FunKidsActivities

Lippitt Memorial Park

1015 Hope St, Providence, RI 02906, USA

Overview

Category:Spring Break Activities
Location:Providence, RI

Expert Summary

Detailed Insights

Lippitt Memorial Park is a versatile, clean, and beautifully maintained urban park offering a rich mix of active play, relaxation, and community engagement. Its extensive, accessible playground caters to a broad age range (4-11, with elements for younger and older kids), while ample green space, shaded picnic areas, and a new misting pad ensure comfort. The park serves as a community hub, hosting a vibrant Saturday Farmers Market and offering convenient access to highly-rated local eateries and ice cream, making it a well-rounded destination for families.

Key Highlights

  • Extensive playground with diverse equipment including tall slides, climbing structures, swings, and two different monkey bars, suitable for school-age children.
  • A newly added misting pad (as of August 2024) provides a refreshing feature for hot days.
  • Large, well-maintained grassy areas and numerous benches offer ample space for picnics and relaxation.
  • Features a beautiful Hummingbird Garden with trumpet honeysuckle and a well-maintained working fountain.
  • The park hosts a Farmers Market on Saturdays, creating a vibrant community gathering place.
  • Plenty of shade from trees and numerous trash cans throughout the park.
  • Offers unique natural experiences like potential sightings of juvenile bald eagles.
  • Includes chess tables and a Little Free Library box for book trades (though it can sometimes be empty).

Standout Features

  • Diverse and accessible playground equipment that genuinely caters to a wide age range within the 4-11 bracket.
  • The new misting pad is a significant draw for families on warm days.
  • The strong community atmosphere, particularly evident during the Saturday Farmers Market.
  • Abundance of natural shade and ample benches, making it comfortable for extended stays.
  • Proximity to highly-rated local food options, including Three Sisters Ice Cream (a state favorite) and local restaurants.
  • Wheelchair accessibility within the main playground area.
  • Cleanliness and overall well-maintained appearance (grass, fountain).

Perfect For

Ages 0-3: Interactive play areas are available, and the misting pad is suitable for toddlers. However, the lack of a fence around the playground should be noted.
Ages 4-11: This is the primary target age range for the playground, with tall slides, climbing structures, swings, and two different monkey bars offering ample activities.
Teens/Adults: Chess tables, wide open spaces for various activities, walking paths, and the Saturday Farmers Market provide engagement. It's also suitable for general relaxation and picnicking.

Ideal For

Families seeking a comprehensive playground experience for children aged 4-11.
Picnics and outdoor meals with easy access to external food options.
Hot spring/summer days, thanks to the new misting pad.
Saturday family outings that combine playground time with a Farmers Market visit.
Combining park play with local culinary treats like ice cream or takeout.
Parents looking for a convenient, engaging playground alternative to longer drives.

💡Pro Tips from Reviews

  • Bring cash if you plan to get ice cream from Three Sisters Ice Cream shop, which is highly recommended and located across the street.
  • Consider visiting on a Saturday to experience the lively Farmers Market and community atmosphere.
  • If bringing small dogs, keep them leashed due to reported sightings of birds of prey (juvenile bald eagles).
  • For a more complete outing, plan to grab takeout from the nearby 'India' restaurant or enjoy treats from the lemonade truck.
  • Explore beyond the main park; take a walk with kids to the nearby 'hidden tree and cottage' mentioned by a reviewer.
  • If planning to bike, be aware that some paths may be uneven due to maintenance needs.

Things to Consider

  • The playground area is not fenced in, which might be a safety consideration for parents of very young or highly energetic children.
  • Some sidewalks and paths around the park require maintenance, potentially making them less ideal for biking or smooth wheelchair access.
  • The Little Free Library box was noted to be empty on one visit, although usually full.

Price & Value

The park itself is free to enter and enjoy. The value is high given the extensive amenities and well-maintained environment. Additional costs are external and optional, such as highly recommended ice cream from Three Sisters (requires cash) and takeout from nearby restaurants.

Accessibility & Special Needs

  • The main playground area in the center of the park is wheelchair accessible.
  • Some sidewalks and paths around the park need maintenance, which could impede smooth wheelchair access in those areas.

🍎Food & Drink Policy

  • Outside food is encouraged, with the park being described as 'great for picnics' and featuring plenty of benches and picnic tables.
  • Numerous nearby food options are readily available: a lemonade truck is often present, Three Sisters Ice Cream shop is directly across the street, and 'India' restaurant is suggested for takeout lunch.
  • The Saturday Farmers Market also provides additional food vendors and options.

