Snake Den State Park
| Snake Den State Park | |
| Rhode Island State Park | |
 Dame Farm at Snake Den State Park | |
| Named for: Snake Den | |
| Country | United States |
|---|---|
| State | Rhode Island |
| County | Providence |
| Town | Johnston |
| Elevation | 394 ft (120 m) [1] |
| Coordinates | 41°50′50″N 71°31′31″W / 41.84722°N 71.52528°WCoordinates: 41°50′50″N 71°31′31″W / 41.84722°N 71.52528°W [1] |
| Area | 1,000 acres (405 ha) |
| Established | 1969 |
| Management | Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management Division of Parks & Recreation |
  Location in Rhode Island | |
| Website: Snake Den State Park | |
Snake Den State Park is a 1,000-acre (400 ha) Rhode Island state park on U.S. Route 6 in Johnston, Providence County, Rhode Island in the United States.[2] The park includes a working farm, Dame Farm,[3] and is largely undeveloped with limited recreational opportunities. The park is named for a canyon-like fissure on the park grounds.[4]
History
The farm was previously owned by the Steere and Dame families of Johnston. A Steere family cemetery lies within the park.[5] The state purchased the property in 1969 from the Palazzi family, who had preserved the farm in a historic condition that dates back to the 18th century. The park was established to rescue open space in the greater Providence metropolitan area and to preserve part of the state’s farming history. A 2005 plan by the state to develop a waterpark at Snake Den State Park was defeated by the citizens of Johnston who were concerned with the amount of traffic that would be brought to the area.[4] Current plans call for the development of picnic areas and playing fields.[4] The Division of Parks and Recreation is headquartered in the former, 22-room Palazzi family farmhouse.[4]
Recreation
The park is open year-round and features walking trails that provide visitors with opportunities to view the farm, foliage, and wildlife of the park.[2]
References
- 1 2 "Snake Den". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey.
- 1 2 "Snake Den State Park". State of Rhode Island Division of Parks & Recreation. Retrieved December 11, 2012.
- ↑ "Dame Farm". State of Rhode Island Division of Parks & Recreation. Retrieved September 3, 2014.
- 1 2 3 4 "Snake Den State Park History". State of Rhode Island Division of Parks & Recreation. Retrieved December 11, 2012.
- ↑ "State-owned Historic Properties" (PDF). Rhode Island Historical Preservation Commission. 1989. p. 25. Retrieved September 3, 2014.
External links
- Snake Den State Park Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management Division of Parks & Recreation