Jane’s Walk: Discovering Roger Williams Park

Meet at the Monument to Roger Williams (map)
(Located near the Park’s Elmwood Avenue entrance, by Betsey Williams Cottage)

Learn about early Roger Williams Park history and explore some of its landscape and venues – including spaces that are not usually accessible to the public, such as Betsey Williams Cottage – and engage in a lively discussion about the puzzle of urban parks today. Many parks, like Roger Williams Park, were created over a century ago. How do we care for these spaces today? How do we preserve the best of the past while meeting the needs of the future?

This FREE walk is offered as part of Jane’s Walk Providence, an annual weekend-long festival of free, citizen-led walking conversations. Inspired by urban activist Jane Jacobs, Jane’s Walk encourages people to get out and explore their neighborhoods. Unlike typical guided tours, these free walks are led by volunteer citizen guides who share knowledge of their own communities while inspiring participants to think, talk, and connect. Providence is one of more than 200 participating cities with Jane’s Walks around the world, and that number grows every year. Learn more and register for events at http://www.doorsopenri.org/janeswalk2019/.

WALK LEADER: Chris Ackley has lived in Providence for over 15 years. He and his family currently reside on the edge of Roger Williams Park and he is a member of the Board of Directors of the Roger Williams Park Conservancy. Whenever possible, Chris is exploring the Park with his two daughters on the lookout for dogs and ducks.