Mashapaug Pond, Providence’s largest, a deserted idyll in need of love
Why is Providence’s Largest Pond Invisible?
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On Saturday mornings between April and October, a group of volunteer URI Watershed Watch “citizen scientists” collect water samples from Mashapaug Pond in Reservoir Triangle. Mashapaug Pond, the largest freshwater pond in Providence, is part of a complex ecosystem, receiving outflow from Spectacle Pond in [...]

15
Nov
Giant sycamore in front of Betsey Williams cottage. The tree, according to Doug Still, was planted at the same time as a Mulberry, a tree Still named the Rhoda Williams Mulberry, that survived long enough to be in old photos but is no longer there. Since this photo, wooden props have been installed under the long horizontal branch.  Photo courtesy of the RW Park Conservancy
The Williams Family Tree, Roger and Betsey 
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The American Sycamore tree in Roger Williams Park between Betsey Williams’ cottage and the statue memorializing Roger Williams, has probably stood there nearly 240 years. The tree was the inaugural focus of Doug Still’s monthly podcast series, This Old Tree, featuring “heritage trees and the [...]

08
Nov
Columbus Goes to Johnston
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The Italian American community has lusted after the statue of Christopher Columbus in Elmwood for decades.  And now it has it, to be put into a park in Johnston, thanks to the former Mayor Joseph Paolino’s money. The statue was removed from Elmwood in 2020 [...]

27
Sep
North Burial Ground as Haven
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As the Director of City Cemeteries, I have a particular fondness for North Burial Ground (NBG), but here I am writing as a resident of Providence and cemetery enthusiast with my own personal beliefs, why cemeteries matter, and how cemeteries can be transformational spaces in [...]

20
Sep
North Burial Ground as Habitat
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Those of us who live in a city occasionally need an oasis away from the throngs, a place that is relatively quiet, has some open space, and offers us information about the place where we live and the creatures we share our city with.  Providence’s [...]

20
Sep
PVD Libraries Seeing Double
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Providence has two independently run library systems.  How did that happen?  Newcomers to the city have reason to wonder, but even long-time residents have not always taken in the difference between the Providence Public Library (PPL) and Community Libraries of Providence (CLPVD), until recently Providence [...]

13
Sep
What goes into the recycling bin?
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30
Aug
Is Overnight Parking Allowed on PVD Streets?
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 Video by Lucie Linden, Wheeler School intern. Video Script: In Providence, one of the most frequently asked questions pertains to overnight parking within the city. Here, we provide a comprehensive guide to everything you need to know on this subject. Can You Park Overnight? Parking [...]

30
Aug