This park was interesting in the fact that there isn't much greenspace, it's more of the central location for WaterFire. There are a lot of concrete steps that can be used for seating and quite a lot of vantage points for the fire show. I wish we could have come here to see WaterFire, but we happened to come during a time when it was off for a few weeks. The area itself is quite pleasant, with a good amount of shade and space. There are also quite a few things to do in the area, like the riverwalk if you just want to stroll outside or the mall, which is right across the street. read more

See all

Beautiful area to walk around, didn't get to appreciate it as much as I wanted to because it was such a cold, windy, and cloudy day. As tourists, we struggled to find parking initially but parking at the mall was a great choice. Free for the first 2 hours, $2 for the next 3. read more

Waterplace Park - Parks Near Me - Providence, Rhode Island

Waterplace Park is located in downtown Providence with views of the Woonasquatucket River (try saying that three times fast). There is a 3/4 mile paved walkway with bridges. Across the street is the huge Providence Place Mall. Every year, the popular Waterfire event occurs there; they light a bonfires that are strategically placed on the river. This is an urban park with a city view. I used to hang out there as a teenager; prowl the mall then a walk to the park, typical teenager stuff. It's a great place to go for a walk and sightseeing. There are tons of restaurants and bars nearby. There is on street parking and you can pay to park at the mall. If you're in the area, definitely check out this popular landmark in Providence! read more

Waterplace Park is an urban park situated along the Woonasquatucket River in downtown Providence, at the original site of the Great Salt Cove. Finished in 1994, Waterplace Park is connected to 3/4 mile of cobblestone-paved pedestrian walkways along the waterfront known as Riverwalk. Venice-styled Pedestrian bridges cross the river, along with Venetian Gondolas (seasonal service). Most of Riverwalk is below street level and automotive traffic. Waterplace Park and Riverwalk together are host to Providence's popular summertime Waterfire events, a series of bonfires lit on the river accompanied by classical and world music. The park is used by many for different events....yoga, crossfit training, aerobics, concerts, Waterfire, etc....it is also a popular backdrops for wedding pictures, quinceañeras, engagement ceremonies, etc. The park has lost some of its luster and sometimes it is not as tidy and clean as it could. A few years ago, a dragging project cleaned most of the contaminated sediment that was at the bottom of the basin. Still, it is a beautiful part of downtown Providence and a nice place for a stroll. Several restaurants in the area provide diners with waterviews...like Capital Grille and River Social. read more

See all

Beautiful spot for taking pictures and going for a quick Stroll. Across from the mall .great spot to bring a coffee and relax. read more

Waterplace Park - View from above - Parks Near Me - Providence, Rhode Island

I was born in Rhode Island and worked during my college years at a business on South Water Street, but had not been back in at least 40 years. What a wonderful re-imagining has taken place in the interim with Waterplace Park the star. read more

See all

This place was such a great addition added to our date night. The scenery was so beautiful and the show and music was just a bonus for us. Definitely a place to visit for a date night. read more

Waterplace Park - Parks Near Me - Providence, Rhode Island

See all

Waterplace Park is a versatile, welcoming area filled with land, water, and plenty of bridges in downtown Providence. During the days and nights this park is a relaxing respite from the hustle and bustle of the rest of downtown. Though the sounds of the city permeate the air, they are easy to block out with the sights and atmosphere of the park itself. I've walked through the park on many occasion during the day. Whether its on the way to Thayer St. or just for a change of scenery, this is a great place to visit. Plenty of benches and grass area to sit on, surrounding a basin of water in the middle. The river flows into and out of this area, making up the rest of Riverwalk. Partake in some lunch, or just catch some rays of sun before continuing on with your day. At nighttime, on certain days out of the year, Waterfire celebrations take place. Visiting the park for this event alone is well worth the time to get here. Beautiful views of the floating fires from anywhere in the park. Boat rides up and down the river, under multiple bridges, etc. Cobblestone walkways, underpasses with chandelier hangings, people selling roses. I suggest parking at the Providence Place Mall. . . it is directly across the street. Sweeping views of the mall from the park. Enjoy! read more

