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$viewFile = '/var/www/vhosts/vcc_staging/app/View/Layouts/aarp_2023.ctp' $dataForView = array( 'content_for_layout' => '<div class="row twoColumnLayout"> <div class="col-md-8 left-rail"><div class="module clearfix"><div class="ar-basic-box"> <div class="module-spacer"> <header><h1 class="article-headline">Snake Den State Park</h1></header> <div class="row"> <div class="col-sm-6 left module-spacer"> <p> <div> <div>2321 Hartford Avenue</div> <div> <span>Johnston</span>, <span>RI</span> <span>02919</span> </div> </div> </p> <div> <i class="fa fa-external-link-square"></i> <a href="http://www.riparks.com/Locations/LocationSnakeDen.html" target="_blank">Snake Den State Park</a> </div> <div><i class="fa fa-phone-square"></i> 401-222-2632</div> </div> <div class="col-sm-6 module-spacer"> <iframe width="100%" height="220" frameborder="0" style="border:0" src="https://www.google.com/maps/embed/v1/place?key=AIzaSyCU5aZylcrTOLke9e3U0F2mXovlZ4bL8yk&q=Snake+Den+State+Park%2C+2321+Hartford+Avenue%2C+Johnston%2C+RI+02919" allowfullscreen> </iframe> </div> </div> <div class="module-spacer clearfix"> <p style="text-align: justify;">Snake Den State Park History :The State of Rhode Island acquired the land, now known as Snake Den State Park in 1969. It is a combination of farm land and woodland and comprises 744 acres. The prior owners were many generations of the Dame family and, before that the Steere family, an old family throughout Johnston and surrounding towns. DEM’s headquarters for the Parks and Recreation Division is housed in a 22 room former farm house of the Palazzi family.The name, Snake Den, derives from a canyon-like stone fissure located in the park. Like other farms in the Johnston area, the stone in the Snake Den outcrop was quarried for building material for Providence. The actual location of the quarry is on that portion of the property once owned by the Waterman family. Its stone was used in the building of the First Congregational Church in Providence, better known as the First Unitarian Church, designed by John Holden Greene, one the Benefit Street landmarks on historic College Hill. The nearby quarry of Bear Ledge provided the incredible columns for the Providence Arcade of 1828.It is thought that several of the farms including the Steere and Waterman farms were once owned by Moses Brown of Providence. Moses, the youngest of the famous four Brown brothers had removed himself from the family shipping business because the ties to the slave trade offended his Quaker sensibilities. While he is most famous for his financial backing of Samuel Slater’s path-breaking development of the American cotton textile industry at Pawtucket Falls in 1791, it was Moses Brown’s farms in Johnston and surrounding towns which provided the rental income to support Slater. On at least one occasion, Brown complained to Slater that his demand for more and more investment money was ‘spinning all my farms into cloth!’The Snake Den State Park was formally headquartered at 2321 Hartford Avenue, Johnston (route 6 to Greenville Avenue), but the Dame Farm portion of the park anchors the Brown Avenue historic district. Many former farms in the postwar era from 1945 until 1960, whose proximity to Providence were converted to suburban tract housing as Providence lost more population to the surrounding towns from 1950 to 1970 on a percentage basis than any other urban area in the country. Providence lost 90,000 residents out of a population of 250,000. Therefore rescuing open space and preserving part of Rhode Island’s farm history in 1969 was a major accomplishment.Except for the continuous improvements to the Dame Farm aspect of the park, the remaining acreage and woodland has been left much as it was when the park was established. An effort in 2005 to turn a portion of the land into a water park for the Providence metropolitan region was rejected by the Town of Johnston on the basis that such an attraction would create traffic congestion for the town. The current park’s plans are for more limited development of picnic areas and playing fields.</p> </div> <div class="reportthis" style="margin-bottom: 20px;"> <form method="post" action="/johnston-ri/report/place/snake-den-state-park-johnston-ri.html"> <button type="submit" class="btn btnregister pull-right" style="margin-bottom: 10px;">Flag This Place</button> </form> </div> <div class="report_button_message">Please use "Flag This Place" to alert us about content that is inappropriate or needs immediate attention. Nothing you submit will be shared with other site visitors. </div> <style> .report_button_message { color: #333; font-size: 12px; clear: both; } </style> </div> </div> </div><div class="module clearfix"><div class="module-spacer tout-homefit-750"> <a data-formelementid="CSN-LOCAL-HC-PLSK-02272024" href="/johnston-ri/home-and-community/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-HC-PLSK-02272024"><img class="img-responsive" alt="Explore the free AARP HomeFit Guide" title="Explore the free AARP HomeFit Guide" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/touts/HomeFit_750x150.png"></a> </div></div></div> <div class="col-md-4 right-rail thin-rhs"><div class="module clearfix"><!--default--> <!-- module_RHS - AARP Events --> <div class="ar-basic-box module-spacer"> <header> <div class="pull-right"> <a href="/johnston-ri/aarp-events/" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-SEEALL-EVENTS"> <img style="width:30px;" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/template/icons/aarp_event_icon.png" alt="Upcoming AARP Events" /> </a> </div> <h2 class="visible-lg">AARP Events for Johnston</h2> <h2 class="hidden-lg">AARP Events for Johnston</h2> </header> <div class="wrap"> <div class="ar-listing snippet"> <ul class="list"> <li class="item" data-pageindex="1"> <h3 class="topic">Featured Event</h3> <h2 class="title"><a href="/aarp-event/fraud-basics-the-scam-landscape-staying-safe-east-providence-ri-111424-1030-am-et-hqn36rll2xd.html" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-EVENTS-SPOTTING-SCAMS-STAYING-SAFE">Spotting Scams & Staying Safe</a></h2> <p class="time">Thursday, Nov 14, 2024 at 10:30 a.m. ET</p> <p class="venue">East Providence Senior Center (Meeting Room)</p> <p class="loc">East Providence, RI</p> </li><li class="item" data-pageindex="1"> <h3 class="topic">Featured Event</h3> <h2 class="title"><a href="/aarp-event/prepare-to-care-tiverton-ri-11162024-200-pm-et-p4n8v85dbrg.html" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-EVENTS-PREPARE-TO-CARE">Prepare to Care</a></h2> <p class="time">Saturday, Nov 16, 2024 at 2:00 p.m. ET</p> <p class="venue">Tiverton Library (Meeting Room)</p> <p class="loc">Tiverton, RI</p> </li><li class="item" data-pageindex="1"> <h3 class="topic">Featured Event</h3> <h2 class="title"><a href="/aarp-event/six-pillars-of-brain-health-east-providence-ri-1232024-1030-am-et-4xnw54cgr59.html" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-EVENTS-THE-SIX-PILLARS-OF-BRAIN-HEALTH">The Six Pillars of Brain Health</a></h2> <p class="time">Tuesday, Dec 3, 2024 at 10:30 a.m. ET</p> <p class="venue">East Providence Senior Center (Meeting Room)</p> <p class="loc">East Providence, RI</p> </li> </ul> <p><a class="link-red" href="/johnston-ri/aarp-events/" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-SEEALL-EVENTS">View All AARP Events<i class="ml-1 fas fa-chevron-right"></i></a></p> </div> </div> </div> <div aria-hidden="true" class="aarpe-ad-wrapper"> <div class="aarpe-ad en clearfix" id="300x250_53475" data-adsize="300x250"> <script type="text/javascript"> if(typeof AARP.ads !== 'undefined'){ AARP.ads.slots({ id:'300x250_53475', size:'300x250'}); } </script> </div> </div> <div class="card-tout card-dark membership-tout" style="margin:0 0 30px 0;"> <img class="img-responsive image" title="image of two AARP membership cards" alt="image of two AARP membership cards" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/tout-two-cards.png"> <div class="title">Only $12 your first year with Automatic Renewal</div> <ul class="list"> <li>Immediate access to your <a href="https://www.aarp.org/benefits-discounts/">member benefits</a></li> <li>Discounts on travel and everyday savings</li> <li>Subscription to AARP The Magazine</li> <li>FREE second membership</li> </ul> <div class="action"> <a class="btn" href="https://appsec.aarp.org/mem/join?campaignid=UAJFT3&intcmp=LNK-CSN-AARPLOCAL-JRTOUT-RR-A-JOHNSTON-RI">Join AARP</a> <div class="body">Already a member? <a href="https://appsec.aarp.org/mem/renew?campaignid= UARFT3&intcmp=LNK-CSN-AARPLOCAL-JRTOUT-RR-A-JOHNSTON-RI">Renew</a> or <a href="https://www.aarp.org/benefits-discounts/my-membership/print-your-card/">Print Card</a></div> </div> </div> <style> .membership-tout {padding:16px 20px;} .membership-tout .list li { margin: 0; } </style> <div aria-hidden="true" class="aarpe-ad-wrapper"> <div class="aarpe-ad en clearfix" id="300x250_93505" data-adsize="300x250"> <script type="text/javascript"> if(typeof AARP.ads !== 'undefined'){ AARP.ads.slots({ id:'300x250_93505', size:'300x250'}); } </script> </div> </div> <div class="module-spacer text-center"> <div class="fb-page" alt="Image of AARP Rhode Island Facebook Page" title="Image of AARP Rhode Island Facebook Page" data-href="https://www.facebook.com/AARPRI" data-tabs="timeline" width="320" height="" data-small-header="false" data-adapt-container-width="true" data-hide-cover="false" data-show-facepile="true" lazy="true"> <blockquote cite="https://www.facebook.com/AARPRI" class="fb-xfbml-parse-ignore"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/AARPRI">Facebook</a></blockquote> </div> </div> <div class="ar-basic-box module-spacer"> <header> <h2>Contact AARP<br />Rhode Island</h2> </header> <div class="wrap"> <div class="ar-quick-list module-spacer"> <ul class="list-unstyled"> <li><i class="list-icon fa fa-envelope" alt="Email icon" title="Email icon" aria-hidden="true"></i><a href="mailto:RIAARP@aarp.org " target="_blank" rel="noopener">RIAARP@aarp.org </a></li> <li><i class="list-icon fa fa-globe" alt="Globe icon" title="Globe icon" aria-hidden="true"></i><a href="https://states.aarp.org/region/rhode-island/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">AARP Rhode Island</a></li> <li><i class="list-icon fa fa-map-marker" alt="Map Marker icon" title="Map Marker icon" aria-hidden="true"></i><a href="https://states.aarp.org/contact/?intcmp=SNG-LNK-AARPLOCAL-CONTACT-20140101-JOHNSTON-RI" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Contact Us</a></li> </ul> </div> <a href="https://www.facebook.com/AARPRI" target="_blank" rel="noopener" aria-label="Open Facebook"><img alt="Facebook icon" title="Facebook icon" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/responsive/icons/48/facebook-dreamstale25.png"></a> <a href="https://twitter.com/aarpRI" target="_blank" rel="noopener" aria-label="Open Twitter"><img alt="Twitter icon" title="Twitter icon" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/responsive/icons/48/x-logo-black.png"></a> </div> </div> </div></div> <div class="col-md-8 left-rail left-bot"></div> <div class="col-md-4 right-rail right-bot thin-rhs"></div> </div> <div class="row oneColumnLayout"> </div> <div class="row oneColumnLayout"> <div class="col-md-12"><!-- script to activate navbar --> <script type="text/javascript"> jQuery(".channelBarMain ul.left li a").click(function() { window.location = jQuery(this).attr('href'); }); </script> </div> </div> ', 'scripts_for_layout' => '<title>Snake Den State Park - Johnston, RI</title> <meta name="page_title" content="Snake Den State Park - Johnston, RI"/> <meta name="robots" content="noindex, nofollow"/> <meta content="Snake Den State Park History :The State of Rhode Island acquired the land, now known as Snake Den State Park in 1969. It is a combination of farm land and" name="description"/> <meta content="Snake, Den, State, Park, Johnston, RI" name="keywords"/> <link rel="canonical" href="https://www.americantowns.com/place/snake-den-state-park-johnston-ri.html" /> <meta property="og:url" content="https://vccstaging.local.aarp.org/place/snake-den-state-park-johnston-ri.html"/> <meta name="twitter:card" content="summary_large_image"/> <meta name="twitter:title" content="Snake Den State Park"/> <meta name="twitter:description" content="Snake Den State Park History :The State of Rhode Island acquired the land, now known as Snake Den State Park in 1969. It is a combination of farm land and"/> <meta name="twitter:image" content="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/template/thumbs/generic-icon.jpg"/> <meta property="og:type" content="place"/> <meta property="og:title" content="Snake Den State Park"/> <meta property="og:description" content="Snake Den State Park History :The State of Rhode Island acquired the land, now known as Snake Den State Park in 1969. It is a combination of farm land and"/> <meta property="og:image" content="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/template/thumbs/generic-icon.jpg"/> <meta property="place:location:latitude" content="41.830002"/> <meta property="place:location:longitude" content="-71.538696"/> ', 'title_for_layout' => 'Place Detail - AARP' ) $content_for_layout = '<div class="row twoColumnLayout"> <div class="col-md-8 left-rail"><div class="module clearfix"><div class="ar-basic-box"> <div class="module-spacer"> <header><h1 class="article-headline">Snake Den State Park</h1></header> <div class="row"> <div class="col-sm-6 left module-spacer"> <p> <div> <div>2321 Hartford Avenue</div> <div> <span>Johnston</span>, <span>RI</span> <span>02919</span> </div> </div> </p> <div> <i class="fa fa-external-link-square"></i> <a href="http://www.riparks.com/Locations/LocationSnakeDen.html" target="_blank">Snake Den State Park</a> </div> <div><i class="fa fa-phone-square"></i> 401-222-2632</div> </div> <div class="col-sm-6 module-spacer"> <iframe width="100%" height="220" frameborder="0" style="border:0" src="https://www.google.com/maps/embed/v1/place?key=AIzaSyCU5aZylcrTOLke9e3U0F2mXovlZ4bL8yk&q=Snake+Den+State+Park%2C+2321+Hartford+Avenue%2C+Johnston%2C+RI+02919" allowfullscreen> </iframe> </div> </div> <div class="module-spacer clearfix"> <p style="text-align: justify;">Snake Den State Park History :The State of Rhode Island acquired the land, now known as Snake Den State Park in 1969. It is a combination of farm land and woodland and comprises 744 acres. The prior owners were many generations of the Dame family and, before that the Steere family, an old family throughout Johnston and surrounding towns. DEM’s headquarters for the Parks and Recreation Division is housed in a 22 room former farm house of the Palazzi family.The name, Snake Den, derives from a canyon-like stone fissure located in the park. Like other farms in the Johnston area, the stone in the Snake Den outcrop was quarried for building material for Providence. The actual location of the quarry is on that portion of the property once owned by the Waterman family. Its stone was used in the building of the First Congregational Church in Providence, better known as the First Unitarian Church, designed by John Holden Greene, one the Benefit Street landmarks on historic College Hill. The nearby quarry of Bear Ledge provided the incredible columns for the Providence Arcade of 1828.It is thought that several of the farms including the Steere and Waterman farms were once owned by Moses Brown of Providence. Moses, the youngest of the famous four Brown brothers had removed himself from the family shipping business because the ties to the slave trade offended his Quaker sensibilities. While he is most famous for his financial backing of Samuel Slater’s path-breaking development of the American cotton textile industry at Pawtucket Falls in 1791, it was Moses Brown’s farms in Johnston and surrounding towns which provided the rental income to support Slater. On at least one occasion, Brown complained to Slater that his demand for more and more investment money was ‘spinning all my farms into cloth!’The Snake Den State Park was formally headquartered at 2321 Hartford Avenue, Johnston (route 6 to Greenville Avenue), but the Dame Farm portion of the park anchors the Brown Avenue historic district. Many former farms in the postwar era from 1945 until 1960, whose proximity to Providence were converted to suburban tract housing as Providence lost more population to the surrounding towns from 1950 to 1970 on a percentage basis than any other urban area in the country. Providence lost 90,000 residents out of a population of 250,000. Therefore rescuing open space and preserving part of Rhode Island’s farm history in 1969 was a major accomplishment.Except for the continuous improvements to the Dame Farm aspect of the park, the remaining acreage and woodland has been left much as it was when the park was established. An effort in 2005 to turn a portion of the land into a water park for the Providence metropolitan region was rejected by the Town of Johnston on the basis that such an attraction would create traffic congestion for the town. The current park’s plans are for more limited development of picnic areas and playing fields.</p> </div> <div class="reportthis" style="margin-bottom: 20px;"> <form method="post" action="/johnston-ri/report/place/snake-den-state-park-johnston-ri.html"> <button type="submit" class="btn btnregister pull-right" style="margin-bottom: 10px;">Flag This Place</button> </form> </div> <div class="report_button_message">Please use "Flag This Place" to alert us about content that is inappropriate or needs immediate attention. Nothing you submit will be shared with other site visitors. </div> <style> .report_button_message { color: #333; font-size: 12px; clear: both; } </style> </div> </div> </div><div class="module clearfix"><div class="module-spacer tout-homefit-750"> <a data-formelementid="CSN-LOCAL-HC-PLSK-02272024" href="/johnston-ri/home-and-community/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-HC-PLSK-02272024"><img class="img-responsive" alt="Explore the free AARP HomeFit Guide" title="Explore the free AARP HomeFit Guide" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/touts/HomeFit_750x150.png"></a> </div></div></div> <div class="col-md-4 right-rail thin-rhs"><div class="module clearfix"><!--default--> <!-- module_RHS - AARP Events --> <div class="ar-basic-box module-spacer"> <header> <div class="pull-right"> <a href="/johnston-ri/aarp-events/" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-SEEALL-EVENTS"> <img style="width:30px;" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/template/icons/aarp_event_icon.png" alt="Upcoming AARP Events" /> </a> </div> <h2 class="visible-lg">AARP Events for Johnston</h2> <h2 class="hidden-lg">AARP Events for Johnston</h2> </header> <div class="wrap"> <div class="ar-listing snippet"> <ul class="list"> <li class="item" data-pageindex="1"> <h3 class="topic">Featured Event</h3> <h2 class="title"><a href="/aarp-event/fraud-basics-the-scam-landscape-staying-safe-east-providence-ri-111424-1030-am-et-hqn36rll2xd.html" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-EVENTS-SPOTTING-SCAMS-STAYING-SAFE">Spotting Scams & Staying Safe</a></h2> <p class="time">Thursday, Nov 14, 2024 at 10:30 a.m. ET</p> <p class="venue">East Providence Senior Center (Meeting Room)</p> <p class="loc">East Providence, RI</p> </li><li class="item" data-pageindex="1"> <h3 class="topic">Featured Event</h3> <h2 class="title"><a href="/aarp-event/prepare-to-care-tiverton-ri-11162024-200-pm-et-p4n8v85dbrg.html" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-EVENTS-PREPARE-TO-CARE">Prepare to Care</a></h2> <p class="time">Saturday, Nov 16, 2024 at 2:00 p.m. ET</p> <p class="venue">Tiverton Library (Meeting Room)</p> <p class="loc">Tiverton, RI</p> </li><li class="item" data-pageindex="1"> <h3 class="topic">Featured Event</h3> <h2 class="title"><a href="/aarp-event/six-pillars-of-brain-health-east-providence-ri-1232024-1030-am-et-4xnw54cgr59.html" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-EVENTS-THE-SIX-PILLARS-OF-BRAIN-HEALTH">The Six Pillars of Brain Health</a></h2> <p class="time">Tuesday, Dec 3, 2024 at 10:30 a.m. ET</p> <p class="venue">East Providence Senior Center (Meeting Room)</p> <p class="loc">East Providence, RI</p> </li> </ul> <p><a class="link-red" href="/johnston-ri/aarp-events/" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-SEEALL-EVENTS">View All AARP Events<i class="ml-1 fas fa-chevron-right"></i></a></p> </div> </div> </div> <div aria-hidden="true" class="aarpe-ad-wrapper"> <div class="aarpe-ad en clearfix" id="300x250_53475" data-adsize="300x250"> <script type="text/javascript"> if(typeof AARP.ads !== 'undefined'){ AARP.ads.slots({ id:'300x250_53475', size:'300x250'}); } </script> </div> </div> <div class="card-tout card-dark membership-tout" style="margin:0 0 30px 0;"> <img class="img-responsive image" title="image of two AARP membership cards" alt="image of two AARP membership cards" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/tout-two-cards.png"> <div class="title">Only $12 your first year with Automatic Renewal</div> <ul class="list"> <li>Immediate access to your <a href="https://www.aarp.org/benefits-discounts/">member benefits</a></li> <li>Discounts on travel and everyday savings</li> <li>Subscription to AARP The Magazine</li> <li>FREE second membership</li> </ul> <div class="action"> <a class="btn" href="https://appsec.aarp.org/mem/join?campaignid=UAJFT3&intcmp=LNK-CSN-AARPLOCAL-JRTOUT-RR-A-JOHNSTON-RI">Join AARP</a> <div class="body">Already a member? <a href="https://appsec.aarp.org/mem/renew?campaignid= UARFT3&intcmp=LNK-CSN-AARPLOCAL-JRTOUT-RR-A-JOHNSTON-RI">Renew</a> or <a href="https://www.aarp.org/benefits-discounts/my-membership/print-your-card/">Print Card</a></div> </div> </div> <style> .membership-tout {padding:16px 20px;} .membership-tout .list li { margin: 0; } </style> <div aria-hidden="true" class="aarpe-ad-wrapper"> <div class="aarpe-ad en clearfix" id="300x250_93505" data-adsize="300x250"> <script type="text/javascript"> if(typeof AARP.ads !