A People's Park

In the heart of Westerly’s business district dwells a haven. Wilcox Park is a vision of open meadows, fish ponds, perennial and annual flower beds and an arboretum-quality collection of tree species. Alan Peck, superintendent of the seven acre park since 2001, explains that Wilcox serves three purposes: that of a community space, an arboretum (“An incredible collection for such a small space,” says Peck) and a historic park, dotted with monuments and memorials. With a mission that revolves around learning through nature, Wilcox Park has been approved as an official University of Rhode Island Master Gardeners Site.

The Master Gardener Program started in 1977 when 19 participants completed training to become horticultural information volunteers for the URI Cooperative Extension. At present, more than 700 volunteers are active in the program, working to educate Rhode Islanders with their extensive knowledge of gardening and environmental information.

At Wilcox Park, the URI Master Gardeners seek to accomplish their education and outreach mission through three projects. The first project, now complete, was the installation of native plants in a formal garden. “It is the one and only formal space in the park. Everything is linear and geometric,” says Alan Peck, adding, “The space looks great in the morning and at dusk.” The vision of this project was to educate the public on the benefits and splendor of using native plants in their own landscapes. The second project will be the renovation and maintenance of an existing rain garden in the park and to educate the public on its benefits. The third and final project will be to conduct docent tours, including a tour of the Native Plan Demo Gardens, Rain Garden and the Park’s eight Rhode Island Champion Trees.

Events this August include a URI Master Gardeners Rain Garden Tour on August 9, and a URI Master Gardener Champion Tree Tour on August 23, both starting at 10am. In addition, a Master Gardener kiosk in Wilcox Park provides free soil tests on the second Saturday of every month, June through October.

It is said that in 1898 when Harriet Wilcox first purchased and donated the park to the Memorial and Library association, it was announced that, “The people shall have a park.” And still, they do.

71 1⁄2 High Street, Westerly. 596-2877.