Roger Williams Park in Providence, Rhode Island has added a new “Bearground.” The Bear playground, located on Maple Avenue is in the exact location where nine caged bears lived in the early and mid-1900s when the park featured a menagerie. It is one of the various ways that Roger Williams Park Conservancy and the City of Providence are paying tribute to the park’s 150-year history.
The playground featuring a large Bear sculpture is one of many fun and engaging spaces in Roger Williams Park, including a zoo, casino, and botanical center.
The Bear play sculpture creates endless play opportunities with graduated challenges. A transfer platform connects to an accessible flexform ramp that leads up to a platform with a slide. Post and Rope play create circuits for playground games.
The Bear can be climbed on all exterior sides while nooks create secret hiding spaces or a place of quiet respite. Shaded under a canopy of mature trees, Bear playground also includes a picnic area.