March News
Dear Park-goers,
Is it spring yet?! After all the snow we endured last month, we’re certainly ready for well-earned warmer temps, clear skies, and beautiful blooms. While we wait for the vernal equinox, join us for this final stretch of winter programming and hopefully not too many more flurries!
Next week brings another Mental Health Morning with Sandra Victorino – our Person of the Park this month! Scroll to learn more about Sandra, her work as a Licensed Mental Health Counselor, and her connection to Roger Williams Park. The Botanical Center continues to be a balmy respite even on the coldest days, with a Bonsai Workshop and lots of other fun events lined up, while the Museum of Natural History and Planetarium offers educational programming inside and outside! Get your groove on with dance lessons at the Gateway Center, and don’t miss out on Easter fun at the RWP Zoo.
On the horizon, we’re excited to offer a fascinator workshop this spring as we gear up for Rosé in the Roses, and #401Gives is just around the corner – visit our fundraising page and respond to our event page on Facebook to get a notification closer to March 31! Keep reading to learn more.
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See you at the Park!
The RWPC Team
Fascinator Workshop
Just in time for the Kentucky Derby, Roger Williams Park Conservancy hosts a Fascinator Workshop in the Mediterranean Room at the Botanical Garden on May 2, 10-11 AM! This free, limited-seating event includes instruction to make a beautiful, decorative headpiece you can not only wear to a Kentucky Derby viewing party, but also RWPC’s premier fundraising event on June 11: Rosé in the Roses! The workshop is led by former Providence and current Barrington art teacher and educator Michelle Carden. Materials are included, but feel free to bring pieces you’d like to incorporate into your stylish masterpiece.
People of RWP
Meet Sandra Victorino!
Sandra is a bilingual, bicultural Licensed Mental Health Counselor with over 20 years of healthcare expertise, and the co-founder of the Latino Mental Health Network of RI and Sidetrack Collaborative, LLC. She brings her knowledge to the Mental Health Mornings she facilitates for RWPC at the Botanical Center.
Roger Williams Park is “a space for ongoing intergenerational connection and community care,” says Sandra, who enjoys visiting the park with family and making new connections, going to events at the Casino and Botanical Garden, and seeing all ages engaging with the green space. “My most recent memory is of seeing my great-nephew take his great-grandmother to his favorite spot in the park.”
#401Gives
This year’s 401 Gives is extra special for Roger Williams Park Conservancy because 2026 also marks the nonprofit’s 10-year anniversary! Throughout March, we’ll be sharing some of our highlights from the past 10 years, along with our plans for many years to come. Follow us on Instagram and Facebook to learn what a gift to RWPC means for the Park, and for details on an exclusive event for donors as we get closer to March 31!Boardwalk Update
Even through the snow and freezing temps, the Providence Parks Department has made significant progress laying the stringers for the Roger Williams Park Gateway Center and Park Cunliff Lake Boardwalk, fishing pier, and dock. Thanks for all your hard work to enhance infrastructure at Roger Williams Park! Maple and Pine avenues should reopen soon once the crane work is finished, and the project is expected to be complete late spring – follow the Providence Parks Department on Facebook for updates!
Happenings in the Park
Save the Date!
RWP Museum of Natural History and Planetarium
Roger Williams Park Botanical Center
The Gateway Center
RWP Zoo & Carousel Village
Volunteer at the Park
Park Partners
Museum of Natural History and Planetarium
The Museum of Natural History is Rhode Island’s only natural history museum and is home to the state’s only public planetarium. This month, the Museum is open daily 10 AM – 4 PM, with planetarium shows on Saturdays and Sundays at 2 PM (tickets online).
The Museum offers a variety of programming, including Outdoor Adventures, Discovery Tykes classes, and other special events.
Roger Williams Park Botanical Center
New England’s largest glasshouse display garden, the Botanical Center is a wonderful place to enjoy and explore, with so much to see inside and outside this magical space.
The RWP Botanical Center is open Tuesday – Sunday: 10 AM – 4 PM. They host programming for all ages, including Greenhouse Impressionism painting sessions in the winter, Wee-One Wednesdays, Storytime with Chris, Open Paint Fridays, yoga, Tai Chi, and more!
Roger Williams Park Zoo & Carousel
It’s always an adventure at Roger Williams Park Zoo, which is home to over 100 rare and fascinating species from around the world. Visit the animals and spend time in the tropical rainforest.
Register for unique animal experiences on their website, including Breakfast with the Rainforest Residents on March 22! The Zoo is open Thursday-Monday, 10 AM – 4 PM.
The Gateway Center at Roger Williams Park
The Gateway Center at Roger Williams Park is a thriving public space for all. Watch for art and recreational activities like yoga, bachata, hip hop aerobics, Tai Chi, and more – follow their Facebook page and website to stay up to date on events!
The Gateway Center is open daily from 10 AM to 5 PM.
The Roger Williams Park Conservancy is a nonprofit partner to the City of Providence Parks Department and works to boost, amplify and support all of Roger Williams Park and the park venues. The Conservancy’s mission is to sustain and enhance Roger Williams Park as a vibrant public space for all.