== 'undefined'){ AARP.ads.slots({ id:'300x250_93505', size:'300x250'}); } </script> </div> </div> <div class="module-spacer text-center"> <div class="fb-page" alt="Image of AARP Rhode Island Facebook Page" title="Image of AARP Rhode Island Facebook Page" data-href="https://www.facebook.com/AARPRI" data-tabs="timeline" width="320" height="" data-small-header="false" data-adapt-container-width="true" data-hide-cover="false" data-show-facepile="true" lazy="true"> <blockquote cite="https://www.facebook.com/AARPRI" class="fb-xfbml-parse-ignore"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/AARPRI">Facebook</a></blockquote> </div> </div> <div class="ar-basic-box module-spacer"> <header> <h2>Contact AARP<br />Rhode Island</h2> </header> <div class="wrap"> <div class="ar-quick-list module-spacer"> <ul class="list-unstyled"> <li><i class="list-icon fa fa-envelope" alt="Email icon" title="Email icon" aria-hidden="true"></i><a href="mailto:RIAARP@aarp.org " target="_blank" rel="noopener">RIAARP@aarp.org </a></li> <li><i class="list-icon fa fa-globe" alt="Globe icon" title="Globe icon" aria-hidden="true"></i><a href="https://states.aarp.org/region/rhode-island/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">AARP Rhode Island</a></li> <li><i class="list-icon fa fa-map-marker" alt="Map Marker icon" title="Map Marker icon" aria-hidden="true"></i><a href="https://states.aarp.org/contact/?intcmp=SNG-LNK-AARPLOCAL-CONTACT-20140101-JOHNSTON-RI" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Contact Us</a></li> </ul> </div> <a href="https://www.facebook.com/AARPRI" target="_blank" rel="noopener" aria-label="Open Facebook"><img alt="Facebook icon" title="Facebook icon" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/responsive/icons/48/facebook-dreamstale25.png"></a> <a href="https://twitter.com/aarpRI" target="_blank" rel="noopener" aria-label="Open Twitter"><img alt="Twitter icon" title="Twitter icon" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/responsive/icons/48/x-logo-black.png"></a> </div> </div> </div></div> <div class="col-md-8 left-rail left-bot"></div> <div class="col-md-4 right-rail right-bot thin-rhs"></div> </div> <div class="row oneColumnLayout"> </div> <div class="row oneColumnLayout"> <div class="col-md-12"><!-- script to activate navbar --> <script type="text/javascript"> jQuery(".channelBarMain ul.left li a").click(function() { window.location = jQuery(this).attr('href'); }); </script> </div> </div> ' $scripts_for_layout = '<title>Snake Den State Park - Johnston, RI</title> <meta name="page_title" content="Snake Den State Park - Johnston, RI"/> <meta name="robots" content="noindex, nofollow"/> <meta content="Snake Den State Park History :The State of Rhode Island acquired the land, now known as Snake Den State Park in 1969. It is a combination of farm land and" name="description"/> <meta content="Snake, Den, State, Park, Johnston, RI" name="keywords"/> <link rel="canonical" href="https://www.americantowns.com/place/snake-den-state-park-johnston-ri.html" /> <meta property="og:url" content="https://vccstaging.local.aarp.org/place/snake-den-state-park-johnston-ri.html"/> <meta name="twitter:card" content="summary_large_image"/> <meta name="twitter:title" content="Snake Den State Park"/> <meta name="twitter:description" content="Snake Den State Park History :The State of Rhode Island acquired the land, now known as Snake Den State Park in 1969. It is a combination of farm land and"/> <meta name="twitter:image" content="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/template/thumbs/generic-icon.jpg"/> <meta property="og:type" content="place"/> <meta property="og:title" content="Snake Den State Park"/> <meta property="og:description" content="Snake Den State Park History :The State of Rhode Island acquired the land, now known as Snake Den State Park in 1969. 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$viewFile = '/var/www/vhosts/vcc_staging/app/View/Layouts/aarp_2023.ctp' $dataForView = array( 'content_for_layout' => '<div class="row twoColumnLayout"> <div class="col-md-8 left-rail"><div class="module clearfix"><div class="ar-basic-box"> <div class="module-spacer"> <header><h1 class="article-headline">Snake Den State Park</h1></header> <div class="row"> <div class="col-sm-6 left module-spacer"> <p> <div> <div>2321 Hartford Avenue</div> <div> <span>Johnston</span>, <span>RI</span> <span>02919</span> </div> </div> </p> <div> <i class="fa fa-external-link-square"></i> <a href="http://www.riparks.com/Locations/LocationSnakeDen.html" target="_blank">Snake Den State Park</a> </div> <div><i class="fa fa-phone-square"></i> 401-222-2632</div> </div> <div class="col-sm-6 module-spacer"> <iframe width="100%" height="220" frameborder="0" style="border:0" src="https://www.google.com/maps/embed/v1/place?key=AIzaSyCU5aZylcrTOLke9e3U0F2mXovlZ4bL8yk&q=Snake+Den+State+Park%2C+2321+Hartford+Avenue%2C+Johnston%2C+RI+02919" allowfullscreen> </iframe> </div> </div> <div class="module-spacer clearfix"> <p style="text-align: justify;">Snake Den State Park History :The State of Rhode Island acquired the land, now known as Snake Den State Park in 1969. It is a combination of farm land and woodland and comprises 744 acres. The prior owners were many generations of the Dame family and, before that the Steere family, an old family throughout Johnston and surrounding towns. DEM’s headquarters for the Parks and Recreation Division is housed in a 22 room former farm house of the Palazzi family.The name, Snake Den, derives from a canyon-like stone fissure located in the park. Like other farms in the Johnston area, the stone in the Snake Den outcrop was quarried for building material for Providence. The actual location of the quarry is on that portion of the property once owned by the Waterman family. Its stone was used in the building of the First Congregational Church in Providence, better known as the First Unitarian Church, designed by John Holden Greene, one the Benefit Street landmarks on historic College Hill. The nearby quarry of Bear Ledge provided the incredible columns for the Providence Arcade of 1828.It is thought that several of the farms including the Steere and Waterman farms were once owned by Moses Brown of Providence. Moses, the youngest of the famous four Brown brothers had removed himself from the family shipping business because the ties to the slave trade offended his Quaker sensibilities. While he is most famous for his financial backing of Samuel Slater’s path-breaking development of the American cotton textile industry at Pawtucket Falls in 1791, it was Moses Brown’s farms in Johnston and surrounding towns which provided the rental income to support Slater. On at least one occasion, Brown complained to Slater that his demand for more and more investment money was ‘spinning all my farms into cloth!’The Snake Den State Park was formally headquartered at 2321 Hartford Avenue, Johnston (route 6 to Greenville Avenue), but the Dame Farm portion of the park anchors the Brown Avenue historic district. Many former farms in the postwar era from 1945 until 1960, whose proximity to Providence were converted to suburban tract housing as Providence lost more population to the surrounding towns from 1950 to 1970 on a percentage basis than any other urban area in the country. Providence lost 90,000 residents out of a population of 250,000. Therefore rescuing open space and preserving part of Rhode Island’s farm history in 1969 was a major accomplishment.Except for the continuous improvements to the Dame Farm aspect of the park, the remaining acreage and woodland has been left much as it was when the park was established. An effort in 2005 to turn a portion of the land into a water park for the Providence metropolitan region was rejected by the Town of Johnston on the basis that such an attraction would create traffic congestion for the town. The current park’s plans are for more limited development of picnic areas and playing fields.</p> </div> <div class="reportthis" style="margin-bottom: 20px;"> <form method="post" action="/johnston-ri/report/place/snake-den-state-park-johnston-ri.html"> <button type="submit" class="btn btnregister pull-right" style="margin-bottom: 10px;">Flag This Place</button> </form> </div> <div class="report_button_message">Please use "Flag This Place" to alert us about content that is inappropriate or needs immediate attention. Nothing you submit will be shared with other site visitors. </div> <style> .report_button_message { color: #333; font-size: 12px; clear: both; } </style> </div> </div> </div><div class="module clearfix"><div class="module-spacer tout-homefit-750"> <a data-formelementid="CSN-LOCAL-HC-PLSK-02272024" href="/johnston-ri/home-and-community/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-HC-PLSK-02272024"><img class="img-responsive" alt="Explore the free AARP HomeFit Guide" title="Explore the free AARP HomeFit Guide" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/touts/HomeFit_750x150.png"></a> </div></div></div> <div class="col-md-4 right-rail thin-rhs"><div class="module clearfix"><!--default--> <!-- module_RHS - AARP Events --> <div class="ar-basic-box module-spacer"> <header> <div class="pull-right"> <a href="/johnston-ri/aarp-events/" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-SEEALL-EVENTS"> <img style="width:30px;" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/template/icons/aarp_event_icon.png" alt="Upcoming AARP Events" /> </a> </div> <h2 class="visible-lg">AARP Events for Johnston</h2> <h2 class="hidden-lg">AARP Events for Johnston</h2> </header> <div class="wrap"> <div class="ar-listing snippet"> <ul class="list"> <li class="item" data-pageindex="1"> <h3 class="topic">Featured Event</h3> <h2 class="title"><a href="/aarp-event/fraud-basics-the-scam-landscape-staying-safe-east-providence-ri-111424-1030-am-et-hqn36rll2xd.html" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-EVENTS-SPOTTING-SCAMS-STAYING-SAFE">Spotting Scams & Staying Safe</a></h2> <p class="time">Thursday, Nov 14, 2024 at 10:30 a.m. ET</p> <p class="venue">East Providence Senior Center (Meeting Room)</p> <p class="loc">East Providence, RI</p> </li><li class="item" data-pageindex="1"> <h3 class="topic">Featured Event</h3> <h2 class="title"><a href="/aarp-event/prepare-to-care-tiverton-ri-11162024-200-pm-et-p4n8v85dbrg.html" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-EVENTS-PREPARE-TO-CARE">Prepare to Care</a></h2> <p class="time">Saturday, Nov 16, 2024 at 2:00 p.m. ET</p> <p class="venue">Tiverton Library (Meeting Room)</p> <p class="loc">Tiverton, RI</p> </li><li class="item" data-pageindex="1"> <h3 class="topic">Featured Event</h3> <h2 class="title"><a href="/aarp-event/six-pillars-of-brain-health-east-providence-ri-1232024-1030-am-et-4xnw54cgr59.html" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-EVENTS-THE-SIX-PILLARS-OF-BRAIN-HEALTH">The Six Pillars of Brain Health</a></h2> <p class="time">Tuesday, Dec 3, 2024 at 10:30 a.m. ET</p> <p class="venue">East Providence Senior Center (Meeting Room)</p> <p class="loc">East Providence, RI</p> </li> </ul> <p><a class="link-red" href="/johnston-ri/aarp-events/" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-SEEALL-EVENTS">View All AARP Events<i class="ml-1 fas fa-chevron-right"></i></a></p> </div> </div> </div> <div aria-hidden="true" class="aarpe-ad-wrapper"> <div class="aarpe-ad en clearfix" id="300x250_53475" data-adsize="300x250"> <script type="text/javascript"> if(typeof AARP.ads !== 'undefined'){ AARP.ads.slots({ id:'300x250_53475', size:'300x250'}); } </script> </div> </div> <div class="card-tout card-dark membership-tout" style="margin:0 0 30px 0;"> <img class="img-responsive image" title="image of two AARP membership cards" alt="image of two AARP membership cards" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/tout-two-cards.png"> <div class="title">Only $12 your first year with Automatic Renewal</div> <ul class="list"> <li>Immediate access to your <a href="https://www.aarp.org/benefits-discounts/">member benefits</a></li> <li>Discounts on travel and everyday savings</li> <li>Subscription to AARP The Magazine</li> <li>FREE second membership</li> </ul> <div class="action"> <a class="btn" href="https://appsec.aarp.org/mem/join?campaignid=UAJFT3&intcmp=LNK-CSN-AARPLOCAL-JRTOUT-RR-A-JOHNSTON-RI">Join AARP</a> <div class="body">Already a member? <a href="https://appsec.aarp.org/mem/renew?campaignid= UARFT3&intcmp=LNK-CSN-AARPLOCAL-JRTOUT-RR-A-JOHNSTON-RI">Renew</a> or <a href="https://www.aarp.org/benefits-discounts/my-membership/print-your-card/">Print Card</a></div> </div> </div> <style> .membership-tout {padding:16px 20px;} .membership-tout .list li { margin: 0; } </style> <div aria-hidden="true" class="aarpe-ad-wrapper"> <div class="aarpe-ad en clearfix" id="300x250_93505" data-adsize="300x250"> <script type="text/javascript"> if(typeof AARP.ads !== 'undefined'){ AARP.ads.slots({ id:'300x250_93505', size:'300x250'}); } </script> </div> </div> <div class="module-spacer text-center"> <div class="fb-page" alt="Image of AARP Rhode Island Facebook Page" title="Image of AARP Rhode Island Facebook Page" data-href="https://www.facebook.com/AARPRI" data-tabs="timeline" width="320" height="" data-small-header="false" data-adapt-container-width="true" data-hide-cover="false" data-show-facepile="true" lazy="true"> <blockquote cite="https://www.facebook.com/AARPRI" class="fb-xfbml-parse-ignore"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/AARPRI">Facebook</a></blockquote> </div> </div> <div class="ar-basic-box module-spacer"> <header> <h2>Contact AARP<br />Rhode Island</h2> </header> <div class="wrap"> <div class="ar-quick-list module-spacer"> <ul class="list-unstyled"> <li><i class="list-icon fa fa-envelope" alt="Email icon" title="Email icon" aria-hidden="true"></i><a href="mailto:RIAARP@aarp.org " target="_blank" rel="noopener">RIAARP@aarp.org </a></li> <li><i class="list-icon fa fa-globe" alt="Globe icon" title="Globe icon" aria-hidden="true"></i><a href="https://states.aarp.org/region/rhode-island/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">AARP Rhode Island</a></li> <li><i class="list-icon fa fa-map-marker" alt="Map Marker icon" title="Map Marker icon" aria-hidden="true"></i><a href="https://states.aarp.org/contact/?intcmp=SNG-LNK-AARPLOCAL-CONTACT-20140101-JOHNSTON-RI" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Contact Us</a></li> </ul> </div> <a href="https://www.facebook.com/AARPRI" target="_blank" rel="noopener" aria-label="Open Facebook"><img alt="Facebook icon" title="Facebook icon" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/responsive/icons/48/facebook-dreamstale25.png"></a> <a href="https://twitter.com/aarpRI" target="_blank" rel="noopener" aria-label="Open Twitter"><img alt="Twitter icon" title="Twitter icon" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/responsive/icons/48/x-logo-black.png"></a> </div> </div> </div></div> <div class="col-md-8 left-rail left-bot"></div> <div class="col-md-4 right-rail right-bot thin-rhs"></div> </div> <div class="row oneColumnLayout"> </div> <div class="row oneColumnLayout"> <div class="col-md-12"><!-- script to activate navbar --> <script type="text/javascript"> jQuery(".channelBarMain ul.left li a").click(function() { window.location = jQuery(this).attr('href'); }); </script> </div> </div> ', 'scripts_for_layout' => '<title>Snake Den State Park - Johnston, RI</title> <meta name="page_title" content="Snake Den State Park - Johnston, RI"/> <meta name="robots" content="noindex, nofollow"/> <meta content="Snake Den State Park History :The State of Rhode Island acquired the land, now known as Snake Den State Park in 1969. It is a combination of farm land and" name="description"/> <meta content="Snake, Den, State, Park, Johnston, RI" name="keywords"/> <link rel="canonical" href="https://www.americantowns.com/place/snake-den-state-park-johnston-ri.html" /> <meta property="og:url" content="https://vccstaging.local.aarp.org/place/snake-den-state-park-johnston-ri.html"/> <meta name="twitter:card" content="summary_large_image"/> <meta name="twitter:title" content="Snake Den State Park"/> <meta name="twitter:description" content="Snake Den State Park History :The State of Rhode Island acquired the land, now known as Snake Den State Park in 1969. It is a combination of farm land and"/> <meta name="twitter:image" content="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/template/thumbs/generic-icon.jpg"/> <meta property="og:type" content="place"/> <meta property="og:title" content="Snake Den State Park"/> <meta property="og:description" content="Snake Den State Park History :The State of Rhode Island acquired the land, now known as Snake Den State Park in 1969. It is a combination of farm land and"/> <meta property="og:image" content="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/template/thumbs/generic-icon.jpg"/> <meta property="place:location:latitude" content="41.830002"/> <meta property="place:location:longitude" content="-71.538696"/> ', 'title_for_layout' => 'Place Detail - AARP' ) $content_for_layout = '<div class="row twoColumnLayout"> <div class="col-md-8 left-rail"><div class="module clearfix"><div class="ar-basic-box"> <div class="module-spacer"> <header><h1 class="article-headline">Snake Den State Park</h1></header> <div class="row"> <div class="col-sm-6 left module-spacer"> <p> <div> <div>2321 Hartford Avenue</div> <div> <span>Johnston</span>, <span>RI</span> <span>02919</span> </div> </div> </p> <div> <i class="fa fa-external-link-square"></i> <a href="http://www.riparks.com/Locations/LocationSnakeDen.html" target="_blank">Snake Den State Park</a> </div> <div><i class="fa fa-phone-square"></i> 401-222-2632</div> </div> <div class="col-sm-6 module-spacer"> <iframe width="100%" height="220" frameborder="0" style="border:0" src="https://www.google.com/maps/embed/v1/place?key=AIzaSyCU5aZylcrTOLke9e3U0F2mXovlZ4bL8yk&q=Snake+Den+State+Park%2C+2321+Hartford+Avenue%2C+Johnston%2C+RI+02919" allowfullscreen> </iframe> </div> </div> <div class="module-spacer clearfix"> <p style="text-align: justify;">Snake Den State Park History :The State of Rhode Island acquired the land, now known as Snake Den State Park in 1969. It is a combination of farm land and woodland and comprises 744 acres. The prior owners were many generations of the Dame family and, before that the Steere family, an old family throughout Johnston and surrounding towns. DEM’s headquarters for the Parks and Recreation Division is housed in a 22 room former farm house of the Palazzi family.The name, Snake Den, derives from a canyon-like stone fissure located in the park. Like other farms in the Johnston area, the stone in the Snake Den outcrop was quarried for building material for Providence. The actual location of the quarry is on that portion of the property once owned by the Waterman family. Its stone was used in the building of the First Congregational Church in Providence, better known as the First Unitarian Church, designed by John Holden Greene, one the Benefit Street landmarks on historic College Hill. The nearby quarry of Bear Ledge provided the incredible columns for the Providence Arcade of 1828.It is thought that several of the farms including the Steere and Waterman farms were once owned by Moses Brown of Providence. Moses, the youngest of the famous four Brown brothers had removed himself from the family shipping business because the ties to the slave trade offended his Quaker sensibilities. While he is most famous for his financial backing of Samuel Slater’s path-breaking development of the American cotton textile industry at Pawtucket Falls in 1791, it was Moses Brown’s farms in Johnston and surrounding towns which provided the rental income to support Slater. On at least one occasion, Brown complained to Slater that his demand for more and more investment money was ‘spinning all my farms into cloth!’The Snake Den State Park was formally headquartered at 2321 Hartford Avenue, Johnston (route 6 to Greenville Avenue), but the Dame Farm portion of the park anchors the Brown Avenue historic district. Many former farms in the postwar era from 1945 until 1960, whose proximity to Providence were converted to suburban tract housing as Providence lost more population to the surrounding towns from 1950 to 1970 on a percentage basis than any other urban area in the country. Providence lost 90,000 residents out of a population of 250,000. Therefore rescuing open space and preserving part of Rhode Island’s farm history in 1969 was a major accomplishment.Except for the continuous improvements to the Dame Farm aspect of the park, the remaining acreage and woodland has been left much as it was when the park was established. An effort in 2005 to turn a portion of the land into a water park for the Providence metropolitan region was rejected by the Town of Johnston on the basis that such an attraction would create traffic congestion for the town. The current park’s plans are for more limited development of picnic areas and playing fields.</p> </div> <div class="reportthis" style="margin-bottom: 20px;"> <form method="post" action="/johnston-ri/report/place/snake-den-state-park-johnston-ri.html"> <button type="submit" class="btn btnregister pull-right" style="margin-bottom: 10px;">Flag This Place</button> </form> </div> <div class="report_button_message">Please use "Flag This Place" to alert us about content that is inappropriate or needs immediate attention. Nothing you submit will be shared with other site visitors. </div> <style> .report_button_message { color: #333; font-size: 12px; clear: both; } </style> </div> </div> </div><div class="module clearfix"><div class="module-spacer tout-homefit-750"> <a data-formelementid="CSN-LOCAL-HC-PLSK-02272024" href="/johnston-ri/home-and-community/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-HC-PLSK-02272024"><img class="img-responsive" alt="Explore the free AARP HomeFit Guide" title="Explore the free AARP HomeFit Guide" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/touts/HomeFit_750x150.png"></a> </div></div></div> <div class="col-md-4 right-rail thin-rhs"><div class="module clearfix"><!--default--> <!