Playful Providence
April 23rd, 2012 | Posted by in City NewsDownload the Playful Providence 2012 Brochure!
Check out the pics from this weekend http://www.facebook.com/PartnershipForProvidenceParks
1st Annual Playful Providence Weekend, September 7-9, 2012
Schedule of Events and Activities
The City of Providence was recently honored as a “Playful City USA” by KaBOOM!, a national non-profit dedicated to saving play for America’s children. The national program honors cities and towns that make play a priority and use innovative programs to get children active, playing and healthy.
To celebrate this recognition, Providence parks and other recreation venues will participate in a citywide weekend of play, beginning on Friday, September 7 with a kickoff event in Burnside Park. Playful Providence activities will continue throughout the weekend, to encourage families to visit new parks and explore new ways of playing. Events will be held at 21 neighborhood parks and 6 other play and recreation venues in neighborhoods across the city, including: Brown Street Park (College Hill), Cabral Park (Fox Point), Fargnoli Park (Elmhurst), Bucklin Park (West End), Riverside Park (Olneyville), India Point Park, Providence Children’s Museum, Boys and Girls Clubs, recreation centers, and East Side/Mount Hope YMCA. Sunday, September 9 includes a 4:00 PM performance of Prokofiev’s playful “Peter and the Wolf” by the Rhode Island Philharmonic on Neutaconkanut Hill.
The Partnership for Providence Parks provides support and resources for volunteer groups (Friends) seeking to transform their neighborhood parks into thriving green spaces that reflect the needs and character of the community. Through the Partnership, friends groups are encouraged and supported in working collaboratively with city government and the Parks Department is brought together with people excited and motivated to make the most of their neighborhood park. The Partnership is committed to providing opportunities for children (toddlers to teens) to have structured and unstructured play in safe, healthy spaces that reflect the identity of the neighborhoods in which they live, in collaboration with Providence Department of Parks and Recreation; Providence Department of Arts, Culture + Tourism; Providence Children’s Museum; Rhode Island School of Design; Providence parks groups; and other partners.
The weekend of events will promote the Partnership for Providence Parks and draw attention to the important role that volunteer groups have in making great places to play.
Friday, September 7th 1) 4:30-6:30 PM Burnside Park Kick-Off and Press Event Join The Partnership for Providence Parks for this kick-off event with Mayor, Angel Taveras, The Providence Departments of Parks & Recreation and Arts, Culture + Tourism, The Downtown Parks Conservancy, The Providence Children’s Museum, Rhode Island School of Design and Kidoinfo to celebrate with our community partners. We will explore with friends from Rhode Island Museum of Science and Art (RIMOSA), romp in the Free-Play and Imagination Playgrounds, be inspired by RI Parkour, dance with the funky Brown University Band and members of Superchief Trio, skateboard, do some collaborative art projects and have some big fun. Hosts: Downtown Providence Parks Conservancy Best for everyone www.kennedyplaza.org www.childrenmuseum.org www.risd.edu www.rimosa.org www.kidoinfo.com 3:00-5:00 PM East Side Mt Hope YMCA Open Swim 438 Hope St. Providence, RI 02906 Phone 521-0155 www.gpymca.org 2) 7:00-9:00 PM Fr.Lennon Park/Camden Ave (Smith Hill) Parkour and Free Running with RI Parkour Best for teens Hosts: Night Vision & Selim Madelin Rogers Recreation Center www.facebook.com/pages/Ri-Run-Rijeka-Parkour/190896677592069 3) 7:00-9:00 PM Davey Lopes Park (South Providence) Family Movie night and games Bring a blanket or chair and a picnic Best for families. Hosts: Davey Lopes Recreation Center27 Dudley Street, Providence, RI 02907 phone 331-2912 Saturday, September 8th 9:00 AM-6:00 PM Providence Children’s Museum 100 South Street, Providence, RI 02903 | (401) 273-5437 2 for 1 admission all day on Saturday 9/8 – 9am to 6pm – for anyone who mentions Playful Providence. Explore Imagination Playground: Kids invent their own ways to play and work together to create imaginative structures. Using big blue foam blocks, wheels, spools and tubes, kids construct castles, forts and vehicles that move – the possibilities are endless! 