Providence Parks
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Providence is home to a network of 120 diverse and beautiful public parks. The City’s public spaces include city squares, athletic fields, basketball courts, playgrounds, conservation areas, walking/running tracks and trails, historic buildings and grounds, community gardens, boat docks, nontraditional recreation areas (including skateboard features and bike tracks), dog parks, cemeteries, an ice rink, and the flagship Roger Williams Park. The Providence Parks Department is proud to nurture and maintain these spaces, which provide the surrounding communities and visitors with unique and inspiring opportunities to play, relax, gather, and explore. In addition, the Forestry Division manages the city’s 28,000+ street trees, as well as the trees in City parks and on public property.

Contact the Parks Department
1000 Elmwood Avenue, Providence RI 02905
Roger Williams Boathouse
Phone: 401.680.7201
Report a Concern – Contact PVD 311

Our Team Superintendent Statement Our Partners Meetings and Documents

Our Team

The Parks Department’s skilled and innovative team embraces best management practices in urban park care, maintenance, and management. The team includes highly skilled and creative in-house groups with mastery of park design, project management, and construction, as well as innovative education, fitness, meal service, and conservation programs.

Board of Park Commissioners Staff Directory

Statement from the Superintendent

The Parks Department creates unique, vibrant, climate-resilient community spaces by engaging community partners, challenging our workforce, investing in capital improvements, and improving systems and operations. Our team is deeply talented and committed to building a sustainable future for our city.

Under the leadership of Mayor Brett P. Smiley, and with our forward-thinking and supportive Park Commissioners and City Councilors, we continue to improve our City’s parks system. We are grateful to our fellow City departments, private and public partners, and members of the community who work alongside us or provide support and resources to transform our parks and venues into spectacular places.

As we look ahead to new challenges and opportunities, we remain resolute and inspired to continue the revitalization of our parks through innovation and systems that will sustain them for years to come.

We are proud. We are Parks!

Wendy Nilsson, Superintendent

Our Work

Forestry

The Forestry Division of the Parks Department manages the city’s 27,400 street trees, as well as all trees in city parks and on public property. It handles more than 2,000 service requests from Providence residents each year, including dead tree removal, tree pruning, pick-up of fallen branches, and stump removal. Learn more.

Maintenance

The Forestry Division of the Parks Department manages the city’s 27,400 street trees, as well as all trees in city parks and on public property. It handles more than 2,000 service requests from Providence residents each year, including dead tree removal, tree pruning, pick-up of fallen branches, and stump removal. Learn more.

Design

The Forestry Division of the Parks Department manages the city’s 27,400 street trees, as well as all trees in city parks and on public property. It handles more than 2,000 service requests from Providence residents each year, including dead tree removal, tree pruning, pick-up of fallen branches, and stump removal. Learn more.

Snow

The Forestry Division of the Parks Department manages the city’s 27,400 street trees, as well as all trees in city parks and on public property. It handles more than 2,000 service requests from Providence residents each year, including dead tree removal, tree pruning, pick-up of fallen branches, and stump removal. Learn more.

Training

The Forestry Division of the Parks Department manages the city’s 27,400 street trees, as well as all trees in city parks and on public property. It handles more than 2,000 service requests from Providence residents each year, including dead tree removal, tree pruning, pick-up of fallen branches, and stump removal. Learn more.

Sustainability

The Forestry Division of the Parks Department manages the city’s 27,400 street trees, as well as all trees in city parks and on public property. It handles more than 2,000 service requests from Providence residents each year, including dead tree removal, tree pruning, pick-up of fallen branches, and stump removal. Learn more.

Our Partners

Partnership for Providence Parks
Woonasquatucket River Watershed Council
Roger Williams Park Conservancy
Providence Foundation
Blackstone Conservancy
Neutaconkanut Hill Conservancy
West Broadway Neighborhood Association
My HomeCourt
College Hill Neighborhood Association

Meetings and Documents

Annual Reports
2021 Annual Report
2021 Annual Report Slide Show

Previous Annual Report
2020 Annual Report – Goals, Priorities, Principles