-- module_RHS - AARP Events --> <div class="ar-basic-box module-spacer"> <header> <div class="pull-right"> <a href="/johnston-ri/aarp-events/" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-SEEALL-EVENTS"> <img style="width:30px;" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/template/icons/aarp_event_icon.png" alt="Upcoming AARP Events" /> </a> </div> <h2 class="visible-lg">AARP Events for Johnston</h2> <h2 class="hidden-lg">AARP Events for Johnston</h2> </header> <div class="wrap"> <div class="ar-listing snippet"> <ul class="list"> <li class="item" data-pageindex="1"> <h3 class="topic">Featured Event</h3> <h2 class="title"><a href="/aarp-event/fraud-basics-the-scam-landscape-staying-safe-east-providence-ri-111424-1030-am-et-hqn36rll2xd.html" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-EVENTS-SPOTTING-SCAMS-STAYING-SAFE">Spotting Scams & Staying Safe</a></h2> <p class="time">Thursday, Nov 14, 2024 at 10:30 a.m. ET</p> <p class="venue">East Providence Senior Center (Meeting Room)</p> <p class="loc">East Providence, RI</p> </li><li class="item" data-pageindex="1"> <h3 class="topic">Featured Event</h3> <h2 class="title"><a href="/aarp-event/prepare-to-care-tiverton-ri-11162024-200-pm-et-p4n8v85dbrg.html" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-EVENTS-PREPARE-TO-CARE">Prepare to Care</a></h2> <p class="time">Saturday, Nov 16, 2024 at 2:00 p.m. ET</p> <p class="venue">Tiverton Library (Meeting Room)</p> <p class="loc">Tiverton, RI</p> </li><li class="item" data-pageindex="1"> <h3 class="topic">Featured Event</h3> <h2 class="title"><a href="/aarp-event/six-pillars-of-brain-health-east-providence-ri-1232024-1030-am-et-4xnw54cgr59.html" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-EVENTS-THE-SIX-PILLARS-OF-BRAIN-HEALTH">The Six Pillars of Brain Health</a></h2> <p class="time">Tuesday, Dec 3, 2024 at 10:30 a.m. ET</p> <p class="venue">East Providence Senior Center (Meeting Room)</p> <p class="loc">East Providence, RI</p> </li> </ul> <p><a class="link-red" href="/johnston-ri/aarp-events/" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-SEEALL-EVENTS">View All AARP Events<i class="ml-1 fas fa-chevron-right"></i></a></p> </div> </div> </div> <div aria-hidden="true" class="aarpe-ad-wrapper"> <div class="aarpe-ad en clearfix" id="300x250_53475" data-adsize="300x250"> <script type="text/javascript"> if(typeof AARP.ads !== 'undefined'){ AARP.ads.slots({ id:'300x250_53475', size:'300x250'}); } </script> </div> </div> <div class="card-tout card-dark membership-tout" style="margin:0 0 30px 0;"> <img class="img-responsive image" title="image of two AARP membership cards" alt="image of two AARP membership cards" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/tout-two-cards.png"> <div class="title">Only $12 your first year with Automatic Renewal</div> <ul class="list"> <li>Immediate access to your <a href="https://www.aarp.org/benefits-discounts/">member benefits</a></li> <li>Discounts on travel and everyday savings</li> <li>Subscription to AARP The Magazine</li> <li>FREE second membership</li> </ul> <div class="action"> <a class="btn" href="https://appsec.aarp.org/mem/join?campaignid=UAJFT3&intcmp=LNK-CSN-AARPLOCAL-JRTOUT-RR-A-JOHNSTON-RI">Join AARP</a> <div class="body">Already a member? <a href="https://appsec.aarp.org/mem/renew?campaignid= UARFT3&intcmp=LNK-CSN-AARPLOCAL-JRTOUT-RR-A-JOHNSTON-RI">Renew</a> or <a href="https://www.aarp.org/benefits-discounts/my-membership/print-your-card/">Print Card</a></div> </div> </div> <style> .membership-tout {padding:16px 20px;} .membership-tout .list li { margin: 0; } </style> <div aria-hidden="true" class="aarpe-ad-wrapper"> <div class="aarpe-ad en clearfix" id="300x250_93505" data-adsize="300x250"> <script type="text/javascript"> if(typeof AARP.ads !== 'undefined'){ AARP.ads.slots({ id:'300x250_93505', size:'300x250'}); } </script> </div> </div> <div class="module-spacer text-center"> <div class="fb-page" alt="Image of AARP Rhode Island Facebook Page" title="Image of AARP Rhode Island Facebook Page" data-href="https://www.facebook.com/AARPRI" data-tabs="timeline" width="320" height="" data-small-header="false" data-adapt-container-width="true" data-hide-cover="false" data-show-facepile="true" lazy="true"> <blockquote cite="https://www.facebook.com/AARPRI" class="fb-xfbml-parse-ignore"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/AARPRI">Facebook</a></blockquote> </div> </div> <div class="ar-basic-box module-spacer"> <header> <h2>Contact AARP<br />Rhode Island</h2> </header> <div class="wrap"> <div class="ar-quick-list module-spacer"> <ul class="list-unstyled"> <li><i class="list-icon fa fa-envelope" alt="Email icon" title="Email icon" aria-hidden="true"></i><a href="mailto:RIAARP@aarp.org " target="_blank" rel="noopener">RIAARP@aarp.org </a></li> <li><i class="list-icon fa fa-globe" alt="Globe icon" title="Globe icon" aria-hidden="true"></i><a href="https://states.aarp.org/region/rhode-island/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">AARP Rhode Island</a></li> <li><i class="list-icon fa fa-map-marker" alt="Map Marker icon" title="Map Marker icon" aria-hidden="true"></i><a href="https://states.aarp.org/contact/?intcmp=SNG-LNK-AARPLOCAL-CONTACT-20140101-JOHNSTON-RI" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Contact Us</a></li> </ul> </div> <a href="https://www.facebook.com/AARPRI" target="_blank" rel="noopener" aria-label="Open Facebook"><img alt="Facebook icon" title="Facebook icon" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/responsive/icons/48/facebook-dreamstale25.png"></a> <a href="https://twitter.com/aarpRI" target="_blank" rel="noopener" aria-label="Open Twitter"><img alt="Twitter icon" title="Twitter icon" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/responsive/icons/48/x-logo-black.png"></a> </div> </div> </div></div> <div class="col-md-8 left-rail left-bot"></div> <div class="col-md-4 right-rail right-bot thin-rhs"></div> </div> <div class="row oneColumnLayout"> </div> <div class="row oneColumnLayout"> <div class="col-md-12"><!-- script to activate navbar --> <script type="text/javascript"> jQuery(".channelBarMain ul.left li a").click(function() { window.location = jQuery(this).attr('href'); }); </script> </div> </div> ' $scripts_for_layout = '<title>Snake Den State Park - Johnston, RI</title> <meta name="page_title" content="Snake Den State Park - Johnston, RI"/> <meta name="robots" content="noindex, nofollow"/> <meta content="Snake Den State Park History :The State of Rhode Island acquired the land, now known as Snake Den State Park in 1969. 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$viewFile = '/var/www/vhosts/vcc_staging/app/View/Layouts/aarp_2023.ctp' $dataForView = array( 'content_for_layout' => '<div class="row twoColumnLayout"> <div class="col-md-8 left-rail"><div class="module clearfix"><div class="ar-basic-box"> <div class="module-spacer"> <header><h1 class="article-headline">Snake Den State Park</h1></header> <div class="row"> <div class="col-sm-6 left module-spacer"> <p> <div> <div>2321 Hartford Avenue</div> <div> <span>Johnston</span>, <span>RI</span> <span>02919</span> </div> </div> </p> <div> <i class="fa fa-external-link-square"></i> <a href="http://www.riparks.com/Locations/LocationSnakeDen.html" target="_blank">Snake Den State Park</a> </div> <div><i class="fa fa-phone-square"></i> 401-222-2632</div> </div> <div class="col-sm-6 module-spacer"> <iframe width="100%" height="220" frameborder="0" style="border:0" src="https://www.google.com/maps/embed/v1/place?key=AIzaSyCU5aZylcrTOLke9e3U0F2mXovlZ4bL8yk&q=Snake+Den+State+Park%2C+2321+Hartford+Avenue%2C+Johnston%2C+RI+02919" allowfullscreen> </iframe> </div> </div> <div class="module-spacer clearfix"> <p style="text-align: justify;">Snake Den State Park History :The State of Rhode Island acquired the land, now known as Snake Den State Park in 1969. It is a combination of farm land and woodland and comprises 744 acres. The prior owners were many generations of the Dame family and, before that the Steere family, an old family throughout Johnston and surrounding towns. DEM’s headquarters for the Parks and Recreation Division is housed in a 22 room former farm house of the Palazzi family.The name, Snake Den, derives from a canyon-like stone fissure located in the park. Like other farms in the Johnston area, the stone in the Snake Den outcrop was quarried for building material for Providence. The actual location of the quarry is on that portion of the property once owned by the Waterman family. Its stone was used in the building of the First Congregational Church in Providence, better known as the First Unitarian Church, designed by John Holden Greene, one the Benefit Street landmarks on historic College Hill. The nearby quarry of Bear Ledge provided the incredible columns for the Providence Arcade of 1828.It is thought that several of the farms including the Steere and Waterman farms were once owned by Moses Brown of Providence. Moses, the youngest of the famous four Brown brothers had removed himself from the family shipping business because the ties to the slave trade offended his Quaker sensibilities. While he is most famous for his financial backing of Samuel Slater’s path-breaking development of the American cotton textile industry at Pawtucket Falls in 1791, it was Moses Brown’s farms in Johnston and surrounding towns which provided the rental income to support Slater. On at least one occasion, Brown complained to Slater that his demand for more and more investment money was ‘spinning all my farms into cloth!’The Snake Den State Park was formally headquartered at 2321 Hartford Avenue, Johnston (route 6 to Greenville Avenue), but the Dame Farm portion of the park anchors the Brown Avenue historic district. Many former farms in the postwar era from 1945 until 1960, whose proximity to Providence were converted to suburban tract housing as Providence lost more population to the surrounding towns from 1950 to 1970 on a percentage basis than any other urban area in the country. Providence lost 90,000 residents out of a population of 250,000. Therefore rescuing open space and preserving part of Rhode Island’s farm history in 1969 was a major accomplishment.Except for the continuous improvements to the Dame Farm aspect of the park, the remaining acreage and woodland has been left much as it was when the park was established. An effort in 2005 to turn a portion of the land into a water park for the Providence metropolitan region was rejected by the Town of Johnston on the basis that such an attraction would create traffic congestion for the town. The current park’s plans are for more limited development of picnic areas and playing fields.</p> </div> <div class="reportthis" style="margin-bottom: 20px;"> <form method="post" action="/johnston-ri/report/place/snake-den-state-park-johnston-ri.html"> <button type="submit" class="btn btnregister pull-right" style="margin-bottom: 10px;">Flag This Place</button> </form> </div> <div class="report_button_message">Please use "Flag This Place" to alert us about content that is inappropriate or needs immediate attention. Nothing you submit will be shared with other site visitors. </div> <style> .report_button_message { color: #333; font-size: 12px; clear: both; } </style> </div> </div> </div><div class="module clearfix"><div class="module-spacer tout-homefit-750"> <a data-formelementid="CSN-LOCAL-HC-PLSK-02272024" href="/johnston-ri/home-and-community/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-HC-PLSK-02272024"><img class="img-responsive" alt="Explore the free AARP HomeFit Guide" title="Explore the free AARP HomeFit Guide" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/touts/HomeFit_750x150.png"></a> </div></div></div> <div class="col-md-4 right-rail thin-rhs"><div class="module clearfix"><!--default--> <!-- module_RHS - AARP Events --> <div class="ar-basic-box module-spacer"> <header> <div class="pull-right"> <a href="/johnston-ri/aarp-events/" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-SEEALL-EVENTS"> <img style="width:30px;" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/template/icons/aarp_event_icon.png" alt="Upcoming AARP Events" /> </a> </div> <h2 class="visible-lg">AARP Events for Johnston</h2> <h2 class="hidden-lg">AARP Events for Johnston</h2> </header> <div class="wrap"> <div class="ar-listing snippet"> <ul class="list"> <li class="item" data-pageindex="1"> <h3 class="topic">Featured Event</h3> <h2 class="title"><a href="/aarp-event/fraud-basics-the-scam-landscape-staying-safe-east-providence-ri-111424-1030-am-et-hqn36rll2xd.html" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-EVENTS-SPOTTING-SCAMS-STAYING-SAFE">Spotting Scams & Staying Safe</a></h2> <p class="time">Thursday, Nov 14, 2024 at 10:30 a.m. ET</p> <p class="venue">East Providence Senior Center (Meeting Room)</p> <p class="loc">East Providence, RI</p> </li><li class="item" data-pageindex="1"> <h3 class="topic">Featured Event</h3> <h2 class="title"><a href="/aarp-event/prepare-to-care-tiverton-ri-11162024-200-pm-et-p4n8v85dbrg.html" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-EVENTS-PREPARE-TO-CARE">Prepare to Care</a></h2> <p class="time">Saturday, Nov 16, 2024 at 2:00 p.m. ET</p> <p class="venue">Tiverton Library (Meeting Room)</p> <p class="loc">Tiverton, RI</p> </li><li class="item" data-pageindex="1"> <h3 class="topic">Featured Event</h3> <h2 class="title"><a href="/aarp-event/six-pillars-of-brain-health-east-providence-ri-1232024-1030-am-et-4xnw54cgr59.html" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-EVENTS-THE-SIX-PILLARS-OF-BRAIN-HEALTH">The Six Pillars of Brain Health</a></h2> <p class="time">Tuesday, Dec 3, 2024 at 10:30 a.m. ET</p> <p class="venue">East Providence Senior Center (Meeting Room)</p> <p class="loc">East Providence, RI</p> </li> </ul> <p><a class="link-red" href="/johnston-ri/aarp-events/" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-SEEALL-EVENTS">View All AARP Events<i class="ml-1 fas fa-chevron-right"></i></a></p> </div> </div> </div> <div aria-hidden="true" class="aarpe-ad-wrapper"> <div class="aarpe-ad en clearfix" id="300x250_53475" data-adsize="300x250"> <script type="text/javascript"> if(typeof AARP.ads !== 'undefined'){ AARP.ads.slots({ id:'300x250_53475', size:'300x250'}); } </script> </div> </div> <div class="card-tout card-dark membership-tout" style="margin:0 0 30px 0;"> <img class="img-responsive image" title="image of two AARP membership cards" alt="image of two AARP membership cards" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/tout-two-cards.png"> <div class="title">Only $12 your first year with Automatic Renewal</div> <ul class="list"> <li>Immediate access to your <a href="https://www.aarp.org/benefits-discounts/">member benefits</a></li> <li>Discounts on travel and everyday savings</li> <li>Subscription to AARP The Magazine</li> <li>FREE second membership</li> </ul> <div class="action"> <a class="btn" href="https://appsec.aarp.org/mem/join?campaignid=UAJFT3&intcmp=LNK-CSN-AARPLOCAL-JRTOUT-RR-A-JOHNSTON-RI">Join AARP</a> <div class="body">Already a member? 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It is a combination of farm land and"/> <meta name="twitter:image" content="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/template/thumbs/generic-icon.jpg"/> <meta property="og:type" content="place"/> <meta property="og:title" content="Snake Den State Park"/> <meta property="og:description" content="Snake Den State Park History :The State of Rhode Island acquired the land, now known as Snake Den State Park in 1969. It is a combination of farm land and"/> <meta property="og:image" content="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/template/thumbs/generic-icon.jpg"/> <meta property="place:location:latitude" content="41.830002"/> <meta property="place:location:longitude" content="-71.538696"/> ', 'title_for_layout' => 'Place Detail - AARP' ) $content_for_layout = '<div class="row twoColumnLayout"> <div class="col-md-8 left-rail"><div class="module clearfix"><div class="ar-basic-box"> <div class="module-spacer"> <header><h1 class="article-headline">Snake Den State Park</h1></header> <div class="row"> <div class="col-sm-6 left module-spacer"> <p> <div> <div>2321 Hartford Avenue</div> <div> <span>Johnston</span>, <span>RI</span> <span>02919</span> </div> </div> </p> <div> <i class="fa fa-external-link-square"></i> <a href="http://www.riparks.com/Locations/LocationSnakeDen.html" target="_blank">Snake Den State Park</a> </div> <div><i class="fa fa-phone-square"></i> 401-222-2632</div> </div> <div class="col-sm-6 module-spacer"> <iframe width="100%" height="220" frameborder="0" style="border:0" src="https://www.google.com/maps/embed/v1/place?key=AIzaSyCU5aZylcrTOLke9e3U0F2mXovlZ4bL8yk&q=Snake+Den+State+Park%2C+2321+Hartford+Avenue%2C+Johnston%2C+RI+02919" allowfullscreen> </iframe> </div> </div> <div class="module-spacer clearfix"> <p style="text-align: justify;">Snake Den State Park History :The State of Rhode Island acquired the land, now known as Snake Den State Park in 1969. It is a combination of farm land and woodland and comprises 744 acres. The prior owners were many generations of the Dame family and, before that the Steere family, an old family throughout Johnston and surrounding towns. DEM’s headquarters for the Parks and Recreation Division is housed in a 22 room former farm house of the Palazzi family.The name, Snake Den, derives from a canyon-like stone fissure located in the park. Like other farms in the Johnston area, the stone in the Snake Den outcrop was quarried for building material for Providence. The actual location of the quarry is on that portion of the property once owned by the Waterman family. Its stone was used in the building of the First Congregational Church in Providence, better known as the First Unitarian Church, designed by John Holden Greene, one the Benefit Street landmarks on historic College Hill. The nearby quarry of Bear Ledge provided the incredible columns for the Providence Arcade of 1828.It is thought that several of the farms including the Steere and Waterman farms were once owned by Moses Brown of Providence. Moses, the youngest of the famous four Brown brothers had removed himself from the family shipping business because the ties to the slave trade offended his Quaker sensibilities. While he is most famous for his financial backing of Samuel Slater’s path-breaking development of the American cotton textile industry at Pawtucket Falls in 1791, it was Moses Brown’s farms in Johnston and surrounding towns which provided the rental income to support Slater. On at least one occasion, Brown complained to Slater that his demand for more and more investment money was ‘spinning all my farms into cloth!’The Snake Den State Park was formally headquartered at 2321 Hartford Avenue, Johnston (route 6 to Greenville Avenue), but the Dame Farm portion of the park anchors the Brown Avenue historic district. Many former farms in the postwar era from 1945 until 1960, whose proximity to Providence were converted to suburban tract housing as Providence lost more population to the surrounding towns from 1950 to 1970 on a percentage basis than any other urban area in the country. Providence lost 90,000 residents out of a population of 250,000. Therefore rescuing open space and preserving part of Rhode Island’s farm history in 1969 was a major accomplishment.Except for the continuous improvements to the Dame Farm aspect of the park, the remaining acreage and woodland has been left much as it was when the park was established. An effort in 2005 to turn a portion of the land into a water park for the Providence metropolitan region was rejected by the Town of Johnston on the basis that such an attraction would create traffic congestion for the town. The current park’s plans are for more limited development of picnic areas and playing fields.</p> </div> <div class="reportthis" style="margin-bottom: 20px;"> <form method="post" action="/johnston-ri/report/place/snake-den-state-park-johnston-ri.html"> <button type="submit" class="btn btnregister pull-right" style="margin-bottom: 10px;">Flag This Place</button> </form> </div> <div class="report_button_message">Please use "Flag This Place" to alert us about content that is inappropriate or needs immediate attention. Nothing you submit will be shared with other site visitors. </div> <style> .report_button_message { color: #333; font-size: 12px; clear: both; } </style> </div> </div> </div><div class="module clearfix"><div class="module-spacer tout-homefit-750"> <a data-formelementid="CSN-LOCAL-HC-PLSK-02272024" href="/johnston-ri/home-and-community/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-HC-PLSK-02272024"><img class="img-responsive" alt="Explore the free AARP HomeFit Guide" title="Explore the free AARP HomeFit Guide" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/touts/HomeFit_750x150.png"></a> </div></div></div> <div class="col-md-4 right-rail thin-rhs"><div class="module clearfix"><!--default--> <!-- module_RHS - AARP Events --> <div class="ar-basic-box module-spacer"> <header> <div class="pull-right"> <a href="/johnston-ri/aarp-events/" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-SEEALL-EVENTS"> <img style="width:30px;" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/template/icons/aarp_event_icon.png" alt="Upcoming AARP Events" /> </a> </div> <h2 class="visible-lg">AARP Events for Johnston</h2> <h2 class="hidden-lg">AARP Events for Johnston</h2> </header> <div class="wrap"> <div class="ar-listing snippet"> <ul class="list"> <li class="item" data-pageindex="1"> <h3 class="topic">Featured Event</h3> <h2 class="title"><a href="/aarp-event/fraud-basics-the-scam-landscape-staying-safe-east-providence-ri-111424-1030-am-et-hqn36rll2xd.html" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-EVENTS-SPOTTING-SCAMS-STAYING-SAFE">Spotting Scams & Staying Safe</a></h2> <p class="time">Thursday, Nov 14, 2024 at 10:30 a.m. ET</p> <p class="venue">East Providence Senior Center (Meeting Room)</p> <p class="loc">East Providence, RI</p> </li><li class="item" data-pageindex="1"> <h3 class="topic">Featured Event</h3> <h2 class="title"><a href="/aarp-event/prepare-to-care-tiverton-ri-11162024-200-pm-et-p4n8v85dbrg.html" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-EVENTS-PREPARE-TO-CARE">Prepare to Care</a></h2> <p class="time">Saturday, Nov 16, 2024 at 2:00 p.m. ET</p> <p class="venue">Tiverton Library (Meeting Room)</p> <p class="loc">Tiverton, RI</p> </li><li class="item" data-pageindex="1"> <h3 class="topic">Featured Event</h3> <h2 class="title"><a href="/aarp-event/six-pillars-of-brain-health-east-providence-ri-1232024-1030-am-et-4xnw54cgr59.html" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-EVENTS-THE-SIX-PILLARS-OF-BRAIN-HEALTH">The Six Pillars of Brain Health</a></h2> <p class="time">Tuesday, Dec 3, 2024 at 10:30 a.m. ET</p> <p class="venue">East Providence Senior Center (Meeting Room)</p> <p class="loc">East Providence, RI</p> </li> </ul> <p><a class="link-red" href="/johnston-ri/aarp-events/" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-SEEALL-EVENTS">View All AARP Events<i class="ml-1 fas fa-chevron-right"></i></a></p> </div> </div> </div> <div aria-hidden="true" class="aarpe-ad-wrapper"> <div class="aarpe-ad en clearfix" id="300x250_53475" data-adsize="300x250"> <script type="text/javascript"> if(typeof AARP.ads !