4) 10:00-12:00 AM (note time change) Paterson Park (Wayland Square) Classic Lawn Games: bocce, croquet, and others. Best for all ages Hosts: Friends of Paterson Park 5) 9:30-10:30 AM Lippitt Park (Summit Neighborhood) Monkeying Around Kids Fitness Class Best for all ages Hosts: Summit Neighborhood Association www.summitneighbors.org 10:00 AM-12:00 PM Free Swim @ Fox point Boys and Girls Club 90 Ives Street Providence 02906 phone 444-0750 www.bgcprov.org 10:00 Am -12:00 PM Free Swim @ Southside Boys and Girls Clubs 1 Louisa Street, Providence, RI 02905 www.bgcprov.org 6) 10:00 AM-3:00 PM Riverside Park (Olneyville) Bike and Hike to Snake Den State Park: Always wanted to hike here? Maybe you’ve stayed away because there are no trail maps? The ride is approximately 14 miles round trip, much of it is on-road. We’ll bike to Snake Den and hike for about an hour and then head back. Fall foliage! Starts and ends at Riverside Park – 50 Aleppo Street in Providence. RIDE STARTS AT 10AM AND WE’LL RETURN AROUND 3PM Best for adults and children above age 14 Hosts: Woonasquatucket River Watershed Council www.wrwc.org 7) 11:00 AM-1:00 PM Brown Street Park (College Hill) Super Challenging Obstacle Course with Rhode Island Parkour Courses for adults and kids Hosts: Friends of Brown Street Park www.friendofbrownstreetpark.org www.facebook.com/pages/Ri-Run-Rijeka-Parkour/190896677592069 8) 11:00-2:00 PM Fargnoli Park (Elmhurst) A Collaborative Mural Project with Rebecca Zub and Games and Crafts with Kid Think at Providence College (11:00-2:00) & ACT @St Andrew presents theater workshops (1:00-2:00) Theater best for ages 4+. Mural, games and crafts best for all ages Hosts: Elmhurst Clean & Green www.elmhurstcleanandgreen.org www.facebook.com/pages/ACTSt-Andrews-ACTSA/106065342818888 9) 11:00 am- 1:30 pm Bucklin Park (West End) West End Dance Revolution! 2.5 hours of dancing in the park! The event will be kicked off with the Let’s Move! Flash mob followed by Zumba dance classes, electric slide, cha-cha slide and other familiar group dances. Best for all ages Hosts: Friends of Bucklin Park, West End Community Center and Trinity Academy for the Performing Arts (TAPA). friendsofbucklinpark@gmail.com www.facebook.com/bucklin.park 10) 11:30-12:30 Dexter Training Ground (West End) Crossfit Providence presents Crossfit Kids CrossFit Kids get fit and athletic in this 1-hour class. Come try it for free! Best for ages 5 -12 Hosts: Friends of Dexter Training Grounds and West Broadway Neighborhood Association www.wbna.org www.crossfitprovidence.com 11) 12:00-1:00 PM Candace Street Park (Smith Hill) Zumba and More Zumba Student led class for teens and adults. Kids activities for those who might be too young for Zumba Something for everyone! Hosts: Smith HIll CDC Youth/RAP and Providence College 12) 2:00-4:00 PM Blackstone Parks (Blackstone) Nature walk and Hike with Rhode Island Families in Nature Take a guided hike through Blackstone woods. Meet at Paterson Park Playground(near the Lincoln School) Best for all ages. Strollers not recommended. Wear comfy shoes. Hosts: Blackstone Parks Conservancy & Friends of Blackstone Woods www.blackstoneparksconservancy.org www.rifamiliesinnature.org Friends of Blackstone Woods on Facebook 13) 2:00-4:00 PM Cabral Park (Fox Point) Play – Move – Create / Activities for Kids of All Abilities Max Levi Frieder is a recent RISD graduate and community based public artist who will be creating a chalk art mural game with the kids while Linda White, Play Curator, will facilitate the weaving of recycled and found objects into a sculptural tapestry in the fence around the parameter of the park. There will be kid-friendly live music by Joe’s Backyard Band and a bubble blowing station hosted by United Cerebral Palsy of RI. The goal of all of our activities will be to celebrate the new inclusive playground at Cabral Park through the arts and physical movement. Sponsors include Vartan Gregorian Elementary School PTO, Boys & Girls Club Fox Point, FPNA, UCPRI, and Residential Properties/CC & Chris Wall Team, Pow Science, East Side Pediatrics & Feinstein Foundation, and Helene Miller. Best for all ages and abilities Hosts: Friends of Cabral Park http://www.facebook.com/pages/Friends-of-Cabral-Park/367878496614789 http://www.maxlevifrieder.com http://www.joesbackyardband.com 14) 4:00-6:00 PM Dexter Training Ground (West End) Artist Quintin Rivera-Toro presents Summer Grid A Splash Art Experience. Wear a swim suit, bring a towel. Prepare to get wet. Best for: all ages Hosts: Friends of Dexter Training Grounds and West Broadway Neighborhood Association www.wbna.org quintinriveratoro.com 15) 4:00 PM-6:00 PM Riverside Park (Olneyville) Smart Riding Workshops @ Riverside Park. These workshops give cyclists the confidence they need to ride safely and legally in traffic or on the trail. Students learn how to conduct bicycle safety checks, fix a flat, on-bike skills and crash avoidance techniques. The curriculum is fast-paced and prepares cyclists for an understanding