Waterplace Park is an urban park in downtown Providence, Rhode Island. Situated along the Woonasquatucket River, the park has transformed a piece of Providence history in a way that connects it to the past while also creating opportunities for engagement in the present.
Transforming the Great Salt Cove
In the early 1700s, Providence Cove covered most of the area below the current Rhode Island State House. Also known as the Great Salt Cove, it was large enough to admit sailing ships. As Providence began to develop, portions of this body of water were filled in, which culminated with it being fully covered and topped with railroad tracks in 1892. It would remain covered even as further developments in the area slowed over the decades.
The River Relocation Project of the 1980s and 1990s would directly connect with and utilize this history to transform the space. This project reimagined the setup and pathways for the water that once ran through the area, culminating in a vision that contained cobblestone-paved pedestrian walkways and Venice-styled Pedestrian bridges. The creation of Waterplace Park has provided a location that is distinct on numerous levels, ranging from the natural amphitheatre to features like the General Pershing Bridge.
Waterplace Park is now home to multiple restaurants while the amphitheatre hosts numerous concerts, activities and events on a regular basis. The most famous of these are the Waterfire events, which are a series of bonfires lit on the river accompanied by classical and world music.
Being able to return a riverfront to the city was one of the main goals of the project that created Waterplace Park, but it also newly utilized the natural amphitheater in the space and revived other natural resources that had been displaced. Doing so created a monument that is connected to Providence’s resurgence in a way that will continue to attract audiences and cultivate activity in the present and future.
Connecting with the Legacy of a City
Created more than a hundred years after the original body of water was filled, Waterplace Park is connected with the history of the city but has been able to cultivate the legacy of the region in a unique way. By providing incredible access to and views of downtown Providence, it showcases how such landmarks can create positive change and drive attention for a space and community.