== 'undefined'){ AARP.ads.slots({ id:'300x250_53475', size:'300x250'}); } </script> </div> </div> <div class="card-tout card-dark membership-tout" style="margin:0 0 30px 0;"> <img class="img-responsive image" title="image of two AARP membership cards" alt="image of two AARP membership cards" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/tout-two-cards.png"> <div class="title">Only $12 your first year with Automatic Renewal</div> <ul class="list"> <li>Immediate access to your <a href="https://www.aarp.org/benefits-discounts/">member benefits</a></li> <li>Discounts on travel and everyday savings</li> <li>Subscription to AARP The Magazine</li> <li>FREE second membership</li> </ul> <div class="action"> <a class="btn" href="https://appsec.aarp.org/mem/join?campaignid=UAJFT3&intcmp=LNK-CSN-AARPLOCAL-JRTOUT-RR-A-JOHNSTON-RI">Join AARP</a> <div class="body">Already a member? <a href="https://appsec.aarp.org/mem/renew?campaignid= UARFT3&intcmp=LNK-CSN-AARPLOCAL-JRTOUT-RR-A-JOHNSTON-RI">Renew</a> or <a href="https://www.aarp.org/benefits-discounts/my-membership/print-your-card/">Print Card</a></div> </div> </div> <style> .membership-tout {padding:16px 20px;} .membership-tout .list li { margin: 0; } </style> <div aria-hidden="true" class="aarpe-ad-wrapper"> <div class="aarpe-ad en clearfix" id="300x250_93505" data-adsize="300x250"> <script type="text/javascript"> if(typeof AARP.ads !== 'undefined'){ AARP.ads.slots({ id:'300x250_93505', size:'300x250'}); } </script> </div> </div> <div class="module-spacer text-center"> <div class="fb-page" alt="Image of AARP Rhode Island Facebook Page" title="Image of AARP Rhode Island Facebook Page" data-href="https://www.facebook.com/AARPRI" data-tabs="timeline" width="320" height="" data-small-header="false" data-adapt-container-width="true" data-hide-cover="false" data-show-facepile="true" lazy="true"> <blockquote cite="https://www.facebook.com/AARPRI" class="fb-xfbml-parse-ignore"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/AARPRI">Facebook</a></blockquote> </div> </div> <div class="ar-basic-box module-spacer"> <header> <h2>Contact AARP<br />Rhode Island</h2> </header> <div class="wrap"> <div class="ar-quick-list module-spacer"> <ul class="list-unstyled"> <li><i class="list-icon fa fa-envelope" alt="Email icon" title="Email icon" aria-hidden="true"></i><a href="mailto:RIAARP@aarp.org " target="_blank" rel="noopener">RIAARP@aarp.org </a></li> <li><i class="list-icon fa fa-globe" alt="Globe icon" title="Globe icon" aria-hidden="true"></i><a href="https://states.aarp.org/region/rhode-island/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">AARP Rhode Island</a></li> <li><i class="list-icon fa fa-map-marker" alt="Map Marker icon" title="Map Marker icon" aria-hidden="true"></i><a href="https://states.aarp.org/contact/?intcmp=SNG-LNK-AARPLOCAL-CONTACT-20140101-JOHNSTON-RI" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Contact Us</a></li> </ul> </div> <a href="https://www.facebook.com/AARPRI" target="_blank" rel="noopener" aria-label="Open Facebook"><img alt="Facebook icon" title="Facebook icon" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/responsive/icons/48/facebook-dreamstale25.png"></a> <a href="https://twitter.com/aarpRI" target="_blank" rel="noopener" aria-label="Open Twitter"><img alt="Twitter icon" title="Twitter icon" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/responsive/icons/48/x-logo-black.png"></a> </div> </div> </div></div> <div class="col-md-8 left-rail left-bot"></div> <div class="col-md-4 right-rail right-bot thin-rhs"></div> </div> <div class="row oneColumnLayout"> </div> <div class="row oneColumnLayout"> <div class="col-md-12"><!-- script to activate navbar --> <script type="text/javascript"> jQuery(".channelBarMain ul.left li a").click(function() { window.location = jQuery(this).attr('href'); }); </script> </div> </div> ' $scripts_for_layout = '<title>Snake Den State Park - Johnston, RI</title> <meta name="page_title" content="Snake Den State Park - Johnston, RI"/> <meta name="robots" content="noindex, nofollow"/> <meta content="Snake Den State Park History :The State of Rhode Island acquired the land, now known as Snake Den State Park in 1969. 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Warning (2): include() [<a href='http://php.net/function.include'>function.include</a>]: Failed opening '/var/www/vhosts/vcc_staging/app/Resource/aarp2_master.resource.root.html' for inclusion (include_path='/var/www/vhosts/vcc_staging/lib:.:/usr/share/pear:/usr/share/php') [APP/View/Layouts/aarp_2023.ctp, line 54]Code Context<?php if (!$nowrapper): // MLW - Spanish wrappers TBD
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$viewFile = '/var/www/vhosts/vcc_staging/app/View/Layouts/aarp_2023.ctp' $dataForView = array( 'content_for_layout' => '<div class="row twoColumnLayout"> <div class="col-md-8 left-rail"><div class="module clearfix"><div class="ar-basic-box"> <div class="module-spacer"> <header><h1 class="article-headline">Snake Den State Park</h1></header> <div class="row"> <div class="col-sm-6 left module-spacer"> <p> <div> <div>2321 Hartford Avenue</div> <div> <span>Johnston</span>, <span>RI</span> <span>02919</span> </div> </div> </p> <div> <i class="fa fa-external-link-square"></i> <a href="http://www.riparks.com/Locations/LocationSnakeDen.html" target="_blank">Snake Den State Park</a> </div> <div><i class="fa fa-phone-square"></i> 401-222-2632</div> </div> <div class="col-sm-6 module-spacer"> <iframe width="100%" height="220" frameborder="0" style="border:0" src="https://www.google.com/maps/embed/v1/place?key=AIzaSyCU5aZylcrTOLke9e3U0F2mXovlZ4bL8yk&q=Snake+Den+State+Park%2C+2321+Hartford+Avenue%2C+Johnston%2C+RI+02919" allowfullscreen> </iframe> </div> </div> <div class="module-spacer clearfix"> <p style="text-align: justify;">Snake Den State Park History :The State of Rhode Island acquired the land, now known as Snake Den State Park in 1969. It is a combination of farm land and woodland and comprises 744 acres. The prior owners were many generations of the Dame family and, before that the Steere family, an old family throughout Johnston and surrounding towns. DEM’s headquarters for the Parks and Recreation Division is housed in a 22 room former farm house of the Palazzi family.The name, Snake Den, derives from a canyon-like stone fissure located in the park. Like other farms in the Johnston area, the stone in the Snake Den outcrop was quarried for building material for Providence. The actual location of the quarry is on that portion of the property once owned by the Waterman family. Its stone was used in the building of the First Congregational Church in Providence, better known as the First Unitarian Church, designed by John Holden Greene, one the Benefit Street landmarks on historic College Hill. The nearby quarry of Bear Ledge provided the incredible columns for the Providence Arcade of 1828.It is thought that several of the farms including the Steere and Waterman farms were once owned by Moses Brown of Providence. Moses, the youngest of the famous four Brown brothers had removed himself from the family shipping business because the ties to the slave trade offended his Quaker sensibilities. While he is most famous for his financial backing of Samuel Slater’s path-breaking development of the American cotton textile industry at Pawtucket Falls in 1791, it was Moses Brown’s farms in Johnston and surrounding towns which provided the rental income to support Slater. On at least one occasion, Brown complained to Slater that his demand for more and more investment money was ‘spinning all my farms into cloth!’The Snake Den State Park was formally headquartered at 2321 Hartford Avenue, Johnston (route 6 to Greenville Avenue), but the Dame Farm portion of the park anchors the Brown Avenue historic district. Many former farms in the postwar era from 1945 until 1960, whose proximity to Providence were converted to suburban tract housing as Providence lost more population to the surrounding towns from 1950 to 1970 on a percentage basis than any other urban area in the country. Providence lost 90,000 residents out of a population of 250,000. Therefore rescuing open space and preserving part of Rhode Island’s farm history in 1969 was a major accomplishment.Except for the continuous improvements to the Dame Farm aspect of the park, the remaining acreage and woodland has been left much as it was when the park was established. An effort in 2005 to turn a portion of the land into a water park for the Providence metropolitan region was rejected by the Town of Johnston on the basis that such an attraction would create traffic congestion for the town. The current park’s plans are for more limited development of picnic areas and playing fields.</p> </div> <div class="reportthis" style="margin-bottom: 20px;"> <form method="post" action="/johnston-ri/report/place/snake-den-state-park-johnston-ri.html"> <button type="submit" class="btn btnregister pull-right" style="margin-bottom: 10px;">Flag This Place</button> </form> </div> <div class="report_button_message">Please use "Flag This Place" to alert us about content that is inappropriate or needs immediate attention. Nothing you submit will be shared with other site visitors. </div> <style> .report_button_message { color: #333; font-size: 12px; clear: both; } </style> </div> </div> </div><div class="module clearfix"><div class="module-spacer tout-homefit-750"> <a data-formelementid="CSN-LOCAL-HC-PLSK-02272024" href="/johnston-ri/home-and-community/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-HC-PLSK-02272024"><img class="img-responsive" alt="Explore the free AARP HomeFit Guide" title="Explore the free AARP HomeFit Guide" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/touts/HomeFit_750x150.png"></a> </div></div></div> <div class="col-md-4 right-rail thin-rhs"><div class="module clearfix"><!--default--> <!-- module_RHS - AARP Events --> <div class="ar-basic-box module-spacer"> <header> <div class="pull-right"> <a href="/johnston-ri/aarp-events/" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-SEEALL-EVENTS"> <img style="width:30px;" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/template/icons/aarp_event_icon.png" alt="Upcoming AARP Events" /> </a> </div> <h2 class="visible-lg">AARP Events for Johnston</h2> <h2 class="hidden-lg">AARP Events for Johnston</h2> </header> <div class="wrap"> <div class="ar-listing snippet"> <ul class="list"> <li class="item" data-pageindex="1"> <h3 class="topic">Featured Event</h3> <h2 class="title"><a href="/aarp-event/fraud-basics-the-scam-landscape-staying-safe-east-providence-ri-111424-1030-am-et-hqn36rll2xd.html" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-EVENTS-SPOTTING-SCAMS-STAYING-SAFE">Spotting Scams & Staying Safe</a></h2> <p class="time">Thursday, Nov 14, 2024 at 10:30 a.m. ET</p> <p class="venue">East Providence Senior Center (Meeting Room)</p> <p class="loc">East Providence, RI</p> </li><li class="item" data-pageindex="1"> <h3 class="topic">Featured Event</h3> <h2 class="title"><a href="/aarp-event/prepare-to-care-tiverton-ri-11162024-200-pm-et-p4n8v85dbrg.html" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-EVENTS-PREPARE-TO-CARE">Prepare to Care</a></h2> <p class="time">Saturday, Nov 16, 2024 at 2:00 p.m. ET</p> <p class="venue">Tiverton Library (Meeting Room)</p> <p class="loc">Tiverton, RI</p> </li><li class="item" data-pageindex="1"> <h3 class="topic">Featured Event</h3> <h2 class="title"><a href="/aarp-event/six-pillars-of-brain-health-east-providence-ri-1232024-1030-am-et-4xnw54cgr59.html" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-EVENTS-THE-SIX-PILLARS-OF-BRAIN-HEALTH">The Six Pillars of Brain Health</a></h2> <p class="time">Tuesday, Dec 3, 2024 at 10:30 a.m. ET</p> <p class="venue">East Providence Senior Center (Meeting Room)</p> <p class="loc">East Providence, RI</p> </li> </ul> <p><a class="link-red" href="/johnston-ri/aarp-events/" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-SEEALL-EVENTS">View All AARP Events<i class="ml-1 fas fa-chevron-right"></i></a></p> </div> </div> </div> <div aria-hidden="true" class="aarpe-ad-wrapper"> <div class="aarpe-ad en clearfix" id="300x250_53475" data-adsize="300x250"> <script type="text/javascript"> if(typeof AARP.ads !== 'undefined'){ AARP.ads.slots({ id:'300x250_53475', size:'300x250'}); } </script> </div> </div> <div class="card-tout card-dark membership-tout" style="margin:0 0 30px 0;"> <img class="img-responsive image" title="image of two AARP membership cards" alt="image of two AARP membership cards" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/tout-two-cards.png"> <div class="title">Only $12 your first year with Automatic Renewal</div> <ul class="list"> <li>Immediate access to your <a href="https://www.aarp.org/benefits-discounts/">member benefits</a></li> <li>Discounts on travel and everyday savings</li> <li>Subscription to AARP The Magazine</li> <li>FREE second membership</li> </ul> <div class="action"> <a class="btn" href="https://appsec.aarp.org/mem/join?campaignid=UAJFT3&intcmp=LNK-CSN-AARPLOCAL-JRTOUT-RR-A-JOHNSTON-RI">Join AARP</a> <div class="body">Already a member? <a href="https://appsec.aarp.org/mem/renew?campaignid= UARFT3&intcmp=LNK-CSN-AARPLOCAL-JRTOUT-RR-A-JOHNSTON-RI">Renew</a> or <a href="https://www.aarp.org/benefits-discounts/my-membership/print-your-card/">Print Card</a></div> </div> </div> <style> .membership-tout {padding:16px 20px;} .membership-tout .list li { margin: 0; } </style> <div aria-hidden="true" class="aarpe-ad-wrapper"> <div class="aarpe-ad en clearfix" id="300x250_93505" data-adsize="300x250"> <script type="text/javascript"> if(typeof AARP.ads !== 'undefined'){ AARP.ads.slots({ id:'300x250_93505', size:'300x250'}); } </script> </div> </div> <div class="module-spacer text-center"> <div class="fb-page" alt="Image of AARP Rhode Island Facebook Page" title="Image of AARP Rhode Island Facebook Page" data-href="https://www.facebook.com/AARPRI" data-tabs="timeline" width="320" height="" data-small-header="false" data-adapt-container-width="true" data-hide-cover="false" data-show-facepile="true" lazy="true"> <blockquote cite="https://www.facebook.com/AARPRI" class="fb-xfbml-parse-ignore"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/AARPRI">Facebook</a></blockquote> </div> </div> <div class="ar-basic-box module-spacer"> <header> <h2>Contact AARP<br />Rhode Island</h2> </header> <div class="wrap"> <div class="ar-quick-list module-spacer"> <ul class="list-unstyled"> <li><i class="list-icon fa fa-envelope" alt="Email icon" title="Email icon" aria-hidden="true"></i><a href="mailto:RIAARP@aarp.org " target="_blank" rel="noopener">RIAARP@aarp.org </a></li> <li><i class="list-icon fa fa-globe" alt="Globe icon" title="Globe icon" aria-hidden="true"></i><a href="https://states.aarp.org/region/rhode-island/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">AARP Rhode Island</a></li> <li><i class="list-icon fa fa-map-marker" alt="Map Marker icon" title="Map Marker icon" aria-hidden="true"></i><a href="https://states.aarp.org/contact/?intcmp=SNG-LNK-AARPLOCAL-CONTACT-20140101-JOHNSTON-RI" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Contact Us</a></li> </ul> </div> <a href="https://www.facebook.com/AARPRI" target="_blank" rel="noopener" aria-label="Open Facebook"><img alt="Facebook icon" title="Facebook icon" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/responsive/icons/48/facebook-dreamstale25.png"></a> <a href="https://twitter.com/aarpRI" target="_blank" rel="noopener" aria-label="Open Twitter"><img alt="Twitter icon" title="Twitter icon" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/responsive/icons/48/x-logo-black.png"></a> </div> </div> </div></div> <div class="col-md-8 left-rail left-bot"></div> <div class="col-md-4 right-rail right-bot thin-rhs"></div> </div> <div class="row oneColumnLayout"> </div> <div class="row oneColumnLayout"> <div class="col-md-12"><!-- script to activate navbar --> <script type="text/javascript"> jQuery(".channelBarMain ul.left li a").click(function() { window.location = jQuery(this).attr('href'); }); </script> </div> </div> ', 'scripts_for_layout' => '<title>Snake Den State Park - Johnston, RI</title> <meta name="page_title" content="Snake Den State Park - Johnston, RI"/> <meta name="robots" content="noindex, nofollow"/> <meta content="Snake Den State Park History :The State of Rhode Island acquired the land, now known as Snake Den State Park in 1969. It is a combination of farm land and" name="description"/> <meta content="Snake, Den, State, Park, Johnston, RI" name="keywords"/> <link rel="canonical" href="https://www.americantowns.com/place/snake-den-state-park-johnston-ri.html" /> <meta property="og:url" content="https://vccstaging.local.aarp.org/place/snake-den-state-park-johnston-ri.html"/> <meta name="twitter:card" content="summary_large_image"/> <meta name="twitter:title" content="Snake Den State Park"/> <meta name="twitter:description" content="Snake Den State Park History :The State of Rhode Island acquired the land, now known as Snake Den State Park in 1969. It is a combination of farm land and"/> <meta name="twitter:image" content="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/template/thumbs/generic-icon.jpg"/> <meta property="og:type" content="place"/> <meta property="og:title" content="Snake Den State Park"/> <meta property="og:description" content="Snake Den State Park History :The State of Rhode Island acquired the land, now known as Snake Den State Park in 1969. It is a combination of farm land and"/> <meta property="og:image" content="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/template/thumbs/generic-icon.jpg"/> <meta property="place:location:latitude" content="41.830002"/> <meta property="place:location:longitude" content="-71.538696"/> ', 'title_for_layout' => 'Place Detail - AARP' ) $content_for_layout = '<div class="row twoColumnLayout"> <div class="col-md-8 left-rail"><div class="module clearfix"><div class="ar-basic-box"> <div class="module-spacer"> <header><h1 class="article-headline">Snake Den State Park</h1></header> <div class="row"> <div class="col-sm-6 left module-spacer"> <p> <div> <div>2321 Hartford Avenue</div> <div> <span>Johnston</span>, <span>RI</span> <span>02919</span> </div> </div> </p> <div> <i class="fa fa-external-link-square"></i> <a href="http://www.riparks.com/Locations/LocationSnakeDen.html" target="_blank">Snake Den State Park</a> </div> <div><i class="fa fa-phone-square"></i> 401-222-2632</div> </div> <div class="col-sm-6 module-spacer"> <iframe width="100%" height="220" frameborder="0" style="border:0" src="https://www.google.com/maps/embed/v1/place?key=AIzaSyCU5aZylcrTOLke9e3U0F2mXovlZ4bL8yk&q=Snake+Den+State+Park%2C+2321+Hartford+Avenue%2C+Johnston%2C+RI+02919" allowfullscreen> </iframe> </div> </div> <div class="module-spacer clearfix"> <p style="text-align: justify;">Snake Den State Park History :The State of Rhode Island acquired the land, now known as Snake Den State Park in 1969. It is a combination of farm land and woodland and comprises 744 acres. The prior owners were many generations of the Dame family and, before that the Steere family, an old family throughout Johnston and surrounding towns. DEM’s headquarters for the Parks and Recreation Division is housed in a 22 room former farm house of the Palazzi family.The name, Snake Den, derives from a canyon-like stone fissure located in the park. Like other farms in the Johnston area, the stone in the Snake Den outcrop was quarried for building material for Providence. The actual location of the quarry is on that portion of the property once owned by the Waterman family. Its stone was used in the building of the First Congregational Church in Providence, better known as the First Unitarian Church, designed by John Holden Greene, one the Benefit Street landmarks on historic College Hill. The nearby quarry of Bear Ledge provided the incredible columns for the Providence Arcade of 1828.It is thought that several of the farms including the Steere and Waterman farms were once owned by Moses Brown of Providence. Moses, the youngest of the famous four Brown brothers had removed himself from the family shipping business because the ties to the slave trade offended his Quaker sensibilities. While he is most famous for his financial backing of Samuel Slater’s path-breaking development of the American cotton textile industry at Pawtucket Falls in 1791, it was Moses Brown’s farms in Johnston and surrounding towns which provided the rental income to support Slater. On at least one occasion, Brown complained to Slater that his demand for more and more investment money was ‘spinning all my farms into cloth!’The Snake Den State Park was formally headquartered at 2321 Hartford Avenue, Johnston (route 6 to Greenville Avenue), but the Dame Farm portion of the park anchors the Brown Avenue historic district. Many former farms in the postwar era from 1945 until 1960, whose proximity to Providence were converted to suburban tract housing as Providence lost more population to the surrounding towns from 1950 to 1970 on a percentage basis than any other urban area in the country. Providence lost 90,000 residents out of a population of 250,000. Therefore rescuing open space and preserving part of Rhode Island’s farm history in 1969 was a major accomplishment.Except for the continuous improvements to the Dame Farm aspect of the park, the remaining acreage and woodland has been left much as it was when the park was established. An effort in 2005 to turn a portion of the land into a water park for the Providence metropolitan region was rejected by the Town of Johnston on the basis that such an attraction would create traffic congestion for the town. The current park’s plans are for more limited development of picnic areas and playing fields.