🚗Parking Info

  • Parking information is not explicitly detailed in the reviews. The context suggests a neighborhood park, implying street parking may be the primary option.

👥Crowd Levels

  • Likely moderate during weekdays, suggested by general activity like dog walkers and lemonade trucks.
  • Significantly busier on Saturdays due to the Farmers Market, which 'takes center stage' and attracts a 'great neighborhood gathering place' crowd.
  • Overall, the park has 'plenty of space' suggesting it can accommodate visitors without feeling overly cramped most of the time.

🛡️Safety Features

  • The playground is not fenced in, which is a key safety consideration for parents of young children.
  • Parents are advised to keep small dogs leashed due to the potential presence of birds of prey (e.g., eagles) observed in the area.
  • The park is generally clean and well-maintained, with plenty of trash cans, contributing to a safer environment.

When to Avoid

  • Parents who require a fully fenced playground for children prone to wandering or very young toddlers.
  • Individuals seeking perfectly smooth paths for biking or wheelchairs, as some areas need maintenance.
  • If you prefer a very quiet park experience, Saturday afternoons during the Farmers Market may be too busy.

Pricing/Package/Events

Information extracted from official website • Last updated: Oct 2, 2025

What People Say

What's Great

  • Spacious play areas (mentioned in 3 reviews)

Areas for Improvement

  • Parking can be challenging (mentioned in 4 reviews)

Recent Reviews

Lav Miteouamigoukoue

Lav Miteouamigoukoue

a year ago

2023 [UPDATED GENERAL PARK REVIEW] -Great park for picnics. -LOTS OF benches and shade/trees -Playground in center of park is not fenced in but is accessible by wheelchair! -Some of the sidewalks/ paths around park need some maintenance otherwise would be great for kids to bike, and more wheelchair accessible. -Plenty of trash cans -Hummingbird Garden with trumpet honeysuckle! -Well maintained fountain -Well maintained grass. -Playground is most suitable for school age children [ages 4-11] -Tall slides and climbing structures suitable for older kids. -Swings -Interactive play areas for younger kids -Little free library box for book trade (was empty this visit but it is usually full of books most of the times I have visited) -Bulletin board for local information sharing -Often a lemonade truck nearby -Three Sisters [Ice Cream shop] across the street is one of the best in the state- home made ice cream flavors. Definitely bring some cash for a treat! ♡ 2022; I saw 2 eagles flying above park. This made it a 10/10 experience for me. Yes they were real eagles. JUVENILE bald eagles (no white feathers yet) Flew right over park then disappeared over trees towards water / river / bay area. ♡ keep in mind that these are birds of prey and keep your small dogs leashed.

James DeWolfe

James DeWolfe

8 months ago

I took my grandson here when he was visiting because I didn't want to drive 40 minutes each way to the playground he wanted to go to. He loved it! He said there was so much to do and he loved the 2 different monkey bars. There is a great playground and lots of grass. I also played ball with my dog and we met other dogs. It's a nice park. Went on 08/18/24 and there's a misting pad now!

Anita Maguire

Anita Maguire

a year ago

It is a beautiful park with a large playground. It also has a working water fountain. It is located near Blackstone Boulevard. If you are there,take a walk with the kids to the hidden tree and the cottage. Get a take out lunch from India ( a great restaurant near there) and use the picnic tables provided. Or some ice cream from the three sisters Cafe. 😋

Joe Guastella

Joe Guastella

a year ago

What a lovely spot for family and friends to visit! The fountain was just starting up for the season when we were there. There was also the evidence of some creative chalk drawings on the sidewalks to spark one's imagination. On Saturday the Farmers Market takes center stage. A great neighborhood gathering place!

Trandoe Gilmere

Trandoe Gilmere

a week ago

Amazing ambience, clean, plenty of space, chess tables. Really good amount of space for almost any activity, with local restaurants close by. This is a gem.

Contact Information

1015 Hope St, Providence, RI 02906, USA

View on Google Maps

Opening Hours

Monday: Open 24 hours
Tuesday: Open 24 hours
Wednesday: Open 24 hours
Thursday: Open 24 hours
Friday: Open 24 hours
Saturday: Open 24 hours
Sunday: Open 24 hours

Quick Stats

Overall Rating
4.6
Total Reviews660
Recent Reviews5