With spring in the air, India Point Park is beginning to bloom with the park entering the second phase of a three-part “site improvement.” The renovations focus on “improving accessibility, upgrading infrastructure and revitalizing key gathering spaces,” Samara Pinto, the city deputy press secretary, wrote in an email to The Herald.
The 18-acre public green space on Providence’s East Side stretches along the harbor and Seekonk River. The improvements include adding seating, lighting and landscaping along the waterfront promenade to transform walkways into a new waterfront plaza, Pinto wrote.
Winding through the park are 1.5 miles of trails for pedestrians, bikers and scenery lovers. The park’s pathways are “being resurfaced to improve walkability,” she added.
The plaza, directly bordering the river close to India Street, will open to the public before the end of April, according to Pinto.
The design process began in 2019 but faced delays due to the COVID-19 pandemic, according to Megan Gardner, the landscape architect and project manager of the renovations.
The construction follows Waterfront Edge Design Guidelines, a national rating system that strives to create sustainable, accessible waterfronts, Pinto wrote.
The construction team used permeable concrete pavers, a type of paving that helps prevent puddles from forming after rain to ensure the sidewalks have a level and consistent surface, Gardner wrote. The team also installed wheelchair-accessible picnic tables and added concrete pads with benches to create dedicated spaces for wheelchair users, she added.
For the new picnic tables, benches and lawn areas, Gardner chose materials that “could withstand marine conditions, provide durability and require minimal maintenance.” She also prioritized community input in selecting materials, she said.
The team also worked to replace invasive tree species with native species that were suitable for the marine edge, according to Gardner.
Lana Yang-Maccini ’26 is excited about the renovations, writing in a message to The Herald that “although it’s nice to have a park like that now, there’s not a ton there in terms of paths or other things to do.”
“I think it’ll be cool to see how it expands and changes with new renovations,” she said.
To fund the project, the city took a “strategic and coordinated approach,” relying on a combination of federal stimulus funds and local bonds, Pinto wrote.
The next and final phase will focus on “expanding green spaces” by addressing any remaining accessibility issues within park amenities, Pinto wrote.
Gardner is especially excited about constructing “four swing benches with an open view of the bay.”
Pinto envisions the renovated plaza as “a vibrant hub for community events, recreation and leisure.”
