and largest public park in Pawtucket, Rhode Island. It's a great place to visit! The park is named after Samuel Slater. He was a famous American industrialist, which means he was a leader in business and built America's first water-powered textile mill.
The park sits along the beautiful Ten Mile River. Inside the park, you can find the Daggett House, which was built around 1685. It's the oldest house in Pawtucket! Slater Park was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1976. This means it's a special place recognized for its history. The park also has a fun, old-fashioned Looff Carousel.
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History of Slater Park
Slater Park covers about 197 acres (0.8 square kilometers). Most of this land was once a farm called the Daggett farm. The city bought it in 1894. Back then, the land looked very different from the park we see today.
The Providence Journal newspaper once said the land was "part swamp and part remains of a wornout farm." It was hard to walk through because it was so muddy and overgrown.
Work to improve the park started in 1907. They removed all the swampy plants to create ponds. They also cleared out thick bushes on higher ground. But they carefully kept the big pine and maple trees. Hundreds of new oak and pine trees were planted. Grass was encouraged to grow again in the old fields. Because of this work, the park now has a nice mix of open grassy areas and woods.
In 1894, there was only one road on the Daggett farm. It went straight to the Daggett House. A big project in the early years was building winding roads. These roads helped people drive through most of the park. They also started building paths, especially along the river and around the ponds. Two bridges were built to reach an island in the Ten Mile River.
Between 1909 and 1917, several buildings were also built in the park. Three men helped guide this early development: George Carpenter (the City Engineer), James C. Potter (the president of the Park Commission), and George Saunders (the first Park Superintendent).
What to See at Slater Park
Besides the Daggett House and the Looff Carousel, Slater Park has other interesting places:
Slater Park Zoo: A Petting Farm
When Slater Park was first developed, a small collection of animals was put on display. This was near the Daggett House. In 1916, this small zoo had pigeons, rabbits, and deer. Over time, the zoo faced financial challenges. Much of it closed in the 1990s. Today, some of the original animal areas are still there. But the space is now a petting zoo called Daggett Farm. It's a fun place to meet friendly farm animals!
Potter Casino: An Art Gallery
The Potter Casino was built in 1917. It's sometimes called a "resthouse." It sits by the central pond. This building was a gift from James C. Potter. He was a key member of the Pawtucket Park Commission. A local architect named R. C. N. Monahan designed the building. It has red brick walls and a green tile roof.
The lower floor used to be an "aquatic room" for people using canoes or ice skating. The upper floor had restrooms and a large "rest room" with comfy chairs. Today, the building is home to the Rhode Island Watercolor Society. It's used as an art gallery. It also hosts special events like Pawtucket's Winter Wonderland.
The Bandstand: Music in the Park
Also built in 1917, the bandstand is at the other end of the pond from the Potter Casino. It's a round, open temple-like structure. It has ten columns holding up a steel dome and a tile roof. The inside of the dome is made of oak wood. The outside has the names of ten famous music composers.
The location of the bandstand and the paths leading to it were planned with help from John C. Olmsted. He was the nephew and former business partner of Frederick Law Olmsted. Frederick Law Olmsted was a very famous park designer.
Park Superintendent's House
A small cottage, built around 1874 for the Daggett family, was later updated. In the early 1900s, it became the offices for the Parks department.
Images for kids
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Potter Casino
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Bandstand
