About the Project
In 2017, as the Rhode Island Historical Society began to plan for our 2022 bicentennial celebrations, we knew we could not allow the future of the largest publicly-accessible green space on Benefit Street to remain uncertain. And so, we undertook Putting Down Roots, our initiative to reimagine and revitalize the Great Lawn as an accessible and sustainable landscape for our community to enjoy.
The Re-Visioning Committee, consisting of seventeen stakeholders dedicated to the green infrastructure of our community, included representatives from Brown University, the Rhode Island School of Design, the City Parks Department, the preservation community both public and private, and neighborhood leaders. The research done by this group made it clear that there was a larger humanities story to tell using this landscape. Those discoveries, combined with our desire to grow and provide better access to our outdoor programming and to share underappreciated stories made Putting Down Roots the ideal project to mark our 200th anniversary.
We invite you to explore the history of the property, our historically inspired plans to create greater access and sustainability, as well as how you can help make this new vision possible.
Thanks to the generosity of foundations, corporations, and our trustees, we are already 90% of the way to our goal! We are counting on you, our valued supporters, to help us reach the finish line. Your gift today will help ensure this treasured space is preserved for generations to come. Will you join us?
Historic Images Courtesy of the United States Department of the Interior, National Park Service, Frederick Law Olmsted Historic Site