Meet Phil Edmonds!
You have likely seen or met Phil if you have spent any time in Roger Williams Park and if you haven’t you should. We wanted to learn more about our friend and share it with the rest of you. Be on the look out for Phil this spring and say hello!
Phil and his family moved from a small village in County Clare, Ireland, to Providence in 1965. His aunt, Sadie Larkin, sponsored the family’s journey to the United States after Phil’s father passed away a few years earlier. Upon their arrival, they stayed at Sadie’s rooming house in South Providence. Phil attended Central High School and enjoyed hanging out with friends around the neighborhood. Phil says, “In the middle of the city, the park is an oasis, a peaceful place where one can feel a connection to the natural world. One of the greatest joys is seeing families spending time, playing, and relaxing in the park.” His favorite spot is the trails around the ponds in the park.
Bio: Phil, a musician who plays the tin whistle and button accordion, has been a professional musician for 45 years. He has also been gardening at the Somerset Street Community Garden for 38 years. He enjoys interacting with people daily in the community and believes that “community needs tending to just like a garden.”Phil would like to thank the Roger Williams Park Conservancy for maintaining the park as a vibrant space for everyone, year-round, with the help of the Parks Department staff and maintenance crew, who are deeply committed to the upkeep and well-being of the park.
Phil is a constant presence not only at events at Roger Williams Park but also throughout Providence, the city he loves so much. He is truly a gem of Providence.