</p> </div> <div class="reportthis" style="margin-bottom: 20px;"> <form method="post" action="/johnston-ri/report/place/snake-den-state-park-johnston-ri.html"> <button type="submit" class="btn btnregister pull-right" style="margin-bottom: 10px;">Flag This Place</button> </form> </div> <div class="report_button_message">Please use "Flag This Place" to alert us about content that is inappropriate or needs immediate attention. Nothing you submit will be shared with other site visitors. </div> <style> .report_button_message { color: #333; font-size: 12px; clear: both; } </style> </div> </div> </div><div class="module clearfix"><div class="module-spacer tout-homefit-750"> <a data-formelementid="CSN-LOCAL-HC-PLSK-02272024" href="/johnston-ri/home-and-community/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-HC-PLSK-02272024"><img class="img-responsive" alt="Explore the free AARP HomeFit Guide" title="Explore the free AARP HomeFit Guide" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/touts/HomeFit_750x150.png"></a> </div></div></div> <div class="col-md-4 right-rail thin-rhs"><div class="module clearfix"><!--default--> <!-- module_RHS - AARP Events --> <div class="ar-basic-box module-spacer"> <header> <div class="pull-right"> <a href="/johnston-ri/aarp-events/" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-SEEALL-EVENTS"> <img style="width:30px;" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/template/icons/aarp_event_icon.png" alt="Upcoming AARP Events" /> </a> </div> <h2 class="visible-lg">AARP Events for Johnston</h2> <h2 class="hidden-lg">AARP Events for Johnston</h2> </header> <div class="wrap"> <div class="ar-listing snippet"> <ul class="list"> <li class="item" data-pageindex="1"> <h3 class="topic">Featured Event</h3> <h2 class="title"><a href="/aarp-event/fraud-basics-the-scam-landscape-staying-safe-east-providence-ri-111424-1030-am-et-hqn36rll2xd.html" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-EVENTS-SPOTTING-SCAMS-STAYING-SAFE">Spotting Scams & Staying Safe</a></h2> <p class="time">Thursday, Nov 14, 2024 at 10:30 a.m. ET</p> <p class="venue">East Providence Senior Center (Meeting Room)</p> <p class="loc">East Providence, RI</p> </li><li class="item" data-pageindex="1"> <h3 class="topic">Featured Event</h3> <h2 class="title"><a href="/aarp-event/prepare-to-care-tiverton-ri-11162024-200-pm-et-p4n8v85dbrg.html" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-EVENTS-PREPARE-TO-CARE">Prepare to Care</a></h2> <p class="time">Saturday, Nov 16, 2024 at 2:00 p.m. ET</p> <p class="venue">Tiverton Library (Meeting Room)</p> <p class="loc">Tiverton, RI</p> </li><li class="item" data-pageindex="1"> <h3 class="topic">Featured Event</h3> <h2 class="title"><a href="/aarp-event/six-pillars-of-brain-health-east-providence-ri-1232024-1030-am-et-4xnw54cgr59.html" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-EVENTS-THE-SIX-PILLARS-OF-BRAIN-HEALTH">The Six Pillars of Brain Health</a></h2> <p class="time">Tuesday, Dec 3, 2024 at 10:30 a.m. ET</p> <p class="venue">East Providence Senior Center (Meeting Room)</p> <p class="loc">East Providence, RI</p> </li> </ul> <p><a class="link-red" href="/johnston-ri/aarp-events/" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-SEEALL-EVENTS">View All AARP Events<i class="ml-1 fas fa-chevron-right"></i></a></p> </div> </div> </div> <div aria-hidden="true" class="aarpe-ad-wrapper"> <div class="aarpe-ad en clearfix" id="300x250_53475" data-adsize="300x250"> <script type="text/javascript"> if(typeof AARP.ads !== 'undefined'){ AARP.ads.slots({ id:'300x250_53475', size:'300x250'}); } </script> </div> </div> <div class="card-tout card-dark membership-tout" style="margin:0 0 30px 0;"> <img class="img-responsive image" title="image of two AARP membership cards" alt="image of two AARP membership cards" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/tout-two-cards.png"> <div class="title">Only $12 your first year with Automatic Renewal</div> <ul class="list"> <li>Immediate access to your <a href="https://www.aarp.org/benefits-discounts/">member benefits</a></li> <li>Discounts on travel and everyday savings</li> <li>Subscription to AARP The Magazine</li> <li>FREE second membership</li> </ul> <div class="action"> <a class="btn" href="https://appsec.aarp.org/mem/join?campaignid=UAJFT3&intcmp=LNK-CSN-AARPLOCAL-JRTOUT-RR-A-JOHNSTON-RI">Join AARP</a> <div class="body">Already a member? 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Snake Den State Park History :The State of Rhode Island acquired the land, now known as Snake Den State Park in 1969. It is a combination of farm land and woodland and comprises 744 acres. The prior owners were many generations of the Dame family and, before that the Steere family, an old family throughout Johnston and surrounding towns. DEM’s headquarters for the Parks and Recreation Division is housed in a 22 room former farm house of the Palazzi family.The name, Snake Den, derives from a canyon-like stone fissure located in the park. Like other farms in the Johnston area, the stone in the Snake Den outcrop was quarried for building material for Providence. The actual location of the quarry is on that portion of the property once owned by the Waterman family. Its stone was used in the building of the First Congregational Church in Providence, better known as the First Unitarian Church, designed by John Holden Greene, one the Benefit Street landmarks on historic College Hill. The nearby quarry of Bear Ledge provided the incredible columns for the Providence Arcade of 1828.It is thought that several of the farms including the Steere and Waterman farms were once owned by Moses Brown of Providence. Moses, the youngest of the famous four Brown brothers had removed himself from the family shipping business because the ties to the slave trade offended his Quaker sensibilities. While he is most famous for his financial backing of Samuel Slater’s path-breaking development of the American cotton textile industry at Pawtucket Falls in 1791, it was Moses Brown’s farms in Johnston and surrounding towns which provided the rental income to support Slater. On at least one occasion, Brown complained to Slater that his demand for more and more investment money was ‘spinning all my farms into cloth!’The Snake Den State Park was formally headquartered at 2321 Hartford Avenue, Johnston (route 6 to Greenville Avenue), but the Dame Farm portion of the park anchors the Brown Avenue historic district. Many former farms in the postwar era from 1945 until 1960, whose proximity to Providence were converted to suburban tract housing as Providence lost more population to the surrounding towns from 1950 to 1970 on a percentage basis than any other urban area in the country. Providence lost 90,000 residents out of a population of 250,000. Therefore rescuing open space and preserving part of Rhode Island’s farm history in 1969 was a major accomplishment.Except for the continuous improvements to the Dame Farm aspect of the park, the remaining acreage and woodland has been left much as it was when the park was established. An effort in 2005 to turn a portion of the land into a water park for the Providence metropolitan region was rejected by the Town of Johnston on the basis that such an attraction would create traffic congestion for the town. The current park’s plans are for more limited development of picnic areas and playing fields.
Thursday, Nov 14, 2024 at 10:30 a.m. ET
East Providence Senior Center (Meeting Room)
East Providence, RI
Saturday, Nov 16, 2024 at 2:00 p.m. ET
Tiverton Library (Meeting Room)
Tiverton, RI
Tuesday, Dec 3, 2024 at 10:30 a.m. ET
East Providence Senior Center (Meeting Room)
East Providence, RI
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$viewFile = '/var/www/vhosts/vcc_staging/app/View/Layouts/aarp_2023.ctp' $dataForView = array( 'content_for_layout' => '<div class="row twoColumnLayout"> <div class="col-md-8 left-rail"><div class="module clearfix"><div class="ar-basic-box"> <div class="module-spacer"> <header><h1 class="article-headline">Snake Den State Park</h1></header> <div class="row"> <div class="col-sm-6 left module-spacer"> <p> <div> <div>2321 Hartford Avenue</div> <div> <span>Johnston</span>, <span>RI</span> <span>02919</span> </div> </div> </p> <div> <i class="fa fa-external-link-square"></i> <a href="http://www.riparks.com/Locations/LocationSnakeDen.html" target="_blank">Snake Den State Park</a> </div> <div><i class="fa fa-phone-square"></i> 401-222-2632</div> </div> <div class="col-sm-6 module-spacer"> <iframe width="100%" height="220" frameborder="0" style="border:0" src="https://www.google.com/maps/embed/v1/place?key=AIzaSyCU5aZylcrTOLke9e3U0F2mXovlZ4bL8yk&q=Snake+Den+State+Park%2C+2321+Hartford+Avenue%2C+Johnston%2C+RI+02919" allowfullscreen> </iframe> </div> </div> <div class="module-spacer clearfix"> <p style="text-align: justify;">Snake Den State Park History :The State of Rhode Island acquired the land, now known as Snake Den State Park in 1969. It is a combination of farm land and woodland and comprises 744 acres. The prior owners were many generations of the Dame family and, before that the Steere family, an old family throughout Johnston and surrounding towns. DEM’s headquarters for the Parks and Recreation Division is housed in a 22 room former farm house of the Palazzi family.The name, Snake Den, derives from a canyon-like stone fissure located in the park. Like other farms in the Johnston area, the stone in the Snake Den outcrop was quarried for building material for Providence. The actual location of the quarry is on that portion of the property once owned by the Waterman family. Its stone was used in the building of the First Congregational Church in Providence, better known as the First Unitarian Church, designed by John Holden Greene, one the Benefit Street landmarks on historic College Hill. The nearby quarry of Bear Ledge provided the incredible columns for the Providence Arcade of 1828.It is thought that several of the farms including the Steere and Waterman farms were once owned by Moses Brown of Providence. Moses, the youngest of the famous four Brown brothers had removed himself from the family shipping business because the ties to the slave trade offended his Quaker sensibilities. While he is most famous for his financial backing of Samuel Slater’s path-breaking development of the American cotton textile industry at Pawtucket Falls in 1791, it was Moses Brown’s farms in Johnston and surrounding towns which provided the rental income to support Slater. On at least one occasion, Brown complained to Slater that his demand for more and more investment money was ‘spinning all my farms into cloth!’The Snake Den State Park was formally headquartered at 2321 Hartford Avenue, Johnston (route 6 to Greenville Avenue), but the Dame Farm portion of the park anchors the Brown Avenue historic district. Many former farms in the postwar era from 1945 until 1960, whose proximity to Providence were converted to suburban tract housing as Providence lost more population to the surrounding towns from 1950 to 1970 on a percentage basis than any other urban area in the country. Providence lost 90,000 residents out of a population of 250,000. Therefore rescuing open space and preserving part of Rhode Island’s farm history in 1969 was a major accomplishment.Except for the continuous improvements to the Dame Farm aspect of the park, the remaining acreage and woodland has been left much as it was when the park was established. An effort in 2005 to turn a portion of the land into a water park for the Providence metropolitan region was rejected by the Town of Johnston on the basis that such an attraction would create traffic congestion for the town. The current park’s plans are for more limited development of picnic areas and playing fields.</p> </div> <div class="reportthis" style="margin-bottom: 20px;"> <form method="post" action="/johnston-ri/report/place/snake-den-state-park-johnston-ri.html"> <button type="submit" class="btn btnregister pull-right" style="margin-bottom: 10px;">Flag This Place</button> </form> </div> <div class="report_button_message">Please use "Flag This Place" to alert us about content that is inappropriate or needs immediate attention. Nothing you submit will be shared with other site visitors. </div> <style> .report_button_message { color: #333; font-size: 12px; clear: both; } </style> </div> </div> </div><div class="module clearfix"><div class="module-spacer tout-homefit-750"> <a data-formelementid="CSN-LOCAL-HC-PLSK-02272024" href="/johnston-ri/home-and-community/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-HC-PLSK-02272024"><img class="img-responsive" alt="Explore the free AARP HomeFit Guide" title="Explore the free AARP HomeFit Guide" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/touts/HomeFit_750x150.png"></a> </div></div></div> <div class="col-md-4 right-rail thin-rhs"><div class="module clearfix"><!--default--> <!-- module_RHS - AARP Events --> <div class="ar-basic-box module-spacer"> <header> <div class="pull-right"> <a href="/johnston-ri/aarp-events/" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-SEEALL-EVENTS"> <img style="width:30px;" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/template/icons/aarp_event_icon.png" alt="Upcoming AARP Events" /> </a> </div> <h2 class="visible-lg">AARP Events for Johnston</h2> <h2 class="hidden-lg">AARP Events for Johnston</h2> </header> <div class="wrap"> <div class="ar-listing snippet"> <ul class="list"> <li class="item" data-pageindex="1"> <h3 class="topic">Featured Event</h3> <h2 class="title"><a href="/aarp-event/fraud-basics-the-scam-landscape-staying-safe-east-providence-ri-111424-1030-am-et-hqn36rll2xd.html" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-EVENTS-SPOTTING-SCAMS-STAYING-SAFE">Spotting Scams & Staying Safe</a></h2> <p class="time">Thursday, Nov 14, 2024 at 10:30 a.m. ET</p> <p class="venue">East Providence Senior Center (Meeting Room)</p> <p class="loc">East Providence, RI</p> </li><li class="item" data-pageindex="1"> <h3 class="topic">Featured Event</h3> <h2 class="title"><a href="/aarp-event/prepare-to-care-tiverton-ri-11162024-200-pm-et-p4n8v85dbrg.html" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-EVENTS-PREPARE-TO-CARE">Prepare to Care</a></h2> <p class="time">Saturday, Nov 16, 2024 at 2:00 p.m. ET</p> <p class="venue">Tiverton Library (Meeting Room)</p> <p class="loc">Tiverton, RI</p> </li><li class="item" data-pageindex="1"> <h3 class="topic">Featured Event</h3> <h2 class="title"><a href="/aarp-event/six-pillars-of-brain-health-east-providence-ri-1232024-1030-am-et-4xnw54cgr59.html" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-EVENTS-THE-SIX-PILLARS-OF-BRAIN-HEALTH">The Six Pillars of Brain Health</a></h2> <p class="time">Tuesday, Dec 3, 2024 at 10:30 a.m. ET</p> <p class="venue">East Providence Senior Center (Meeting Room)</p> <p class="loc">East Providence, RI</p> </li> </ul> <p><a class="link-red" href="/johnston-ri/aarp-events/" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-SEEALL-EVENTS">View All AARP Events<i class="ml-1 fas fa-chevron-right"></i></a></p> </div> </div> </div> <div aria-hidden="true" class="aarpe-ad-wrapper"> <div class="aarpe-ad en clearfix" id="300x250_53475" data-adsize="300x250"> <script type="text/javascript"> if(typeof AARP.ads !== 'undefined'){ AARP.ads.slots({ id:'300x250_53475', size:'300x250'}); } </script> </div> </div> <div class="card-tout card-dark membership-tout" style="margin:0 0 30px 0;"> <img class="img-responsive image" title="image of two AARP membership cards" alt="image of two AARP membership cards" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/tout-two-cards.png"> <div class="title">Only $12 your first year with Automatic Renewal</div> <ul class="list"> <li>Immediate access to your <a href="https://www.aarp.org/benefits-discounts/">member benefits</a></li> <li>Discounts on travel and everyday savings</li> <li>Subscription to AARP The Magazine</li> <li>FREE second membership</li> </ul> <div class="action"> <a class="btn" href="https://appsec.aarp.org/mem/join?campaignid=UAJFT3&intcmp=LNK-CSN-AARPLOCAL-JRTOUT-RR-A-JOHNSTON-RI">Join AARP</a> <div class="body">Already a member? <a href="https://appsec.aarp.org/mem/renew?campaignid= UARFT3&intcmp=LNK-CSN-AARPLOCAL-JRTOUT-RR-A-JOHNSTON-RI">Renew</a> or <a href="https://www.aarp.org/benefits-discounts/my-membership/print-your-card/">Print Card</a></div> </div> </div> <style> .membership-tout {padding:16px 20px;} .membership-tout .list li { margin: 0; } </style> <div aria-hidden="true" class="aarpe-ad-wrapper"> <div class="aarpe-ad en clearfix" id="300x250_93505" data-adsize="300x250"> <script type="text/javascript"> if(typeof AARP.ads !== 'undefined'){ AARP.ads.slots({ id:'300x250_93505', size:'300x250'}); } </script> </div> </div> <div class="module-spacer text-center"> <div class="fb-page" alt="Image of AARP Rhode Island Facebook Page" title="Image of AARP Rhode Island Facebook Page" data-href="https://www.facebook.com/AARPRI" data-tabs="timeline" width="320" height="" data-small-header="false" data-adapt-container-width="true" data-hide-cover="false" data-show-facepile="true" lazy="true"> <blockquote cite="https://www.facebook.com/AARPRI" class="fb-xfbml-parse-ignore"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/AARPRI">Facebook</a></blockquote> </div> </div> <div class="ar-basic-box module-spacer"> <header> <h2>Contact AARP<br />Rhode Island</h2> </header> <div class="wrap"> <div class="ar-quick-list module-spacer"> <ul class="list-unstyled"> <li><i class="list-icon fa fa-envelope" alt="Email icon" title="Email icon" aria-hidden="true"></i><a href="mailto:RIAARP@aarp.org " target="_blank" rel="noopener">RIAARP@aarp.org </a></li> <li><i class="list-icon fa fa-globe" alt="Globe icon" title="Globe icon" aria-hidden="true"></i><a href="https://states.aarp.org/region/rhode-island/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">AARP Rhode Island</a></li> <li><i class="list-icon fa fa-map-marker" alt="Map Marker icon" title="Map Marker icon" aria-hidden="true"></i><a href="https://states.aarp.org/contact/?intcmp=SNG-LNK-AARPLOCAL-CONTACT-20140101-JOHNSTON-RI" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Contact Us</a></li> </ul> </div> <a href="https://www.facebook.com/AARPRI" target="_blank" rel="noopener" aria-label="Open Facebook"><img alt="Facebook icon" title="Facebook icon" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/responsive/icons/48/facebook-dreamstale25.png"></a> <a href="https://twitter.com/aarpRI" target="_blank" rel="noopener" aria-label="Open Twitter"><img alt="Twitter icon" title="Twitter icon" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/responsive/icons/48/x-logo-black.png"></a> </div> </div> </div></div> <div class="col-md-8 left-rail left-bot"></div> <div class="col-md-4 right-rail right-bot thin-rhs"></div> </div> <div class="row oneColumnLayout"> </div> <div class="row oneColumnLayout"> <div class="col-md-12"><!-- script to activate navbar --> <script type="text/javascript"> jQuery(".channelBarMain ul.left li a").click(function() { window.location = jQuery(this).attr('href'); }); </script> </div> </div> ', 'scripts_for_layout' => '<title>Snake Den State Park - Johnston, RI</title> <meta name="page_title" content="Snake Den State Park - Johnston, RI"/> <meta name="robots" content="noindex, nofollow"/> <meta content="Snake Den State Park History :The State of Rhode Island acquired the land, now known as Snake Den State Park in 1969. It is a combination of farm land and" name="description"/> <meta content="Snake, Den, State, Park, Johnston, RI" name="keywords"/> <link rel="canonical" href="https://www.americantowns.com/place/snake-den-state-park-johnston-ri.html" /> <meta property="og:url" content="https://vccstaging.local.aarp.org/place/snake-den-state-park-johnston-ri.html"/> <meta name="twitter:card" content="summary_large_image"/> <meta name="twitter:title" content="Snake Den State Park"/> <meta name="twitter:description" content="Snake Den State Park History :The State of Rhode Island acquired the land, now known as Snake Den State Park in 1969. It is a combination of farm land and"/> <meta name="twitter:image" content="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/template/thumbs/generic-icon.jpg"/> <meta property="og:type" content="place"/> <meta property="og:title" content="Snake Den State Park"/> <meta property="og:description" content="Snake Den State Park History :The State of Rhode Island acquired the land, now known as Snake Den State Park in 1969. It is a combination of farm land and"/> <meta property="og:image" content="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/template/thumbs/generic-icon.jpg"/> <meta property="place:location:latitude" content="41.830002"/> <meta property="place:location:longitude" content="-71.538696"/> ', 'title_for_layout' => 'Place Detail - AARP' ) $content_for_layout = '<div class="row twoColumnLayout"> <div class="col-md-8 left-rail"><div class="module clearfix"><div class="ar-basic-box"> <div class="module-spacer"> <header><h1 class="article-headline">Snake Den State Park</h1></header> <div class="row"> <div class="col-sm-6 left module-spacer"> <p> <div> <div>2321 Hartford Avenue</div> <div> <span>Johnston</span>, <span>RI</span> <span>02919</span> </div> </div> </p> <div> <i class="fa fa-external-link-square"></i> <a href="http://www.riparks.com/Locations/LocationSnakeDen.html" target="_blank">Snake Den State Park</a> </div> <div><i class="fa fa-phone-square"></i> 401-222-2632</div> </div> <div class="col-sm-6 module-spacer"> <iframe width="100%" height="220" frameborder="0" style="border:0" src="https://www.google.com/maps/embed/v1/place?key=AIzaSyCU5aZylcrTOLke9e3U0F2mXovlZ4bL8yk&q=Snake+Den+State+Park%2C+2321+Hartford+Avenue%2C+Johnston%2C+RI+02919" allowfullscreen> </iframe> </div> </div> <div class="module-spacer clearfix"> <p style="text-align: justify;">Snake Den State Park History :The State of Rhode Island acquired the land, now known as Snake Den State Park in 1969. It is a combination of farm land and woodland and comprises 744 acres. The prior owners were many generations of the Dame family and, before that the Steere family, an old family throughout Johnston and surrounding towns. DEM’s headquarters for the Parks and Recreation Division is housed in a 22 room former farm house of the Palazzi family.The name, Snake Den, derives from a canyon-like stone fissure located in the park. Like other farms in the Johnston area, the stone in the Snake Den outcrop was quarried for building material for Providence. The actual location of the quarry is on that portion of the property once owned by the Waterman family. Its stone was used in the building of the First Congregational Church in Providence, better known as the First Unitarian Church, designed by John Holden Greene, one the Benefit Street landmarks on historic College Hill. The nearby quarry of Bear Ledge provided the incredible columns for the Providence Arcade of 1828.It is thought that several of the farms including the Steere and Waterman farms were once owned by Moses Brown of Providence. Moses, the youngest of the famous four Brown brothers had removed himself from the family shipping business because the ties to the slave trade offended his Quaker sensibilities. While he is most famous for his financial backing of Samuel Slater’s path-breaking development of the American cotton textile industry at Pawtucket Falls in 1791, it was Moses Brown’s farms in Johnston and surrounding towns which provided the rental income to support Slater. On at least one occasion, Brown complained to Slater that his demand for more and more investment money was ‘spinning all my farms into cloth!’The Snake Den State Park was formally headquartered at 2321 Hartford Avenue, Johnston (route 6 to Greenville Avenue), but the Dame Farm portion of the park anchors the Brown Avenue historic district. Many former farms in the postwar era from 1945 until 1960, whose proximity to Providence were converted to suburban tract housing as Providence lost more population to the surrounding towns from 1950 to 1970 on a percentage basis than any other urban area in the country. Providence lost 90,000 residents out of a population of 250,000. Therefore rescuing open space and preserving part of Rhode Island’s farm history in 1969 was a major accomplishment.Except for the continuous improvements to the Dame Farm aspect of the park, the remaining acreage and woodland has been left much as it was when the park was established. An effort in 2005 to turn a portion of the land into a water park for the Providence metropolitan region was rejected by the Town of Johnston on the basis that such an attraction would create traffic congestion for the town. The current park’s plans are for more limited development of picnic areas and playing fields.