See all

Waterplace Park is a nice park right across the street from Providence Place Mall. Because I'm a local and see it all the time, I don't think I really appreciate the beauty of it. If I were to put myself in someone's shoes who isn't from here, I could definitely see the appeal in it. It's a nice place to take a stroll in. It's also a great place to take pictures. Additionally, there are activities you can do on the water like kayaking or riding on a gondola.. and of course there's waterfire. I can't mention waterplace park and not mention waterfire. Waterfire is an event that is held several times in the year (they have a calendar on their site) where they light up beautiful fires along the river. There's usually food, entertainment, and some relaxing music to accompany the waterfire events. It can get crowded and parking can be tough. I'd recommend parking at the mall and walking to it. read more

Waterplace Park - Parks Near Me - Providence, Rhode Island

Whenever I'm in Providence, I can't help but gravitate to Waterplace Park. On bike, by foot; it doesn't matter -- it's (my) happy place. Most recently I was there for the last full lighting of WaterFire 2017, and it was beautiful. Even without the art installations, walking under the bridges or through the walking channels is a serene and romantic experience. At any given time, Waterplace is seemingly a hub of activity. Catch couples going for a stroll, friends having a picnic, or locals enjoying any one of their numerous summer events -- the park is the perfect backdrop. read more

See all

Waterplace Park is in the center of Providence. It is what makes it so beautiful! Make sure to stop by during Waterfire- you'll see swarms of people walking all throughout the park with the fires lit up on the water. read more

Waterplace Park - Parks Near Me - Providence, Rhode Island

See all

It is nice and it is beautiful. We watched a show and took a walk outside before the winter kicks in. Recently relocated to Providence and slowly learning the city and all the places worth visiting here. Promise to update on other places that I will see here. This one is one of the better place. Understood that the area is improving, so there is a lot to expect for. read more

Lovely scenic area. We stayed at the OMNI near the mall and convention center which is about a minute or two away from the park. Very close to the Rhode Island State House. I must for any photographer visiting. There were gondola boats going underneath the walkways and throughout the river, which I have read about, but unfortunately did not have the chance to experience. Seemed lovely. read more

See all

Waterplace Park is one of my favorite spots for a simple stroll in the center of Providence. My friends and I also went on a gondola ride down the river during the afternoon and walked down the promenade towards the basin afterwards. I love how the promenade is clean and lively but not crowded. We returned that same night to watch the basin area lit up for WaterFire. During a full lighting, all of the additional braziers down the river are set on fire. They have small buoys around each brazier to make sure the gondolas do not crash into the fire. read more

See all

By far my favorite park in Providence, I absoutly love it here! Such a great place for a stroll, jog, or to watch waterfire! I love coming here during lunch breaks to take in the sun and relax. Def someplace worth checking out in Providence! read more

You seriously can't get more quintessential Providence than Waterplace Park: views, history, and grit - it's all there. It's particularly stunning during Waterfire, especially the walking channels on the canal that go under the bridges and make you feel as though you're in Venice or Amsterdam. I love looking up and seing such gorgeous architecture from many decades - you can really see how the city sprung up around this river. Be it the RISD theater or the new Waterplace building, they all tell a story and they're all gorgeous. Waterplace is the heart of the city, and I love coming here for a picnic, a stroll or an event (of which there are many during the summer). It's nice to stop and take a moment to look around and admire such a beautiful part of town... Even with the colorful cast or characters that frequent the area. read more

During WaterFire, it's a pretty park. A hundred floating braziers hold roaring fires, while Enya/Yanni-esque music plays in the background. Walk all the way on one side, and walk the other bank on your return. Gondolas look fun, but the rides are really expensive. For some reason, I really want to launch a radio controlled shark fin here. read more

