Don’t Overlook Providence’s
PROSPECT TERRACE PARK

On the edge of Providence’s east side College Hill, the two-acre Prospect Terrace Park overlooks downtown, offering amazing views of the Rhode Island Statehouse and the bustling city.

Being so small, it might be thought of as a Victorian-era neighborhood park, a nice addition to the community, but its vantage point and historical significance makes it more than just a place for the children of College Hill to play and students of RISD and Brown to stroll.

It’s also a monument to Roger Williams, the founder of Providence.

If you stand at the edge of the 80-foot overlook, you are standing next to a 15-foo5 statue of Roger Williams as he stands over the city he founded, his hand extended palm down at though bestowing a blessing on the city. The original colony runs from below drop, eastward across the flatland toward the river.

With the neighborhoods that now encompass the space from there to downtown, you can no longer see the little farms and spring that made the colony successful. But you can still see the spire of the First Baptist Church ever established in America.

The remains of Roger Williams, it is said, is interred in the pedestal of the statue. After his death in 1683, Williams was initially buried on his own property, but in the late 19th century, a decision was made to relocate his remains to a more public and dignified setting. The apple tree that had grown atop his grave had extended roots through the grave, taking on a vaguely human shape, so the undertakers chose to collect what they could in a metal box, awaiting a more properly distinguished location. The box, then lost, was finally relocated and in 1939, a grand monument was erected in Prospect Terrace Park, featuring a prominent statue of Williams, casting a watchful eye over the city he helped establish. This final resting place not only commemorates the legacy of a key figure in American history but also provides a contemplative space for visitors to connect with the roots of Providence and its founding principles.

And speaking of roots of the apple tree, they are displayed at the John Brown House museum a couple of miles south of the park.

It’s an interesting place, not just because you can see the city, but because of its history.

In its early days, before the transformation into the scenic haven it is today, the scenic overview that is now park was the College Hill neighborhood dump. They’d toss their refuse over the steep decline, where the trash would accumulate.

In 1867, architect Horace Cleveland who is known for his designs of parks across the nation saw the overlook park an escape from urban bustle. Just a quiet getaway for the genteel folk of College Hill. But it was the work of the Great Depression-era Works Progress Administration (WPA) in 1937 that turned the park into what we see today, with iron railings, walkways, and the statue of Roger Williams.

Prospect Terrace Park’s strategic location on the edge of College Hill places it within a leisurely stroll from both the Rhode Island School of Design (RISD) and Brown University. This proximity not only makes the park easily accessible to students and faculty but also positions it as a charming escape for the broader community.

As you wander through the pathways of Prospect Park, you’ll find yourself just a short stroll away from the vibrant shops, cafes, and cultural offerings that characterize Providence’s East Side

Should you wander through the streets of College Hill, take a little while to explore the park and overlook the city established by Roger Willims as you stand next to him.

For more information
• www.nps.gov/rowi/learn/historyculture/prospect-park.htm