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| East Bay Bike Path: Walk On Left |
To get going from Providence, you want to start at India Point Park, where the trail underpasses India Street, winds up to the Hilton Garden Inn and continues east across Washington Bridge over the Seekonk River. To be exact, the trail does not share its way using the busy Interstate 195 bridge: it has its own. And what is more, it features separate bicycle and pedestrian tracks. This lofty trail section is named George Redman Linear Park, in memory of a local bike advocate. Enjoy the spectacular views from the trail bridge. At its center, you will find interpretive displays featuring the local history. So, if you don't get much beyond the Seekonk River on your first trial, you have some educated excuses.
Once arriving at Warren Ave in East Providence and heading south for two blocks on 1st Street, the well-marked EBBP is regained. It continues alongside the Veterans Memorial Pkwy for about one mile and then leads downhill to Watchemoket Cove. From the causeway, the shipping facilities and wind turbines along the other side of the Providence River are visible.
Don't miss the Spooky Bottom Scenic Dock in front of the University Orthopedics building. A short path to your right leads to the entry onto the long dock. Take a break on the dock platform, catch a cooling breeze on a hot day and enjoy the views of the Providence skyline. And try to figure out what is happening at the spooky bottom.
After about half a mile farther south you will arrive at the Squantum Association Club House and the Squantum Woods Park. The majestic club house, built in 1899, stands atop a rocky promontory presiding over the river. The Colonial Revival building was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1980.
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| Club House of the Squantum Association |
Continue south on the bike trail for another mile and a small island with a lighthouse is coming into view: this is Pomham Light, named after the Algonquian Sachem Pomham, who once owned the rocky island.
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| Pomham Light |
Past the lighthouse viewing point, the bike path bends slightly away from the the river bank. The rail trail stop at Riverside Square managed by the Borealis Coffee Company is a nice place to have a drink and a snack in a coffee garden.
From here, it will take another mile to where the EBBP intersects Crescent View Ave. Turn right on this road and after about half a mile turn left on Bullocks Point Ave.
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| Bullock Cove |
The circular hippodrome building around the Looff Carousel is now only a few steps away. Walk half-way around the building and then up the stairs. Peer through the windows and dive into the wood-sculpture world of the merry-go-round. Or come back for a ride when the carousel's center support will have been restored (restoration updates).
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| Hippodrome housing the Looff Carousel |
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| Rose Larisa Memorial Park |
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| Stairs from the park down to the beach |
References and further reading
[1] Alex Kuffner. $ 21.8-million George Redman Linear Park is dedicated to pioneer of R.I. bike paths. Providence Journal, September 21, 2015. URL: https://www.providencejournal.com/article/20150921/NEWS/150929825.
[2] Rhode Island's East Bay Bicycle Path. Rails-to-trails conservancy. URL: https://www.railstotrails.org/trailblog/2009/september/01/rhode-islands-east-bay-bicycle-path/.
[3] East Bay Bike Path. Rhode Island. URL: https://www.visitrhodeisland.com/listing/east-bay-bike-path/8328/.
[4] Club House. Squantum Association. URL: https://www.squantumassociation.com/Clubhouse.
[5] The History of Squantum. Squantum Association. URL: https://www.squantumassociation.com/HistoryofSquantum.
[6] Crescent Park Looff Carousel. URL: https://www.crescentparkcarousel.org/history.
[7] Crescent Park. ArtInRuins. URL: https://artinruins.com/property/crescent-park/.
[8] Bullock Neck. Mapcarta. URL: https://mapcarta.com/22787992.
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