of vehicular cycling. Offering two 45 minute workshops, each starting on the hour. Meet at the Red Shed Bike Shop in Riverside Park, 50 Aleppo Street. Best for adults and children above age 14 Hosts: Woonasquatucket River Watershed Council www.wrwc.org 4:00-6:00 PM East Side/Mt Hope YMCA Open Swim 438 Hope St. Providence, RI 02906 Phone 521-0155 www.gpymca.org 16) TBA Billy Taylor Park (Mt. Hope) Big Splash fun Join us for the opening of the new Billy Taylor Waterpark. Wear your suit and bring a towel. Best for all ages Hosts: Providence Department of Parks and Recreation Sunday, September 9th 17) 10:00 AM- 2:00PM Rhode Island Bicycle Coalition Ciclovia Providence’s very first Ciclovia. A half-mile of Broad Street from Prairie to Thurbers Ave. will be closed to vehicles and open to bikes.There is no park associated with this event. http://ribike.org/2012/08/15/a-ciclovia-for-providence 18) 10:00 AM-12:00 PM Humbolt Park (Wayland Square) Chalk Art Three age groups: Toddlers 18mos-3yrs, 4-7yrs, and 8-10yrs. Fire truck for “Touch a Truck”! Hosts: Friends of Humbolt Park www.facebook.com/hparkfriends 10:00 AM-12:00 PM Free Swim @ Fox Point Boys and Girls Club 90 Ives Street, Providence, RI 02906 phone 444-0750 www.bgcprov.org 10:00 Am -12:00 PM Free Swim @ Southside Boys and Girls Clubs 1 Louisa Street, Providence, RI 02905 phone 444-0766 www.bgcprov.org 19) 1:00-3:00 PM Corliss Park (Wanskuck) Classic park games with Providence College Handball tournament, basketball, playground activities and field games. Best for all ages Hosts: Friends of Corliss Park 20) 12:00-6:00 PM India Point Park WBRU 360Fest…a Celebration of Community, Music & Culture presented by RIPTA Musical performances & workshops, community art & education, and family-friendly fare. Break dancing, DJ-ing and MC’ing along with student and community groups like the RI Rhythm and Blues Preservation Society, Music One, AS220 Youth and the RI Philharmonic Youth Jazz Ensemble and Shape up RI Best for all ages Hosts: Friends of India Point Park www.friendsofindiapointpark.org www.wbru.org 4:00-6:00 PM YMCA Open Swim 438 Hope St. Providence, RI 02906 Phone 521-0155 www.gpymca.org 21) 4:00-6:00 PM Neutaconkanut Hill (Silver Lake) Prokofiev’s Peter and the Wolf Concert by RI Philharmonic Bring a lawn chair or blanket and a picnic and prepare to unwind from the playful weekend with the best views in Providence and some playful music. Best for all ages Hosts: Neutaconkanut Hill Conservancy www.nhill.org Click here for Directions www.riphilharmonic.org
Click here for City Park and Playful Activities playful map 3
Playful Providence Weekend Sponsors and Partners
Playful Providence Weekend Sponsors and Partners (additional sponsors for park activities are listed with events)
Directions and Parking for Neutaconkanut Hill
The Peter and the Wolf Concert begins at 4:00. We encourage you to park at the recreation center and walk up to the Hill. Alternately, you can try your luck at parking Legion Memorial Drive. Allow 30 minutes to park and walk to the meadow. Don’t forget your picnic and blanket or chair. To: Neutaconkanut Recreation Center675 Plainfield Street Phone: 946-5134. Director: Ray TessagliaFrom North: Route 95 S – To Recreation Center parking lot at base of Neutaconkanut Hill95 S – follow signs to US 6- (Providence/Hartford, CT).Follow signs for exit 5 (Route 6). Take exit 5, Providence-US Route 6. Approximately 2.1 miles take exit for RI Route 128/Killingly St**. Take left off exit. Go straight trough traffic light (Hartford Ave & Killingly St). At stop sign (Little League Field is straight in front of you*) bear left. Approximately 1/10th of a mile take a right onto Duxbury Street. Approximately 2/10ths of a mile at the light, Duxbury merges with Plainfield St. Go straight on Plainfield; about100 yards on the right is Neutaconkanut Recreation Center parking lot. The main walking trail to the top of the Hill begins at the stone stairway at the Kiosk behind the Center. Easier walking path to the top of the Hill. Once in the parking lot, look to the right, to the ‘bleacher stands.’ Next to the seating area is a cement walking path, with a few stairs, that is an easy walk to the top of the Hill. Follow the road to the meadow. To Legion Memorial Drive: Follow directions above to Stop Sign at Killingly St. W/ Little League Field in front of you*. At Stop Sign take a sharp right up the hill onto Central Ave. Take first right onto Legion Memorial Dr. to the yellow gate at the end. Parking attendents will guide you into the park. From South: Rt 95 N to US Rt 6. Follow directions above to Rt. 128, Killingly St.**You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 You can leave a response, or trackback.