</p> </div> <div class="reportthis" style="margin-bottom: 20px;"> <form method="post" action="/johnston-ri/report/place/snake-den-state-park-johnston-ri.html"> <button type="submit" class="btn btnregister pull-right" style="margin-bottom: 10px;">Flag This Place</button> </form> </div> <div class="report_button_message">Please use "Flag This Place" to alert us about content that is inappropriate or needs immediate attention. Nothing you submit will be shared with other site visitors. </div> <style> .report_button_message { color: #333; font-size: 12px; clear: both; } </style> </div> </div> </div><div class="module clearfix"><div class="module-spacer tout-homefit-750"> <a data-formelementid="CSN-LOCAL-HC-PLSK-02272024" href="/johnston-ri/home-and-community/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-HC-PLSK-02272024"><img class="img-responsive" alt="Explore the free AARP HomeFit Guide" title="Explore the free AARP HomeFit Guide" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/touts/HomeFit_750x150.png"></a> </div></div></div> <div class="col-md-4 right-rail thin-rhs"><div class="module clearfix"><!--default--> <!-- module_RHS - AARP Events --> <div class="ar-basic-box module-spacer"> <header> <div class="pull-right"> <a href="/johnston-ri/aarp-events/" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-SEEALL-EVENTS"> <img style="width:30px;" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/template/icons/aarp_event_icon.png" alt="Upcoming AARP Events" /> </a> </div> <h2 class="visible-lg">AARP Events for Johnston</h2> <h2 class="hidden-lg">AARP Events for Johnston</h2> </header> <div class="wrap"> <div class="ar-listing snippet"> <ul class="list"> <li class="item" data-pageindex="1"> <h3 class="topic">Featured Event</h3> <h2 class="title"><a href="/aarp-event/fraud-basics-the-scam-landscape-staying-safe-east-providence-ri-111424-1030-am-et-hqn36rll2xd.html" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-EVENTS-SPOTTING-SCAMS-STAYING-SAFE">Spotting Scams & Staying Safe</a></h2> <p class="time">Thursday, Nov 14, 2024 at 10:30 a.m. ET</p> <p class="venue">East Providence Senior Center (Meeting Room)</p> <p class="loc">East Providence, RI</p> </li><li class="item" data-pageindex="1"> <h3 class="topic">Featured Event</h3> <h2 class="title"><a href="/aarp-event/prepare-to-care-tiverton-ri-11162024-200-pm-et-p4n8v85dbrg.html" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-EVENTS-PREPARE-TO-CARE">Prepare to Care</a></h2> <p class="time">Saturday, Nov 16, 2024 at 2:00 p.m. ET</p> <p class="venue">Tiverton Library (Meeting Room)</p> <p class="loc">Tiverton, RI</p> </li><li class="item" data-pageindex="1"> <h3 class="topic">Featured Event</h3> <h2 class="title"><a href="/aarp-event/six-pillars-of-brain-health-east-providence-ri-1232024-1030-am-et-4xnw54cgr59.html" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-EVENTS-THE-SIX-PILLARS-OF-BRAIN-HEALTH">The Six Pillars of Brain Health</a></h2> <p class="time">Tuesday, Dec 3, 2024 at 10:30 a.m. ET</p> <p class="venue">East Providence Senior Center (Meeting Room)</p> <p class="loc">East Providence, RI</p> </li> </ul> <p><a class="link-red" href="/johnston-ri/aarp-events/" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-SEEALL-EVENTS">View All AARP Events<i class="ml-1 fas fa-chevron-right"></i></a></p> </div> </div> </div> <div aria-hidden="true" class="aarpe-ad-wrapper"> <div class="aarpe-ad en clearfix" id="300x250_53475" data-adsize="300x250"> <script type="text/javascript"> if(typeof AARP.ads !== 'undefined'){ AARP.ads.slots({ id:'300x250_53475', size:'300x250'}); } </script> </div> </div> <div class="card-tout card-dark membership-tout" style="margin:0 0 30px 0;"> <img class="img-responsive image" title="image of two AARP membership cards" alt="image of two AARP membership cards" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/tout-two-cards.png"> <div class="title">Only $12 your first year with Automatic Renewal</div> <ul class="list"> <li>Immediate access to your <a href="https://www.aarp.org/benefits-discounts/">member benefits</a></li> <li>Discounts on travel and everyday savings</li> <li>Subscription to AARP The Magazine</li> <li>FREE second membership</li> </ul> <div class="action"> <a class="btn" href="https://appsec.aarp.org/mem/join?campaignid=UAJFT3&intcmp=LNK-CSN-AARPLOCAL-JRTOUT-RR-A-JOHNSTON-RI">Join AARP</a> <div class="body">Already a member? 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It is a combination of farm land and" name="description"/> <meta content="Snake, Den, State, Park, Johnston, RI" name="keywords"/> <link rel="canonical" href="https://www.americantowns.com/place/snake-den-state-park-johnston-ri.html" /> <meta property="og:url" content="https://vccstaging.local.aarp.org/place/snake-den-state-park-johnston-ri.html"/> <meta name="twitter:card" content="summary_large_image"/> <meta name="twitter:title" content="Snake Den State Park"/> <meta name="twitter:description" content="Snake Den State Park History :The State of Rhode Island acquired the land, now known as Snake Den State Park in 1969. 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Warning (2): include() [<a href='http://php.net/function.include'>function.include</a>]: Failed opening '/var/www/vhosts/vcc_staging/app/Resource/aarp2_master.footer.html' for inclusion (include_path='/var/www/vhosts/vcc_staging/lib:.:/usr/share/pear:/usr/share/php') [APP/View/Layouts/aarp_2023.ctp, line 242]Code Context<?php // if (!$nowrapper) (Globals::$language == 'es') ? include(APP . "/Resource/aarpe_footer_es.html") : include(APP . "/Resource/aarpe_footer.html"); ?>
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$viewFile = '/var/www/vhosts/vcc_staging/app/View/Layouts/aarp_2023.ctp' $dataForView = array( 'content_for_layout' => '<div class="row twoColumnLayout"> <div class="col-md-8 left-rail"><div class="module clearfix"><div class="ar-basic-box"> <div class="module-spacer"> <header><h1 class="article-headline">Snake Den State Park</h1></header> <div class="row"> <div class="col-sm-6 left module-spacer"> <p> <div> <div>2321 Hartford Avenue</div> <div> <span>Johnston</span>, <span>RI</span> <span>02919</span> </div> </div> </p> <div> <i class="fa fa-external-link-square"></i> <a href="http://www.riparks.com/Locations/LocationSnakeDen.html" target="_blank">Snake Den State Park</a> </div> <div><i class="fa fa-phone-square"></i> 401-222-2632</div> </div> <div class="col-sm-6 module-spacer"> <iframe width="100%" height="220" frameborder="0" style="border:0" src="https://www.google.com/maps/embed/v1/place?key=AIzaSyCU5aZylcrTOLke9e3U0F2mXovlZ4bL8yk&q=Snake+Den+State+Park%2C+2321+Hartford+Avenue%2C+Johnston%2C+RI+02919" allowfullscreen> </iframe> </div> </div> <div class="module-spacer clearfix"> <p style="text-align: justify;">Snake Den State Park History :The State of Rhode Island acquired the land, now known as Snake Den State Park in 1969. It is a combination of farm land and woodland and comprises 744 acres. The prior owners were many generations of the Dame family and, before that the Steere family, an old family throughout Johnston and surrounding towns. DEM’s headquarters for the Parks and Recreation Division is housed in a 22 room former farm house of the Palazzi family.The name, Snake Den, derives from a canyon-like stone fissure located in the park. Like other farms in the Johnston area, the stone in the Snake Den outcrop was quarried for building material for Providence. The actual location of the quarry is on that portion of the property once owned by the Waterman family. Its stone was used in the building of the First Congregational Church in Providence, better known as the First Unitarian Church, designed by John Holden Greene, one the Benefit Street landmarks on historic College Hill. The nearby quarry of Bear Ledge provided the incredible columns for the Providence Arcade of 1828.It is thought that several of the farms including the Steere and Waterman farms were once owned by Moses Brown of Providence. Moses, the youngest of the famous four Brown brothers had removed himself from the family shipping business because the ties to the slave trade offended his Quaker sensibilities. While he is most famous for his financial backing of Samuel Slater’s path-breaking development of the American cotton textile industry at Pawtucket Falls in 1791, it was Moses Brown’s farms in Johnston and surrounding towns which provided the rental income to support Slater. On at least one occasion, Brown complained to Slater that his demand for more and more investment money was ‘spinning all my farms into cloth!’The Snake Den State Park was formally headquartered at 2321 Hartford Avenue, Johnston (route 6 to Greenville Avenue), but the Dame Farm portion of the park anchors the Brown Avenue historic district. Many former farms in the postwar era from 1945 until 1960, whose proximity to Providence were converted to suburban tract housing as Providence lost more population to the surrounding towns from 1950 to 1970 on a percentage basis than any other urban area in the country. Providence lost 90,000 residents out of a population of 250,000. Therefore rescuing open space and preserving part of Rhode Island’s farm history in 1969 was a major accomplishment.Except for the continuous improvements to the Dame Farm aspect of the park, the remaining acreage and woodland has been left much as it was when the park was established. An effort in 2005 to turn a portion of the land into a water park for the Providence metropolitan region was rejected by the Town of Johnston on the basis that such an attraction would create traffic congestion for the town. The current park’s plans are for more limited development of picnic areas and playing fields.</p> </div> <div class="reportthis" style="margin-bottom: 20px;"> <form method="post" action="/johnston-ri/report/place/snake-den-state-park-johnston-ri.html"> <button type="submit" class="btn btnregister pull-right" style="margin-bottom: 10px;">Flag This Place</button> </form> </div> <div class="report_button_message">Please use "Flag This Place" to alert us about content that is inappropriate or needs immediate attention. Nothing you submit will be shared with other site visitors. </div> <style> .report_button_message { color: #333; font-size: 12px; clear: both; } </style> </div> </div> </div><div class="module clearfix"><div class="module-spacer tout-homefit-750"> <a data-formelementid="CSN-LOCAL-HC-PLSK-02272024" href="/johnston-ri/home-and-community/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-HC-PLSK-02272024"><img class="img-responsive" alt="Explore the free AARP HomeFit Guide" title="Explore the free AARP HomeFit Guide" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/touts/HomeFit_750x150.png"></a> </div></div></div> <div class="col-md-4 right-rail thin-rhs"><div class="module clearfix"><!--default--> <!-- module_RHS - AARP Events --> <div class="ar-basic-box module-spacer"> <header> <div class="pull-right"> <a href="/johnston-ri/aarp-events/" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-SEEALL-EVENTS"> <img style="width:30px;" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/template/icons/aarp_event_icon.png" alt="Upcoming AARP Events" /> </a> </div> <h2 class="visible-lg">AARP Events for Johnston</h2> <h2 class="hidden-lg">AARP Events for Johnston</h2> </header> <div class="wrap"> <div class="ar-listing snippet"> <ul class="list"> <li class="item" data-pageindex="1"> <h3 class="topic">Featured Event</h3> <h2 class="title"><a href="/aarp-event/fraud-basics-the-scam-landscape-staying-safe-east-providence-ri-111424-1030-am-et-hqn36rll2xd.html" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-EVENTS-SPOTTING-SCAMS-STAYING-SAFE">Spotting Scams & Staying Safe</a></h2> <p class="time">Thursday, Nov 14, 2024 at 10:30 a.m. ET</p> <p class="venue">East Providence Senior Center (Meeting Room)</p> <p class="loc">East Providence, RI</p> </li><li class="item" data-pageindex="1"> <h3 class="topic">Featured Event</h3> <h2 class="title"><a href="/aarp-event/prepare-to-care-tiverton-ri-11162024-200-pm-et-p4n8v85dbrg.html" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-EVENTS-PREPARE-TO-CARE">Prepare to Care</a></h2> <p class="time">Saturday, Nov 16, 2024 at 2:00 p.m. ET</p> <p class="venue">Tiverton Library (Meeting Room)</p> <p class="loc">Tiverton, RI</p> </li><li class="item" data-pageindex="1"> <h3 class="topic">Featured Event</h3> <h2 class="title"><a href="/aarp-event/six-pillars-of-brain-health-east-providence-ri-1232024-1030-am-et-4xnw54cgr59.html" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-EVENTS-THE-SIX-PILLARS-OF-BRAIN-HEALTH">The Six Pillars of Brain Health</a></h2> <p class="time">Tuesday, Dec 3, 2024 at 10:30 a.m. ET</p> <p class="venue">East Providence Senior Center (Meeting Room)</p> <p class="loc">East Providence, RI</p> </li> </ul> <p><a class="link-red" href="/johnston-ri/aarp-events/" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-SEEALL-EVENTS">View All AARP Events<i class="ml-1 fas fa-chevron-right"></i></a></p> </div> </div> </div> <div aria-hidden="true" class="aarpe-ad-wrapper"> <div class="aarpe-ad en clearfix" id="300x250_53475" data-adsize="300x250"> <script type="text/javascript"> if(typeof AARP.ads !== 'undefined'){ AARP.ads.slots({ id:'300x250_53475', size:'300x250'}); } </script> </div> </div> <div class="card-tout card-dark membership-tout" style="margin:0 0 30px 0;"> <img class="img-responsive image" title="image of two AARP membership cards" alt="image of two AARP membership cards" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/tout-two-cards.png"> <div class="title">Only $12 your first year with Automatic Renewal</div> <ul class="list"> <li>Immediate access to your <a href="https://www.aarp.org/benefits-discounts/">member benefits</a></li> <li>Discounts on travel and everyday savings</li> <li>Subscription to AARP The Magazine</li> <li>FREE second membership</li> </ul> <div class="action"> <a class="btn" href="https://appsec.aarp.org/mem/join?campaignid=UAJFT3&intcmp=LNK-CSN-AARPLOCAL-JRTOUT-RR-A-JOHNSTON-RI">Join AARP</a> <div class="body">Already a member? 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It is a combination of farm land and" name="description"/> <meta content="Snake, Den, State, Park, Johnston, RI" name="keywords"/> <link rel="canonical" href="https://www.americantowns.com/place/snake-den-state-park-johnston-ri.html" /> <meta property="og:url" content="https://vccstaging.local.aarp.org/place/snake-den-state-park-johnston-ri.html"/> <meta name="twitter:card" content="summary_large_image"/> <meta name="twitter:title" content="Snake Den State Park"/> <meta name="twitter:description" content="Snake Den State Park History :The State of Rhode Island acquired the land, now known as Snake Den State Park in 1969. It is a combination of farm land and"/> <meta name="twitter:image" content="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/template/thumbs/generic-icon.jpg"/> <meta property="og:type" content="place"/> <meta property="og:title" content="Snake Den State Park"/> <meta property="og:description" content="Snake Den State Park History :The State of Rhode Island acquired the land, now known as Snake Den State Park in 1969. It is a combination of farm land and"/> <meta property="og:image" content="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/template/thumbs/generic-icon.jpg"/> <meta property="place:location:latitude" content="41.830002"/> <meta property="place:location:longitude" content="-71.538696"/> ', 'title_for_layout' => 'Place Detail - AARP' ) $content_for_layout = '<div class="row twoColumnLayout"> <div class="col-md-8 left-rail"><div class="module clearfix"><div class="ar-basic-box"> <div class="module-spacer"> <header><h1 class="article-headline">Snake Den State Park</h1></header> <div class="row"> <div class="col-sm-6 left module-spacer"> <p> <div> <div>2321 Hartford Avenue</div> <div> <span>Johnston</span>, <span>RI</span> <span>02919</span> </div> </div> </p> <div> <i class="fa fa-external-link-square"></i> <a href="http://www.riparks.com/Locations/LocationSnakeDen.html" target="_blank">Snake Den State Park</a> </div> <div><i class="fa fa-phone-square"></i> 401-222-2632</div> </div> <div class="col-sm-6 module-spacer"> <iframe width="100%" height="220" frameborder="0" style="border:0" src="https://www.google.com/maps/embed/v1/place?key=AIzaSyCU5aZylcrTOLke9e3U0F2mXovlZ4bL8yk&q=Snake+Den+State+Park%2C+2321+Hartford+Avenue%2C+Johnston%2C+RI+02919" allowfullscreen> </iframe> </div> </div> <div class="module-spacer clearfix"> <p style="text-align: justify;">Snake Den State Park History :The State of Rhode Island acquired the land, now known as Snake Den State Park in 1969. It is a combination of farm land and woodland and comprises 744 acres. The prior owners were many generations of the Dame family and, before that the Steere family, an old family throughout Johnston and surrounding towns. DEM’s headquarters for the Parks and Recreation Division is housed in a 22 room former farm house of the Palazzi family.The name, Snake Den, derives from a canyon-like stone fissure located in the park. Like other farms in the Johnston area, the stone in the Snake Den outcrop was quarried for building material for Providence. The actual location of the quarry is on that portion of the property once owned by the Waterman family. Its stone was used in the building of the First Congregational Church in Providence, better known as the First Unitarian Church, designed by John Holden Greene, one the Benefit Street landmarks on historic College Hill. The nearby quarry of Bear Ledge provided the incredible columns for the Providence Arcade of 1828.It is thought that several of the farms including the Steere and Waterman farms were once owned by Moses Brown of Providence. Moses, the youngest of the famous four Brown brothers had removed himself from the family shipping business because the ties to the slave trade offended his Quaker sensibilities. While he is most famous for his financial backing of Samuel Slater’s path-breaking development of the American cotton textile industry at Pawtucket Falls in 1791, it was Moses Brown’s farms in Johnston and surrounding towns which provided the rental income to support Slater. On at least one occasion, Brown complained to Slater that his demand for more and more investment money was ‘spinning all my farms into cloth!’The Snake Den State Park was formally headquartered at 2321 Hartford Avenue, Johnston (route 6 to Greenville Avenue), but the Dame Farm portion of the park anchors the Brown Avenue historic district. Many former farms in the postwar era from 1945 until 1960, whose proximity to Providence were converted to suburban tract housing as Providence lost more population to the surrounding towns from 1950 to 1970 on a percentage basis than any other urban area in the country. Providence lost 90,000 residents out of a population of 250,000. Therefore rescuing open space and preserving part of Rhode Island’s farm history in 1969 was a major accomplishment.Except for the continuous improvements to the Dame Farm aspect of the park, the remaining acreage and woodland has been left much as it was when the park was established. An effort in 2005 to turn a portion of the land into a water park for the Providence metropolitan region was rejected by the Town of Johnston on the basis that such an attraction would create traffic congestion for the town. The current park’s plans are for more limited development of picnic areas and playing fields.</p> </div> <div class="reportthis" style="margin-bottom: 20px;"> <form method="post" action="/johnston-ri/report/place/snake-den-state-park-johnston-ri.html"> <button type="submit" class="btn btnregister pull-right" style="margin-bottom: 10px;">Flag This Place</button> </form> </div> <div class="report_button_message">Please use "Flag This Place" to alert us about content that is inappropriate or needs immediate attention. 