If you are a National Park visitor and want to get your book stamped, this beautiful urban park in downtown Providence is a great choice. Open from 10a-4p Thursday to Sundays, it offers a video of the origins of the city of Providence as well as a seasoned tour guide inside with lots of answers for any questions you might have for him. The park grounds have lot of benches and places for a picnic under shady trees. Definitely a respite of tranquility and shade in the busy downtown area. read more

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If you're looking for a sprawling park for running, biking, hiking or fishing, this isn't the park for you! Technically it's a Memorial which is managed by the US National Park Service. If you're looking for a nice shady spot where you can sit for a spell and learn about Roger Williams and Providence history, this a great place. The Roger Williams National Memorial is a smaller memorial site, a mere 4.5 acres, but certainly not the smallest. That honor belongs to the Thaddeus Kosciuszko National Memorial in Pennsylvania, which is situated on just .02 acres. The Roger Williams National Memorial is convenient to downtown, provides free parking, benches, shade trees and some walking paths. It's not to be confused with Roger Williams Park which is not accessible to downtown Providence and offers 427 beautifully landscaped acres south of the city. The Roger Williams Park and zoo is a great park for running, biking, hiking, fishing and to visit the zoo. I've enjoyed visiting both! read more

Roger Williams National Memorial - Lovely spot - Parks Near Me - Providence, Rhode Island

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This is a small NP. But RI is pretty small, so there's that. ;D Park in their lot off Canal street, or use the metered parking on street. (free on Sunday I believe, check the city website) There are two handicapped parking spots and ramps to access the Visitor Center. Definitely visit here first. The building that houses the visitor center is an historic building. They offer a short film about Roger Williams, a few static displays and the usual NPS brochures plus some gift/educational items and you can stamp your NP Passport here. The grounds are very pretty with lawn, shade trees, lots of picnic tables and artwork. Several displays highlight the area and original settlement of Providence. The original home of Roger Williams sadly burned during the King Phillip War, but there is a plaque on a building across the street noting which lot belonged to him. After walking the very pretty grounds, take a drive up to Prospect Terrace to see the Roger Williams monument and burial site. Originally he was buried in his back yard, and after much ado, the memorial was finally dedicated in 1939 and his remains interred in their final testing place. A very nice little museum and park about the man Roger Williams and the settlement of RI that can be viewed in a short amount of time. read more

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An interesting simple NPS site. Not much to actually see. Interpretative content around Roger Williams life is interesting. Good junior ranger program. Enthusiastic rangers. Not a destination but worth a quick stop if in area. read more

roger williams is a really important figure in the history of Rhode Island. Every Rhode Islander should definitely pay their respects and come here. Anyone not from Rhode Island this is definitely a skip because it's just a nice little park with almost nothing to see. read more

It's an interesting memorial. A few small pieces of art sprinkled throughout. The main point of interest is probably the old well. I thought there would've been a monument or two, but nothing. A nice patch of green in the middle of the city of Providence. The hours for the outdoor visitor center is currently only Thursday until Sunday, but we did see a ranger around who was helpful in helping us collect our stamps for the location even though it was a Wednesday. read more

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Loved chatting with Andrew S., the super knowledgeable Park Service employee who works there. He was very informative and very passionate about the subject matter, which made a lasting impression. read more

Free entry with multiple entry points and reasonable access to paid needed parking. Rick lined pathways are rather level and reasonable to navigate with assistive devices. Easy to find rental bikes and scooters nearby in the neighborhood. Stop by late March early April for their daffodil bloom. read more

Williams was for everyone having the freedom to practice their religion without prosecution. However he sold slaves to the Caribbean. So not sure he was that great of a person. Lots of history in the town about Mr. Williams. Beautiful park near by for picnic. Also ask ranger for Blackstone River Valley passport stamp book. It leads you through several cities to various points of interest. read more

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The only National Park you can run across in less than 20 seconds. (OK, if you run the LONG way it's more like a minute.) This lovely strip of nature's majesty located in the heart of Providence boasts over 50,000 visitors a year. Granted, most of them are just crossing the street to get to Whole Foods or the mailbox, but still. The park's 4+ acres are lush with different trees, birds, rocks and many small bucktoothed furry animals. Features Waterfalls- No Caves- No Trees- Yes Grass- Yes Activities Camping- No Kayaking- No Mtn. Climbing- No Hiking- Yes (My favorite hikes are- "Right Up the Middle" and "Coupla Times Around") Fauna Bears- No Squirrels- Yes read more

