Blackstone Boulevard Park

Historic Design

Originally designed in 1886 by H.W.S. Cleveland and later completed by the Olmsted Brothers firm, Blackstone Boulevard Park is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The park runs down the center of Blackstone Boulevard, a 1.6-mile long, 200-foot wide thoroughfare.

The park consists of a 100-foot wide median bordered by two roadways, each containing a bicycle lane and a traffic lane.

Recreation Opportunities

The park features a wide central path lined with benches, providing a popular route for walkers, joggers, and cyclists from Providence and surrounding communities.

Blackstone Boulevard Park is known for its mature trees, shrubs, and grassy areas. At the south end of the Boulevard, volunteers maintain a garden that was installed in 2004.

Community Spaces

The park also contains a rustic stone shelter, built over 100 years ago as a trolley stop, which has been repurposed as a community gathering place. In recent years, it has hosted summer concert series, providing free music on summer evenings.

Larger Green Network

Blackstone Boulevard Park is part of a larger green space network in Providence, connecting to the Blackstone Park Conservation District, a 45-acre natural woodland area along the Seekonk River.

Together, these areas provide valuable urban green space and recreational opportunities for residents and visitors alike.