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$viewFile = '/var/www/vhosts/vcc_staging/app/View/Layouts/aarp_2023.ctp' $dataForView = array( 'content_for_layout' => '<div class="row twoColumnLayout"> <div class="col-md-8 left-rail"><div class="module clearfix"><div class="ar-basic-box"> <div class="module-spacer"> <header><h1 class="article-headline">Snake Den State Park</h1></header> <div class="row"> <div class="col-sm-6 left module-spacer"> <p> <div> <div>2321 Hartford Avenue</div> <div> <span>Johnston</span>, <span>RI</span> <span>02919</span> </div> </div> </p> <div> <i class="fa fa-external-link-square"></i> <a href="http://www.riparks.com/Locations/LocationSnakeDen.html" target="_blank">Snake Den State Park</a> </div> <div><i class="fa fa-phone-square"></i> 401-222-2632</div> </div> <div class="col-sm-6 module-spacer"> <iframe width="100%" height="220" frameborder="0" style="border:0" src="https://www.google.com/maps/embed/v1/place?key=AIzaSyCU5aZylcrTOLke9e3U0F2mXovlZ4bL8yk&q=Snake+Den+State+Park%2C+2321+Hartford+Avenue%2C+Johnston%2C+RI+02919" allowfullscreen> </iframe> </div> </div> <div class="module-spacer clearfix"> <p style="text-align: justify;">Snake Den State Park History :The State of Rhode Island acquired the land, now known as Snake Den State Park in 1969. It is a combination of farm land and woodland and comprises 744 acres. The prior owners were many generations of the Dame family and, before that the Steere family, an old family throughout Johnston and surrounding towns. DEM’s headquarters for the Parks and Recreation Division is housed in a 22 room former farm house of the Palazzi family.The name, Snake Den, derives from a canyon-like stone fissure located in the park. Like other farms in the Johnston area, the stone in the Snake Den outcrop was quarried for building material for Providence. The actual location of the quarry is on that portion of the property once owned by the Waterman family. Its stone was used in the building of the First Congregational Church in Providence, better known as the First Unitarian Church, designed by John Holden Greene, one the Benefit Street landmarks on historic College Hill. The nearby quarry of Bear Ledge provided the incredible columns for the Providence Arcade of 1828.It is thought that several of the farms including the Steere and Waterman farms were once owned by Moses Brown of Providence. Moses, the youngest of the famous four Brown brothers had removed himself from the family shipping business because the ties to the slave trade offended his Quaker sensibilities. While he is most famous for his financial backing of Samuel Slater’s path-breaking development of the American cotton textile industry at Pawtucket Falls in 1791, it was Moses Brown’s farms in Johnston and surrounding towns which provided the rental income to support Slater. On at least one occasion, Brown complained to Slater that his demand for more and more investment money was ‘spinning all my farms into cloth!’The Snake Den State Park was formally headquartered at 2321 Hartford Avenue, Johnston (route 6 to Greenville Avenue), but the Dame Farm portion of the park anchors the Brown Avenue historic district. Many former farms in the postwar era from 1945 until 1960, whose proximity to Providence were converted to suburban tract housing as Providence lost more population to the surrounding towns from 1950 to 1970 on a percentage basis than any other urban area in the country. Providence lost 90,000 residents out of a population of 250,000. Therefore rescuing open space and preserving part of Rhode Island’s farm history in 1969 was a major accomplishment.Except for the continuous improvements to the Dame Farm aspect of the park, the remaining acreage and woodland has been left much as it was when the park was established. An effort in 2005 to turn a portion of the land into a water park for the Providence metropolitan region was rejected by the Town of Johnston on the basis that such an attraction would create traffic congestion for the town. The current park’s plans are for more limited development of picnic areas and playing fields.</p> </div> <div class="reportthis" style="margin-bottom: 20px;"> <form method="post" action="/johnston-ri/report/place/snake-den-state-park-johnston-ri.html"> <button type="submit" class="btn btnregister pull-right" style="margin-bottom: 10px;">Flag This Place</button> </form> </div> <div class="report_button_message">Please use "Flag This Place" to alert us about content that is inappropriate or needs immediate attention. Nothing you submit will be shared with other site visitors. </div> <style> .report_button_message { color: #333; font-size: 12px; clear: both; } </style> </div> </div> </div><div class="module clearfix"><div class="module-spacer tout-homefit-750"> <a data-formelementid="CSN-LOCAL-HC-PLSK-02272024" href="/johnston-ri/home-and-community/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-HC-PLSK-02272024"><img class="img-responsive" alt="Explore the free AARP HomeFit Guide" title="Explore the free AARP HomeFit Guide" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/touts/HomeFit_750x150.png"></a> </div></div></div> <div class="col-md-4 right-rail thin-rhs"><div class="module clearfix"><!--default--> <!-- module_RHS - AARP Events --> <div class="ar-basic-box module-spacer"> <header> <div class="pull-right"> <a href="/johnston-ri/aarp-events/" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-SEEALL-EVENTS"> <img style="width:30px;" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/template/icons/aarp_event_icon.png" alt="Upcoming AARP Events" /> </a> </div> <h2 class="visible-lg">AARP Events for Johnston</h2> <h2 class="hidden-lg">AARP Events for Johnston</h2> </header> <div class="wrap"> <div class="ar-listing snippet"> <ul class="list"> <li class="item" data-pageindex="1"> <h3 class="topic">Featured Event</h3> <h2 class="title"><a href="/aarp-event/fraud-basics-the-scam-landscape-staying-safe-east-providence-ri-111424-1030-am-et-hqn36rll2xd.html" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-EVENTS-SPOTTING-SCAMS-STAYING-SAFE">Spotting Scams & Staying Safe</a></h2> <p class="time">Thursday, Nov 14, 2024 at 10:30 a.m. ET</p> <p class="venue">East Providence Senior Center (Meeting Room)</p> <p class="loc">East Providence, RI</p> </li><li class="item" data-pageindex="1"> <h3 class="topic">Featured Event</h3> <h2 class="title"><a href="/aarp-event/prepare-to-care-tiverton-ri-11162024-200-pm-et-p4n8v85dbrg.html" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-EVENTS-PREPARE-TO-CARE">Prepare to Care</a></h2> <p class="time">Saturday, Nov 16, 2024 at 2:00 p.m. ET</p> <p class="venue">Tiverton Library (Meeting Room)</p> <p class="loc">Tiverton, RI</p> </li><li class="item" data-pageindex="1"> <h3 class="topic">Featured Event</h3> <h2 class="title"><a href="/aarp-event/six-pillars-of-brain-health-east-providence-ri-1232024-1030-am-et-4xnw54cgr59.html" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-EVENTS-THE-SIX-PILLARS-OF-BRAIN-HEALTH">The Six Pillars of Brain Health</a></h2> <p class="time">Tuesday, Dec 3, 2024 at 10:30 a.m. ET</p> <p class="venue">East Providence Senior Center (Meeting Room)</p> <p class="loc">East Providence, RI</p> </li> </ul> <p><a class="link-red" href="/johnston-ri/aarp-events/" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-SEEALL-EVENTS">View All AARP Events<i class="ml-1 fas fa-chevron-right"></i></a></p> </div> </div> </div> <div aria-hidden="true" class="aarpe-ad-wrapper"> <div class="aarpe-ad en clearfix" id="300x250_53475" data-adsize="300x250"> <script type="text/javascript"> if(typeof AARP.ads !== 'undefined'){ AARP.ads.slots({ id:'300x250_53475', size:'300x250'}); } </script> </div> </div> <div class="card-tout card-dark membership-tout" style="margin:0 0 30px 0;"> <img class="img-responsive image" title="image of two AARP membership cards" alt="image of two AARP membership cards" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/tout-two-cards.png"> <div class="title">Only $12 your first year with Automatic Renewal</div> <ul class="list"> <li>Immediate access to your <a href="https://www.aarp.org/benefits-discounts/">member benefits</a></li> <li>Discounts on travel and everyday savings</li> <li>Subscription to AARP The Magazine</li> <li>FREE second membership</li> </ul> <div class="action"> <a class="btn" href="https://appsec.aarp.org/mem/join?campaignid=UAJFT3&intcmp=LNK-CSN-AARPLOCAL-JRTOUT-RR-A-JOHNSTON-RI">Join AARP</a> <div class="body">Already a member? 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It is a combination of farm land and" name="description"/> <meta content="Snake, Den, State, Park, Johnston, RI" name="keywords"/> <link rel="canonical" href="https://www.americantowns.com/place/snake-den-state-park-johnston-ri.html" /> <meta property="og:url" content="https://vccstaging.local.aarp.org/place/snake-den-state-park-johnston-ri.html"/> <meta name="twitter:card" content="summary_large_image"/> <meta name="twitter:title" content="Snake Den State Park"/> <meta name="twitter:description" content="Snake Den State Park History :The State of Rhode Island acquired the land, now known as Snake Den State Park in 1969. It is a combination of farm land and"/> <meta name="twitter:image" content="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/template/thumbs/generic-icon.jpg"/> <meta property="og:type" content="place"/> <meta property="og:title" content="Snake Den State Park"/> <meta property="og:description" content="Snake Den State Park History :The State of Rhode Island acquired the land, now known as Snake Den State Park in 1969. It is a combination of farm land and"/> <meta property="og:image" content="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/template/thumbs/generic-icon.jpg"/> <meta property="place:location:latitude" content="41.830002"/> <meta property="place:location:longitude" content="-71.538696"/> ', 'title_for_layout' => 'Place Detail - AARP' ) $content_for_layout = '<div class="row twoColumnLayout"> <div class="col-md-8 left-rail"><div class="module clearfix"><div class="ar-basic-box"> <div class="module-spacer"> <header><h1 class="article-headline">Snake Den State Park</h1></header> <div class="row"> <div class="col-sm-6 left module-spacer"> <p> <div> <div>2321 Hartford Avenue</div> <div> <span>Johnston</span>, <span>RI</span> <span>02919</span> </div> </div> </p> <div> <i class="fa fa-external-link-square"></i> <a href="http://www.riparks.com/Locations/LocationSnakeDen.html" target="_blank">Snake Den State Park</a> </div> <div><i class="fa fa-phone-square"></i> 401-222-2632</div> </div> <div class="col-sm-6 module-spacer"> <iframe width="100%" height="220" frameborder="0" style="border:0" src="https://www.google.com/maps/embed/v1/place?key=AIzaSyCU5aZylcrTOLke9e3U0F2mXovlZ4bL8yk&q=Snake+Den+State+Park%2C+2321+Hartford+Avenue%2C+Johnston%2C+RI+02919" allowfullscreen> </iframe> </div> </div> <div class="module-spacer clearfix"> <p style="text-align: justify;">Snake Den State Park History :The State of Rhode Island acquired the land, now known as Snake Den State Park in 1969. It is a combination of farm land and woodland and comprises 744 acres. The prior owners were many generations of the Dame family and, before that the Steere family, an old family throughout Johnston and surrounding towns. DEM’s headquarters for the Parks and Recreation Division is housed in a 22 room former farm house of the Palazzi family.The name, Snake Den, derives from a canyon-like stone fissure located in the park. Like other farms in the Johnston area, the stone in the Snake Den outcrop was quarried for building material for Providence. The actual location of the quarry is on that portion of the property once owned by the Waterman family. Its stone was used in the building of the First Congregational Church in Providence, better known as the First Unitarian Church, designed by John Holden Greene, one the Benefit Street landmarks on historic College Hill. The nearby quarry of Bear Ledge provided the incredible columns for the Providence Arcade of 1828.It is thought that several of the farms including the Steere and Waterman farms were once owned by Moses Brown of Providence. Moses, the youngest of the famous four Brown brothers had removed himself from the family shipping business because the ties to the slave trade offended his Quaker sensibilities. While he is most famous for his financial backing of Samuel Slater’s path-breaking development of the American cotton textile industry at Pawtucket Falls in 1791, it was Moses Brown’s farms in Johnston and surrounding towns which provided the rental income to support Slater. On at least one occasion, Brown complained to Slater that his demand for more and more investment money was ‘spinning all my farms into cloth!’The Snake Den State Park was formally headquartered at 2321 Hartford Avenue, Johnston (route 6 to Greenville Avenue), but the Dame Farm portion of the park anchors the Brown Avenue historic district. Many former farms in the postwar era from 1945 until 1960, whose proximity to Providence were converted to suburban tract housing as Providence lost more population to the surrounding towns from 1950 to 1970 on a percentage basis than any other urban area in the country. Providence lost 90,000 residents out of a population of 250,000. Therefore rescuing open space and preserving part of Rhode Island’s farm history in 1969 was a major accomplishment.Except for the continuous improvements to the Dame Farm aspect of the park, the remaining acreage and woodland has been left much as it was when the park was established. An effort in 2005 to turn a portion of the land into a water park for the Providence metropolitan region was rejected by the Town of Johnston on the basis that such an attraction would create traffic congestion for the town. The current park’s plans are for more limited development of picnic areas and playing fields.</p> </div> <div class="reportthis" style="margin-bottom: 20px;"> <form method="post" action="/johnston-ri/report/place/snake-den-state-park-johnston-ri.html"> <button type="submit" class="btn btnregister pull-right" style="margin-bottom: 10px;">Flag This Place</button> </form> </div> <div class="report_button_message">Please use "Flag This Place" to alert us about content that is inappropriate or needs immediate attention. Nothing you submit will be shared with other site visitors. </div> <style> .report_button_message { color: #333; font-size: 12px; clear: both; } </style> </div> </div> </div><div class="module clearfix"><div class="module-spacer tout-homefit-750"> <a data-formelementid="CSN-LOCAL-HC-PLSK-02272024" href="/johnston-ri/home-and-community/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-HC-PLSK-02272024"><img class="img-responsive" alt="Explore the free AARP HomeFit Guide" title="Explore the free AARP HomeFit Guide" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/touts/HomeFit_750x150.png"></a> </div></div></div> <div class="col-md-4 right-rail thin-rhs"><div class="module clearfix"><!--default--> <!-- module_RHS - AARP Events --> <div class="ar-basic-box module-spacer"> <header> <div class="pull-right"> <a href="/johnston-ri/aarp-events/" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-SEEALL-EVENTS"> <img style="width:30px;" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/template/icons/aarp_event_icon.png" alt="Upcoming AARP Events" /> </a> </div> <h2 class="visible-lg">AARP Events for Johnston</h2> <h2 class="hidden-lg">AARP Events for Johnston</h2> </header> <div class="wrap"> <div class="ar-listing snippet"> <ul class="list"> <li class="item" data-pageindex="1"> <h3 class="topic">Featured Event</h3> <h2 class="title"><a href="/aarp-event/fraud-basics-the-scam-landscape-staying-safe-east-providence-ri-111424-1030-am-et-hqn36rll2xd.html" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-EVENTS-SPOTTING-SCAMS-STAYING-SAFE">Spotting Scams & Staying Safe</a></h2> <p class="time">Thursday, Nov 14, 2024 at 10:30 a.m. ET</p> <p class="venue">East Providence Senior Center (Meeting Room)</p> <p class="loc">East Providence, RI</p> </li><li class="item" data-pageindex="1"> <h3 class="topic">Featured Event</h3> <h2 class="title"><a href="/aarp-event/prepare-to-care-tiverton-ri-11162024-200-pm-et-p4n8v85dbrg.html" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-EVENTS-PREPARE-TO-CARE">Prepare to Care</a></h2> <p class="time">Saturday, Nov 16, 2024 at 2:00 p.m. ET</p> <p class="venue">Tiverton Library (Meeting Room)</p> <p class="loc">Tiverton, RI</p> </li><li class="item" data-pageindex="1"> <h3 class="topic">Featured Event</h3> <h2 class="title"><a href="/aarp-event/six-pillars-of-brain-health-east-providence-ri-1232024-1030-am-et-4xnw54cgr59.html" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-EVENTS-THE-SIX-PILLARS-OF-BRAIN-HEALTH">The Six Pillars of Brain Health</a></h2> <p class="time">Tuesday, Dec 3, 2024 at 10:30 a.m. ET</p> <p class="venue">East Providence Senior Center (Meeting Room)</p> <p class="loc">East Providence, RI</p> </li> </ul> <p><a class="link-red" href="/johnston-ri/aarp-events/" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-SEEALL-EVENTS">View All AARP Events<i class="ml-1 fas fa-chevron-right"></i></a></p> </div> </div> </div> <div aria-hidden="true" class="aarpe-ad-wrapper"> <div class="aarpe-ad en clearfix" id="300x250_53475" data-adsize="300x250"> <script type="text/javascript"> if(typeof AARP.ads !== 'undefined'){ AARP.ads.slots({ id:'300x250_53475', size:'300x250'}); } </script> </div> </div> <div class="card-tout card-dark membership-tout" style="margin:0 0 30px 0;"> <img class="img-responsive image" title="image of two AARP membership cards" alt="image of two AARP membership cards" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/tout-two-cards.png"> <div class="title">Only $12 your first year with Automatic Renewal</div> <ul class="list"> <li>Immediate access to your <a href="https://www.aarp.org/benefits-discounts/">member benefits</a></li> <li>Discounts on travel and everyday savings</li> <li>Subscription to AARP The Magazine</li> <li>FREE second membership</li> </ul> <div class="action"> <a class="btn" href="https://appsec.aarp.org/mem/join?campaignid=UAJFT3&intcmp=LNK-CSN-AARPLOCAL-JRTOUT-RR-A-JOHNSTON-RI">Join AARP</a> <div class="body">Already a member? 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It is a combination of farm land and"/> <meta property="og:image" content="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/template/thumbs/generic-icon.jpg"/> <meta property="place:location:latitude" content="41.830002"/> <meta property="place:location:longitude" content="-71.538696"/> ' $title_for_layout = 'Place Detail - AARP' $asset_version = '230831' $min = true $nowrapper = false $css = '' $highlighting = '<span class="highlighting">Highlighting Johnston</span>' $location = '<a href="/johnston-ri/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-NAV-HOME">Providence, RI</a>' $no_header = false $header_title = '<a href="/johnston-ri/things-to-do/">Places</a>' $header_subtitle = '' $isPR = false $navbar = '<nav class="section" role="button" aria-expanded="false" aria-controls="collapse"> <div class="section-toggle">Sections <i class="fas fa-chevron-down"></i></div> <ul class="secondary-menu" id="secondary-menu" role="menu" aria-busy="true"> <li role="presentation" class=""><a role="menuitem" class="menuitem" href="/johnston-ri/aarp-events/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-NAV-OLE" data-formelementid="LOCAL-LNK-CLK-EVENTS">Online & Local Events</a> </li> <li role="presentation" class="active"><a role="menuitem" class="menuitem" href="/johnston-ri/things-to-do/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-NAV-TTD" data-formelementid="LOCAL-LNK-CLK-THINGSTODO">Things to Do</a></li> <li role="presentation" class=""><a role="menuitem" class="menuitem" href="/johnston-ri/happenings/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-NAV-NF" data-formelementid="LOCAL-LNK-CLK-HAPPENINGS">News Feed</a> </li> <li role="presentation" class=""><a role="menuitem" class="menuitem" href="/johnston-ri/volunteering/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-NAV-VOL" data-formelementid="LOCAL-LNK-CLK-VOLUNTEERING">Volunteering</a> </li> <li role="presentation" class=""><a role="menuitem" class="menuitem" href="/johnston-ri/home-and-community/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-NAV-HC" data-formelementid="LOCAL-LNK-CLK-HC">Home & Community</a> </li> <li role="presentation" class=""><a role="menuitem" class="menuitem" href="/johnston-ri/movies/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-NAV-MFG" data-formelementid="LOCAL-LNK-CLK-MOVIESFORGROWNUPS">Movies for Grownups</a> </li> <li role="presentation" class="more nosep " id="submenu-more"> <span role="menuitem" class="menuitem" data-formelementid="LOCAL-LNK-CLK-MORE">More<i class="fas fa-chevron-down"></i></span> <ul class="secondary-submenu animate slide-in" id="secondary-submenu"> <li role="presentation"><a role="menuitem" class="menuitem " href="/johnston-ri/discounts/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-NAV-LO" data-formelementid="LOCAL-LNK-CLK-OFFERS">Local Offers</a></li> <li role="presentation"><a role="menuitem" class="menuitem " href="/johnston-ri/local-resources/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-NAV-LR" data-formelementid="LOCAL-LNK-CLK-LOCALRESOURCES">Local Resources</a> </li> <li role="presentation"><a role="menuitem" class="menuitem " href="/johnston-ri/jobs/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-NAV-WJ" data-formelementid="LOCAL-LNK-CLK-WORK&JOBS">Work & Jobs</a></li> <li role="presentation"><a role="menuitem" class="menuitem " href="/johnston-ri/events/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-NAV-CC" data-formelementid="LOCAL-LNK-CLK-EVENTS">Community Calendar</a></li> <!-- <li role="presentation"><a role="menuitem" class="menuitem " href="/johnston-ri/healthy-living/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-NAV-HEALTHY_LIVING" data-formelementid="LOCAL-LNK-CLK-HEALTHY_LIVING">Healthy Living</a></li> <li role="presentation"><a role="menuitem" class="menuitem " href="/johnston-ri/arts-entertainment/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-NAV-ARTS_ENT" data-formelementid="LOCAL-LNK-CLK-ARTS_ENT">Arts & Entertainment</a></li> <li role="presentation"><a role="menuitem" class="menuitem " href="/johnston-ri/museums/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-NAV-MUSEUMS" data-formelementid="LOCAL-LNK-CLK-MUSEUMS">Museums</a></li> --> </ul> </li> </ul> </nav>' $header_custom = '' $breadcrumbs = array( (int) 0 => array( 'title' => 'Things to Do', 'slug' => 'things-to-do' ) ) $row = array( 'title' => 'Back to Things to Do', 'slug' => 'things-to-do' ) $i = (int) 0include - APP/View/Layouts/aarp_2023.ctp, line 243 include - APP/View/Layouts/aarp_2023.ctp, line 243 View::_evaluate() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 971 View::_render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 933 View::renderLayout() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 546 View::render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 481 Controller::render() - CORE/Cake/Controller/Controller.php, line 963 AppController::renderPage() - APP/Controller/AppController.php, line 136 PlacesController::display() - APP/Controller/PlacesController.php, line 501 ReflectionMethod::invokeArgs() - [internal], line ?? 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Warning (2): include() [<a href='http://php.net/function.include'>function.include</a>]: Failed opening '/var/www/vhosts/vcc_staging/app/Resource/aarp2_master.bodyTargeting.html' for inclusion (include_path='/var/www/vhosts/vcc_staging/lib:.:/usr/share/pear:/usr/share/php') [APP/View/Layouts/aarp_2023.ctp, line 243]Code Context<?php if (!$nowrapper): // MLW - Spanish wrappers TBD
