The land for the park was a gift to the people of Providence in 1872, in accordance with the will of Betsey[Note1] Williams, the last descendant of Roger Williams to inherit his land. It had been the family farm and was the last of the original land granted to Roger Williams in 1638 by Canonicus, chief of the Narragansett tribe. The family farmhouse was built in 1773 and is now known as the Betsey Williams Cottage; the cottage and the Williams family burial ground (including Betsey's grave) are still maintained within the park.[2]
The original bequest consisted of about 100 acres.[3] Additional land to the south was purchased in 1891 at a cost of $359,000,[3] consisting mostly of unimproved land that was covered with woods and ponds; it brought the total area of the park to about 400 acres.[3] The natural history museum opened in 1895.[3]
Roger Williams Speedway
Roger Williams Speedway ca. 1920s
From at least 1915 to about 1949, the park contained a half-mile racetrack that ran from Elmwood Avenue to Broad Street. The track normally hosted harness races; it was a particularly popular Fourth of July attraction. In 1924 it was the site of an army hurdle race.[4][5]
2016 renovations
The Rhode Island Foundation began a renovation effort in the park in 2016 as a celebration of their centennial,[6] beginning with the park's historic bandstand in December 2016. The renovations will expand to other park buildings and entrances.[6] In June 2017, a dedicated bike and pedestrian lane was added to Frederick Green Memorial Boulevard as part of these renovations,[7] although this change was opposed by some Cranston residents,[8] including Cranston mayor Allan Fung.[9]
Gateway visitor center
Gateway Center
In Fall 2022, a Gateway and Visitor Center for the park opened on Broad Street.[10][11] Designed by INFORM studio, the center is intended to increase community access to the park.[11] The center provides information about public events, amenities, and services in Roger Williams Park and in the surrounding neighborhood.[10]
Layout
Many lakes are found within the park.Many flowering plants throughout the Botanical Center, walking paths, and gardens.
The park contains seven lakes which comprise approximately 98 acres (40 ha), and it is located in the southernmost part of the city of Providence bordering the city of Cranston. It was designed by Horace Cleveland in 1878 and was constructed in the 1880s. Many of the roads, bridges, and sidewalks were built by the Works Progress Administration from 1935 to 1940. The National Trust for Historic Preservation called Roger Williams Park one of the finest urban parks in the US in their 2000 annual report.[12]
Note1 Her headstone name is spelled as "Betsey Williams," but she has been mistakenly called "Betsy" through the centuries, as it appears on numerous articles, postcards, and books.
^ abcdGrieve, Robert (February 1896). "Modern Providence". The New England Magazine. 13 (6). New England Magazine Company: 788–789. Retrieved April 6, 2018.
^Lennon, Frank (July 3, 2023). "Here's a look at how RI started celebrating the Fourth of July all the way back in 1777". The Providence Journal. Retrieved July 4, 2023. The Speedway at Roger Williams Park was a popular Fourth of July attraction a century ago. This July 1923 photo shows trotters in action on the half-mile track that ran from Elmwood Avenue to Broad Street.
^ ab"About". Gateway Center at Roger Williams Park. The City of Providence. Archived from the original on November 8, 2022. Retrieved November 8, 2022.
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