URBAN ESCAPE
Providence's Blackstone Park is a tranquil oasis just minutes from downtown
It’s a beautiful day for a fall hike, with cool, crisp weather under breathtaking bright blue skies. Well-trodden trails weave through a verdant forest of mind-soothing serenity. A thick canopy of leaves overhead allows shafts of sunlight to filter through to the brush-covered floor below. The only sounds you hear are the rustle of dried leaves and the snap of twigs as you walk in peace.
Where are we? Lincoln Woods in Rhode Island? The Berkshires in Massachusetts? The White Mountains of New Hampshire? No, it’s Blackstone Park in Providence. This little slice of heaven is within the city limits and easily accessible for weekend treks, early morning sojourns and lunchtime strolls. And it’s perfect this time of year for viewing leaves of red, yellow and orange in all their autumnal splendor.
Officially known as the Blackstone Park Conservation District, this 45-acre natural woodland gently slopes down to the Seekonk River. It is located east of Brown University; in fact, the park was started in 1866 with a gift of five acres by the grandson of Moses Brown, co-founder of the Ivy League school. More than 45 other parcels were added to formally establish this pastoral treasure in 1889.
“It’s a big park, but not very well known,” says Jane Peterson, president of Blackstone Park Conservancy, a membership-based organization that helps manage and maintain the city-owned nature site. “There are three sections — north, center and south — with two ponds, York Pond and Hockey Pond, which is my favorite location.”
It’s easy to see why Hockey Pond is her preferred place. Located on the eastern edge of the park's south section, the shallow pond is framed by stately trees and bushes with wild berries. The quiet is broken only by the sound of scullers from the nearby Narragansett Boat Club rowing on the river.
“Water is a key element here,” Peterson says. “It drew people in the 19th century and continues to be important today. The park is critical to the aquifer system. Rainwater and storm runoff filter through to the river to help restore groundwater.”
Miles of trails crisscross the three sections of Blackstone Park, many traversing heavily wooded terrain. The forest is filled with a variety of oak, sycamore, American beech, black and white birch, maple, chestnut and dogwood trees. Beneath the trees are native blueberry bushes, summersweet clethra, ferns, toadstools of every shape and size, mountain laurel and much more.
Small meadows along the edges of the woodlands feature a bounty of wildflowers and other plants that display their magnificence at various times of the year. Wildlife is also abundant. The park attracts a wide range of birds because of its prominent position on the Northeast flyway. It is also home to squirrels, deer, raccoon and other native species.
Blackstone Parks Conservancy also manages beautiful Blackstone Boulevard. Once used by trolley cars to take urban residents to experience nature in the city, this 100-foot-wide tree-lined thoroughfare is now a pathway for bicyclists and pedestrians seeking fresh air and exercise.
Blackstone Boulevard begins at Hope Street on the outskirts of Pawtucket and travels 1.6 miles to the center section of Blackstone Park. For the ambitious and the athletic, Blackstone Boulevard is the perfect warmup before tackling the woodland paths of the main park system.
Some of the trails are steep and tend to be rough and rutted, so care and caution are advised — especially in the autumn, when falling leaves obscure obstacles along the way. Proper footwear is a must, and the paths are not handicapped-accessible.
Dogs are welcome, but they must be leashed, as required by city ordinance. For owners who want their pets to have free rein, Waterman Street Dog Park is a short distance away.
Blackstone Conservation District is a hidden gem of natural beauty only minutes from the hustle and bustle of the inner city, offering a peace and serenity that is hard to find in this era of constant communication.
“It’s so quiet here,” Peterson says. “Turn your phones off and enjoy.”
For more information about Blackstone Park and to download a map, visit the Blackstone Park Conservancy at blackstoneparksconservancy.org. The organization raises money to preserve the park and conducts restoration work. Volunteers are always needed to assist with these efforts. Find out how to help at blackstoneparksconservancy.org/volunteer.