Historic Rocky Point Pathway Signs Offer Visions of Park’s Past

WARWICK, RI  — Rocky Point Park, the source of numerous Rhode Island reminisces, now offers visual aids —10 pathway signs — to accompany local tales of summer fun at the state’s sole amusement park before its closure in the 1990s.

The signs, designed by Leadership Rhode Island’s 2016’s MUII class – Team 8, with input from the City of Warwick, as well as RIDEM, depict various sites and attractions that once stood proudly within the iconic amusement park. From the Saltwater Pool, to the Shore Dinner Hall and the Skyliner, the signs offer a unique opportunity for visitors to reminisce and explore the history of the grounds.

Mayor Scott Avedisian, along with Governor Gina Raimondo, U.S. Senators Jack Reed and Sheldon Whitehouse, U.S. Representative James Langevin, Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management (RIDEM) Director Janet Coit, and members from Leadership Rhode Island assembled at the Park Friday morning to dedicate the signs.

“I’m so happy to be back here, almost a year to the day from the debut of the refurbished Rocky Point Arch, to unveil these 10 new pathway signs,” said Avedisian. “In the roughly two decades since the amusement park closed its door, Rocky Point has undergone periods of ebb and flow. However, thanks to the remarkable determination from everyone at the city, state and national levels, we have been able to rebuild and redevelop the land into useable, safe open space for residents and visitors to enjoy. With its sweeping view of Narragansett Bay, Rocky Point remains an iconic landmark for not only the City of Warwick, but also the state. These new signs will surely add another tangible reason for people to visit and learn about its historic significance.”

“These signs help tell the story of Rocky Point and are a great way for people to connect with local history.  They are also quite literally signs of continued progress and ongoing improvements to the park.  This is a special place and we are committed to ensuring future generations can come here, enjoy the natural beauty, and create new family memories,” said Senator Reed. “I commend Mayor Avedisian, Leadership Rhode Island, and everyone who helped make the installation of these new signs a reality.”

“Rocky Point has worn many hats over the years,” Raimondo said. “From nature trails to clambakes to the amusement park many of us knew and loved, it is a particularly colorful part of Rhode Island’s history. Thanks to Leadership Rhode Island, the City of Warwick and the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management, the signs we are unveiling today will offer visitors a new and unique way to experience the park and its history.”

 “Since the reopening of Rocky Point, I have been excited to watch a new generation of Rhode Islanders experience its beautiful vistas and enjoy the community events hosted on its grounds,” said Langevin. “But my memories of Rocky Point will always be tied to the rides and attractions I enjoyed growing up in Warwick. These new pathway signs will preserve the history of Rocky Point by marking the sites that once stood on the property. I applaud Leadership Rhode Island for their design work and for helping to bridge the past and present of this Rhode Island landmark.”

Rocky Point’s rich history dates back to the 1840s when it first became a well-known summertime destination. The property, which is situated on 123 acres along Warwick’s eastern shore, boasts breathtaking views of Narragansett Bay. From its inception in 1840 through the mid-1990s, Rocky Point remained the area’s most popular seasonal destination, complete with amusement rides, a fishing pier, House of Horrors and more. However, as time progressed, the park began to fall into a state of disarray, with the grounds and the buildings on the property no longer being cared for. Finally, in 1995, the park closed its door and sat inaccessible to the public for years.

Rocky Point in its entirety was re-opened to the public as a state park in 2014 (the walking path around the perimeter opened in 2011) following a long series of acquisitions of pieces of the land begun in 2007.

Since 2015, a series of movie nights have been held on the park’s grounds during the summer season, a free family-friendly event that remains a summertime favorite. In July of 2017, for the first time ever, Rocky Point was a host location for the ever-popular Food Trucks Night, drawing in enormous crowds.

Sponsors of the signs include the Almon Family, Barrington Books, Claflin, Dave’s Marketplace, Gilbane, Pannone, Lopes, Deveraux and O’Gara, LLC, and the Providence Warwick Convention & Visitors Bureau (PWCVB).

The park is open year round for visitors from dawn to dusk.