Roger Williams National Memorial - Aerial shot - Parks Near Me - Providence, Rhode Island

There's not much to see or do at this National Memorial. A friend and I were visiting Providence and Newport for a weekend, and we visited this park. We walked around and read a few signs, but there's just not that much to it. I would definitely recommend you visit Prospect Terrace Park over the Roger Williams National Memorial - it has a large statute of Roger Williams and it has the most beautiful views of Providence. read more

For a park in the heart of downtown, this place sure is picturesque. Plush green grass, free parking on the Canal St side, fabulous views of South Main Street and the city skyline. It's well-maintained and has a very old-feeling quality to it, which I adore. No, it isn't huge, but there's a wonderful grassy knoll/hill-ish thing that makes it feel much larger than it is. Plus, it's within walking distance of several great restaurants, shops, galleries and the RISD Museum which make it great for a weekend chill out session. There's even a little nook with tables and climbing roses that make it ideal for a picnic lunch or game of outdoor chess. Precious. Sure, there are the occasional bums and bongo-playing hippies doing their thing, but the park is big enough to avert them, and they're harmless anyway. During the warmer months, food trucks have been known to park along the South Main side and vend their glorious morsels. The parking on this side is metered, but if you're in and out quickly, you can get away without spending that precious parking quarter. Me? I like to take my food down into the grassy area (which is such nice, soft, full grass for a city park) and enjoy the fresh air whist I munch away. read more

The rangers do the best job they can to make it a memorable experience for all visitors even during Covid-19. Thank You!

There isn't much to Roger Williams Memorial Park but it was enjoyable nonetheless. I had a few hours in Providence so I decided to walk around. It is near the Capitol building and very accessible to walk to. It literally is a park with plants and paths and there even is an old well that serviced the area when Providence was established. This park did not exist when Roger Williams was around, it was a recently created park dedicated to him, BUT it is located in the old Providence settlement area. There is also a small visitor's center that is worth checking out. There are displays to read regarding Providence, it's establishment, religious freedom, and Roger Williams and why he is an important figure in Rhode Island history. There is also a 5 minute video about Roger Williams that you can watch though it doesn't play nonstop throughout the day, just ask the ranger and they'll play it for you. The entire place takes about 30 minutes or less to go through. It's an interesting stop if you like history but isn't fancy or worth a long detour. But if in town, go check it out and you'll learn how the city ofProvidence came to be. read more

Do not mistake this for Roger Williams Park (proper), this is the little landscaped strip between North Main and Canal Streets (near Olive's and XO). Perfect for a post-bar kiss goodnight, or a midday sandwich from Geoff's. read more

Small downtown site, but has a nice small parking lot and grassy area for sitting, etc. NPS ranger was very nice and knowledgeable about the area, as well. Also have rest rooms inside and don't forget to get your Passport stamped - they have two stamps! Hooray! read more

The Roger Williams National Memorial Park is small, tiny even, but manages to pack in a lot of history and lovely green space in to a neat and pretty little package. It is a beautiful and peaceful place to spend an afternoon reading a book or a great spot to take a break from walking around the city. Very close to downtown, and the nearby shops and restaurants, it can be a fun and relaxing area to have a picnic with some delicious take-out. There may not be too many of the activities that most would consider doing when going to a national park, but it is a great historical spot to stop and walk around when in the area. There is a visitor center where you can get information about the park and it's history if you arrive on a day when it is open. So if size matters, this may not be the park for you, but all in all I think it is a great little green space. read more

Nice little strip of land (emphasis on the little) to walk a dog because they provide Mutt Mitts in case you forgot yours at home. You can also catch up on a little history at the plaques around the paths and the added bonus is that Chez Pascal's food truck parks here often. read more

The Memorial is open 7 days a week, and is not the smallest national park, it is not even in the top 10. It is open 7 days a week, it opens at 9am and closes at different times depending on the season. There is a lot of history here & the rangers will provide maps, directions & suggestions on where to go and what to do. It's not Yellowstone but it's not a dump either. www.nps.gov/rowi read more