Once covered by the "world's widest bridge," the Providence River downtown is now enlivened by year-round public art and cultural events, obviously including WaterFire. It's a lovely area, devoid of shopping and dining opportunities purposely. It creates a serene and quiet space for contemplation of your thoughts, romantic strolls or simply a short lunch getaway with your favorite sandwich. Plenty of nearby parking makes this place a starting point for people to circulate through downtown Providence while linking the affluent neighborhood of East Side Providence with downtown and creating a plaza. Walkers on the paths, bikers, joggers, artists sketching the city all can be seen here daily. read more

If you are able to see the fire show that that would be something worth visiting. Otherwise, there really wasn't much to this place. We walked the distance and it wasn't particularly beautiful or compelling. The area could use some real work to make it a destination. It's worth a walk through if you're in the area but I wouldn't go out of the way to make time for it. read more

Providence downtown is truly unique! This mid-sized city is incredibly diverse, delicious, and full of surprises. Waterplace Park is one of them. Even though the lights from the HUGE Providence Place mall right behind you won't necessarily be the best ambiance...it does symbolize the incredible economic growth and recent vitality of the downtown area. Grab a drink at a bar by the water, or roam around the mall and take a peek out over the river from one of the floor-to-ceiling windows on all floors....if it's warm out, just sit below the bridge with a loved one and watch the clouds go by. So much happens by the river in Providence! WaterFire, concerts, picnics, and art installations made my local schoolchildren. Make time to stop here! Downtown PVD is waiting for you! read more

I love this area! We made a quick stop to downtown Providence on noir way back to the airport and they have kayak rentals and gondola rides at Waterplace Park! I wish I had known that before as we didn't not have enough time to enjoy those amenities. I can't wait to go back! read more

It's unbelievable how much this area keeps evolving over the years - I remember being a kid and this was not someplace to see, well...anything! Today it's a great centerpiece for the city, most notably as the home and origin of Waterfire! It's a great place to relax during the day as well. There's not a ton of parking so you need to find it on the street. I suggest entering from the Finance Way side or through the tunnel which starts at Luxe/Bar Louie. On a nice day, you'll see boat tours and gondola rides with visitors floating through the city. At night, especially on a Waterfire, the basin will be filled with thousands of spectators, music piped throughout the city, vendors galore, and a serene atmosphere falls across the city. Make sure to walk the length of the river as well and it'll be a nice afternoon/evening! read more

Waterplace park is the place to be in the summer and fall months. Perfect for a little stroll or a lunch time picnic spot, this place can make you feel very comfortable. This park works for Providence because it follows the length of the Providence River that flows downtown. This allows it to host the many art festivals, Waterfires, concerts and art installations. Many events can happen at the same time due to the park's size. Something is usually going on. My favorite events of the year are Waterfire and WBRU's free summer concert series. Waterfire will finish out the season on Saturday, October 8th for the Gloria Gemma Breast Cancer Walk, but other dates are as followed: July 16th, July 30th, August 13th, September 10th, September 24th. The season starts in May. While it may be free, the amount of food vendors will make you want to bring some cash! Plus, Waterfire runs on the donations of the public, so do your part! WBRU's free concerts start in June. Santa Mamba and Young the Giant have already played, but the rest of the dates are the following: July 8th: Deer Tick, July 15th: The Acoustic Roots of Providence, July 22: Sleeper Agent, July 29th: Viva Brother, August 5th: VulGarrity, and August 12t: The Wandas. (Such a great deal if you are on a budget!) The shows start at 7:30 pm so fingers crossed for no rain on Fridays. read more

A very unique looking part in the downtown area of Providence. We didn't get to see the Waterfire while here but it looks really cool. I want to come back in the future to see it. The park is just walkways along the river. It's very clean. Love how it's in the heart of downtown too. read more

I just love the environment here. Waterfire nights are something that are unique and enjoyable by most people I know. There's something very relaxing as the fires are lit throughout waterplace Park in the music is broadcast through the stereo system. It's a nice little section of downtown Providence. read more

A great walk down the water in downtown. The great views sparkle, there's art and art students - even when the weather drops below freezing.

Great place to run by and super family friendly. You have to see Waterfire it's a great providence experience.

very nice park in the city

Great park in Providence. In the summer it's such a great place to chill wit friends.