include (APP . "Resource/aarp2_master.footer.html");
include (APP . "Resource/aarp2_master.bodyTargeting.html");
$viewFile = '/var/www/vhosts/vcc_staging/app/View/Layouts/aarp_2023.ctp' $dataForView = array( 'content_for_layout' => '<div class="row twoColumnLayout"> <div class="col-md-8 left-rail"><div class="module clearfix"><div class="ar-basic-box"> <div class="module-spacer"> <header><h1 class="article-headline">Snake Den State Park</h1></header> <div class="row"> <div class="col-sm-6 left module-spacer"> <p> <div> <div>2321 Hartford Avenue</div> <div> <span>Johnston</span>, <span>RI</span> <span>02919</span> </div> </div> </p> <div> <i class="fa fa-external-link-square"></i> <a href="http://www.riparks.com/Locations/LocationSnakeDen.html" target="_blank">Snake Den State Park</a> </div> <div><i class="fa fa-phone-square"></i> 401-222-2632</div> </div> <div class="col-sm-6 module-spacer"> <iframe width="100%" height="220" frameborder="0" style="border:0" src="https://www.google.com/maps/embed/v1/place?key=AIzaSyCU5aZylcrTOLke9e3U0F2mXovlZ4bL8yk&q=Snake+Den+State+Park%2C+2321+Hartford+Avenue%2C+Johnston%2C+RI+02919" allowfullscreen> </iframe> </div> </div> <div class="module-spacer clearfix"> <p style="text-align: justify;">Snake Den State Park History :The State of Rhode Island acquired the land, now known as Snake Den State Park in 1969. It is a combination of farm land and woodland and comprises 744 acres. The prior owners were many generations of the Dame family and, before that the Steere family, an old family throughout Johnston and surrounding towns. DEM’s headquarters for the Parks and Recreation Division is housed in a 22 room former farm house of the Palazzi family.The name, Snake Den, derives from a canyon-like stone fissure located in the park. Like other farms in the Johnston area, the stone in the Snake Den outcrop was quarried for building material for Providence. The actual location of the quarry is on that portion of the property once owned by the Waterman family. Its stone was used in the building of the First Congregational Church in Providence, better known as the First Unitarian Church, designed by John Holden Greene, one the Benefit Street landmarks on historic College Hill. The nearby quarry of Bear Ledge provided the incredible columns for the Providence Arcade of 1828.It is thought that several of the farms including the Steere and Waterman farms were once owned by Moses Brown of Providence. Moses, the youngest of the famous four Brown brothers had removed himself from the family shipping business because the ties to the slave trade offended his Quaker sensibilities. While he is most famous for his financial backing of Samuel Slater’s path-breaking development of the American cotton textile industry at Pawtucket Falls in 1791, it was Moses Brown’s farms in Johnston and surrounding towns which provided the rental income to support Slater. On at least one occasion, Brown complained to Slater that his demand for more and more investment money was ‘spinning all my farms into cloth!’The Snake Den State Park was formally headquartered at 2321 Hartford Avenue, Johnston (route 6 to Greenville Avenue), but the Dame Farm portion of the park anchors the Brown Avenue historic district. Many former farms in the postwar era from 1945 until 1960, whose proximity to Providence were converted to suburban tract housing as Providence lost more population to the surrounding towns from 1950 to 1970 on a percentage basis than any other urban area in the country. Providence lost 90,000 residents out of a population of 250,000. Therefore rescuing open space and preserving part of Rhode Island’s farm history in 1969 was a major accomplishment.Except for the continuous improvements to the Dame Farm aspect of the park, the remaining acreage and woodland has been left much as it was when the park was established. An effort in 2005 to turn a portion of the land into a water park for the Providence metropolitan region was rejected by the Town of Johnston on the basis that such an attraction would create traffic congestion for the town. The current park’s plans are for more limited development of picnic areas and playing fields.</p> </div> <div class="reportthis" style="margin-bottom: 20px;"> <form method="post" action="/johnston-ri/report/place/snake-den-state-park-johnston-ri.html"> <button type="submit" class="btn btnregister pull-right" style="margin-bottom: 10px;">Flag This Place</button> </form> </div> <div class="report_button_message">Please use "Flag This Place" to alert us about content that is inappropriate or needs immediate attention. Nothing you submit will be shared with other site visitors. </div> <style> .report_button_message { color: #333; font-size: 12px; clear: both; } </style> </div> </div> </div><div class="module clearfix"><div class="module-spacer tout-homefit-750"> <a data-formelementid="CSN-LOCAL-HC-PLSK-02272024" href="/johnston-ri/home-and-community/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-HC-PLSK-02272024"><img class="img-responsive" alt="Explore the free AARP HomeFit Guide" title="Explore the free AARP HomeFit Guide" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/touts/HomeFit_750x150.png"></a> </div></div></div> <div class="col-md-4 right-rail thin-rhs"><div class="module clearfix"><!--default--> <!-- module_RHS - AARP Events --> <div class="ar-basic-box module-spacer"> <header> <div class="pull-right"> <a href="/johnston-ri/aarp-events/" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-SEEALL-EVENTS"> <img style="width:30px;" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/template/icons/aarp_event_icon.png" alt="Upcoming AARP Events" /> </a> </div> <h2 class="visible-lg">AARP Events for Johnston</h2> <h2 class="hidden-lg">AARP Events for Johnston</h2> </header> <div class="wrap"> <div class="ar-listing snippet"> <ul class="list"> <li class="item" data-pageindex="1"> <h3 class="topic">Featured Event</h3> <h2 class="title"><a href="/aarp-event/fraud-basics-the-scam-landscape-staying-safe-east-providence-ri-111424-1030-am-et-hqn36rll2xd.html" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-EVENTS-SPOTTING-SCAMS-STAYING-SAFE">Spotting Scams & Staying Safe</a></h2> <p class="time">Thursday, Nov 14, 2024 at 10:30 a.m. ET</p> <p class="venue">East Providence Senior Center (Meeting Room)</p> <p class="loc">East Providence, RI</p> </li><li class="item" data-pageindex="1"> <h3 class="topic">Featured Event</h3> <h2 class="title"><a href="/aarp-event/prepare-to-care-tiverton-ri-11162024-200-pm-et-p4n8v85dbrg.html" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-EVENTS-PREPARE-TO-CARE">Prepare to Care</a></h2> <p class="time">Saturday, Nov 16, 2024 at 2:00 p.m. ET</p> <p class="venue">Tiverton Library (Meeting Room)</p> <p class="loc">Tiverton, RI</p> </li><li class="item" data-pageindex="1"> <h3 class="topic">Featured Event</h3> <h2 class="title"><a href="/aarp-event/six-pillars-of-brain-health-east-providence-ri-1232024-1030-am-et-4xnw54cgr59.html" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-EVENTS-THE-SIX-PILLARS-OF-BRAIN-HEALTH">The Six Pillars of Brain Health</a></h2> <p class="time">Tuesday, Dec 3, 2024 at 10:30 a.m. ET</p> <p class="venue">East Providence Senior Center (Meeting Room)</p> <p class="loc">East Providence, RI</p> </li> </ul> <p><a class="link-red" href="/johnston-ri/aarp-events/" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-SEEALL-EVENTS">View All AARP Events<i class="ml-1 fas fa-chevron-right"></i></a></p> </div> </div> </div> <div aria-hidden="true" class="aarpe-ad-wrapper"> <div class="aarpe-ad en clearfix" id="300x250_53475" data-adsize="300x250"> <script type="text/javascript"> if(typeof AARP.ads !== 'undefined'){ AARP.ads.slots({ id:'300x250_53475', size:'300x250'}); } </script> </div> </div> <div class="card-tout card-dark membership-tout" style="margin:0 0 30px 0;"> <img class="img-responsive image" title="image of two AARP membership cards" alt="image of two AARP membership cards" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/tout-two-cards.png"> <div class="title">Only $12 your first year with Automatic Renewal</div> <ul class="list"> <li>Immediate access to your <a href="https://www.aarp.org/benefits-discounts/">member benefits</a></li> <li>Discounts on travel and everyday savings</li> <li>Subscription to AARP The Magazine</li> <li>FREE second membership</li> </ul> <div class="action"> <a class="btn" href="https://appsec.aarp.org/mem/join?campaignid=UAJFT3&intcmp=LNK-CSN-AARPLOCAL-JRTOUT-RR-A-JOHNSTON-RI">Join AARP</a> <div class="body">Already a member? 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It is a combination of farm land and" name="description"/> <meta content="Snake, Den, State, Park, Johnston, RI" name="keywords"/> <link rel="canonical" href="https://www.americantowns.com/place/snake-den-state-park-johnston-ri.html" /> <meta property="og:url" content="https://vccstaging.local.aarp.org/place/snake-den-state-park-johnston-ri.html"/> <meta name="twitter:card" content="summary_large_image"/> <meta name="twitter:title" content="Snake Den State Park"/> <meta name="twitter:description" content="Snake Den State Park History :The State of Rhode Island acquired the land, now known as Snake Den State Park in 1969. It is a combination of farm land and"/> <meta name="twitter:image" content="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/template/thumbs/generic-icon.jpg"/> <meta property="og:type" content="place"/> <meta property="og:title" content="Snake Den State Park"/> <meta property="og:description" content="Snake Den State Park History :The State of Rhode Island acquired the land, now known as Snake Den State Park in 1969. It is a combination of farm land and"/> <meta property="og:image" content="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/template/thumbs/generic-icon.jpg"/> <meta property="place:location:latitude" content="41.830002"/> <meta property="place:location:longitude" content="-71.538696"/> ', 'title_for_layout' => 'Place Detail - AARP' ) $content_for_layout = '<div class="row twoColumnLayout"> <div class="col-md-8 left-rail"><div class="module clearfix"><div class="ar-basic-box"> <div class="module-spacer"> <header><h1 class="article-headline">Snake Den State Park</h1></header> <div class="row"> <div class="col-sm-6 left module-spacer"> <p> <div> <div>2321 Hartford Avenue</div> <div> <span>Johnston</span>, <span>RI</span> <span>02919</span> </div> </div> </p> <div> <i class="fa fa-external-link-square"></i> <a href="http://www.riparks.com/Locations/LocationSnakeDen.html" target="_blank">Snake Den State Park</a> </div> <div><i class="fa fa-phone-square"></i> 401-222-2632</div> </div> <div class="col-sm-6 module-spacer"> <iframe width="100%" height="220" frameborder="0" style="border:0" src="https://www.google.com/maps/embed/v1/place?key=AIzaSyCU5aZylcrTOLke9e3U0F2mXovlZ4bL8yk&q=Snake+Den+State+Park%2C+2321+Hartford+Avenue%2C+Johnston%2C+RI+02919" allowfullscreen> </iframe> </div> </div> <div class="module-spacer clearfix"> <p style="text-align: justify;">Snake Den State Park History :The State of Rhode Island acquired the land, now known as Snake Den State Park in 1969. It is a combination of farm land and woodland and comprises 744 acres. The prior owners were many generations of the Dame family and, before that the Steere family, an old family throughout Johnston and surrounding towns. DEM’s headquarters for the Parks and Recreation Division is housed in a 22 room former farm house of the Palazzi family.The name, Snake Den, derives from a canyon-like stone fissure located in the park. Like other farms in the Johnston area, the stone in the Snake Den outcrop was quarried for building material for Providence. The actual location of the quarry is on that portion of the property once owned by the Waterman family. Its stone was used in the building of the First Congregational Church in Providence, better known as the First Unitarian Church, designed by John Holden Greene, one the Benefit Street landmarks on historic College Hill. The nearby quarry of Bear Ledge provided the incredible columns for the Providence Arcade of 1828.It is thought that several of the farms including the Steere and Waterman farms were once owned by Moses Brown of Providence. Moses, the youngest of the famous four Brown brothers had removed himself from the family shipping business because the ties to the slave trade offended his Quaker sensibilities. While he is most famous for his financial backing of Samuel Slater’s path-breaking development of the American cotton textile industry at Pawtucket Falls in 1791, it was Moses Brown’s farms in Johnston and surrounding towns which provided the rental income to support Slater. On at least one occasion, Brown complained to Slater that his demand for more and more investment money was ‘spinning all my farms into cloth!’The Snake Den State Park was formally headquartered at 2321 Hartford Avenue, Johnston (route 6 to Greenville Avenue), but the Dame Farm portion of the park anchors the Brown Avenue historic district. Many former farms in the postwar era from 1945 until 1960, whose proximity to Providence were converted to suburban tract housing as Providence lost more population to the surrounding towns from 1950 to 1970 on a percentage basis than any other urban area in the country. Providence lost 90,000 residents out of a population of 250,000. Therefore rescuing open space and preserving part of Rhode Island’s farm history in 1969 was a major accomplishment.Except for the continuous improvements to the Dame Farm aspect of the park, the remaining acreage and woodland has been left much as it was when the park was established. An effort in 2005 to turn a portion of the land into a water park for the Providence metropolitan region was rejected by the Town of Johnston on the basis that such an attraction would create traffic congestion for the town. The current park’s plans are for more limited development of picnic areas and playing fields.</p> </div> <div class="reportthis" style="margin-bottom: 20px;"> <form method="post" action="/johnston-ri/report/place/snake-den-state-park-johnston-ri.html"> <button type="submit" class="btn btnregister pull-right" style="margin-bottom: 10px;">Flag This Place</button> </form> </div> <div class="report_button_message">Please use "Flag This Place" to alert us about content that is inappropriate or needs immediate attention. 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$viewFile = '/var/www/vhosts/vcc_staging/app/View/Layouts/aarp_2023.ctp' $dataForView = array( 'content_for_layout' => '<div class="row twoColumnLayout"> <div class="col-md-8 left-rail"><div class="module clearfix"><div class="ar-basic-box"> <div class="module-spacer"> <header><h1 class="article-headline">Snake Den State Park</h1></header> <div class="row"> <div class="col-sm-6 left module-spacer"> <p> <div> <div>2321 Hartford Avenue</div> <div> <span>Johnston</span>, <span>RI</span> <span>02919</span> </div> </div> </p> <div> <i class="fa fa-external-link-square"></i> <a href="http://www.riparks.com/Locations/LocationSnakeDen.html" target="_blank">Snake Den State Park</a> </div> <div><i class="fa fa-phone-square"></i> 401-222-2632</div> </div> <div class="col-sm-6 module-spacer"> <iframe width="100%" height="220" frameborder="0" style="border:0" src="https://www.google.com/maps/embed/v1/place?key=AIzaSyCU5aZylcrTOLke9e3U0F2mXovlZ4bL8yk&q=Snake+Den+State+Park%2C+2321+Hartford+Avenue%2C+Johnston%2C+RI+02919" allowfullscreen> </iframe> </div> </div> <div class="module-spacer clearfix"> <p style="text-align: justify;">Snake Den State Park History :The State of Rhode Island acquired the land, now known as Snake Den State Park in 1969. It is a combination of farm land and woodland and comprises 744 acres. The prior owners were many generations of the Dame family and, before that the Steere family, an old family throughout Johnston and surrounding towns. DEM’s headquarters for the Parks and Recreation Division is housed in a 22 room former farm house of the Palazzi family.The name, Snake Den, derives from a canyon-like stone fissure located in the park. Like other farms in the Johnston area, the stone in the Snake Den outcrop was quarried for building material for Providence. The actual location of the quarry is on that portion of the property once owned by the Waterman family. Its stone was used in the building of the First Congregational Church in Providence, better known as the First Unitarian Church, designed by John Holden Greene, one the Benefit Street landmarks on historic College Hill. The nearby quarry of Bear Ledge provided the incredible columns for the Providence Arcade of 1828.It is thought that several of the farms including the Steere and Waterman farms were once owned by Moses Brown of Providence. Moses, the youngest of the famous four Brown brothers had removed himself from the family shipping business because the ties to the slave trade offended his Quaker sensibilities. While he is most famous for his financial backing of Samuel Slater’s path-breaking development of the American cotton textile industry at Pawtucket Falls in 1791, it was Moses Brown’s farms in Johnston and surrounding towns which provided the rental income to support Slater. On at least one occasion, Brown complained to Slater that his demand for more and more investment money was ‘spinning all my farms into cloth!’The Snake Den State Park was formally headquartered at 2321 Hartford Avenue, Johnston (route 6 to Greenville Avenue), but the Dame Farm portion of the park anchors the Brown Avenue historic district. Many former farms in the postwar era from 1945 until 1960, whose proximity to Providence were converted to suburban tract housing as Providence lost more population to the surrounding towns from 1950 to 1970 on a percentage basis than any other urban area in the country. Providence lost 90,000 residents out of a population of 250,000. Therefore rescuing open space and preserving part of Rhode Island’s farm history in 1969 was a major accomplishment.Except for the continuous improvements to the Dame Farm aspect of the park, the remaining acreage and woodland has been left much as it was when the park was established. An effort in 2005 to turn a portion of the land into a water park for the Providence metropolitan region was rejected by the Town of Johnston on the basis that such an attraction would create traffic congestion for the town. The current park’s plans are for more limited development of picnic areas and playing fields.</p> </div> <div class="reportthis" style="margin-bottom: 20px;"> <form method="post" action="/johnston-ri/report/place/snake-den-state-park-johnston-ri.html"> <button type="submit" class="btn btnregister pull-right" style="margin-bottom: 10px;">Flag This Place</button> </form> </div> <div class="report_button_message">Please use "Flag This Place" to alert us about content that is inappropriate or needs immediate attention. Nothing you submit will be shared with other site visitors. </div> <style> .report_button_message { color: #333; font-size: 12px; clear: both; } </style> </div> </div> </div><div class="module clearfix"><div class="module-spacer tout-homefit-750"> <a data-formelementid="CSN-LOCAL-HC-PLSK-02272024" href="/johnston-ri/home-and-community/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-HC-PLSK-02272024"><img class="img-responsive" alt="Explore the free AARP HomeFit Guide" title="Explore the free AARP HomeFit Guide" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/touts/HomeFit_750x150.png"></a> </div></div></div> <div class="col-md-4 right-rail thin-rhs"><div class="module clearfix"><!--default--> <!-- module_RHS - AARP Events --> <div class="ar-basic-box module-spacer"> <header> <div class="pull-right"> <a href="/johnston-ri/aarp-events/" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-SEEALL-EVENTS"> <img style="width:30px;" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/template/icons/aarp_event_icon.png" alt="Upcoming AARP Events" /> </a> </div> <h2 class="visible-lg">AARP Events for Johnston</h2> <h2 class="hidden-lg">AARP Events for Johnston</h2> </header> <div class="wrap"> <div class="ar-listing snippet"> <ul class="list"> <li class="item" data-pageindex="1"> <h3 class="topic">Featured Event</h3> <h2 class="title"><a href="/aarp-event/fraud-basics-the-scam-landscape-staying-safe-east-providence-ri-111424-1030-am-et-hqn36rll2xd.html" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-EVENTS-SPOTTING-SCAMS-STAYING-SAFE">Spotting Scams & Staying Safe</a></h2> <p class="time">Thursday, Nov 14, 2024 at 10:30 a.m. ET</p> <p class="venue">East Providence Senior Center (Meeting Room)</p> <p class="loc">East Providence, RI</p> </li><li class="item" data-pageindex="1"> <h3 class="topic">Featured Event</h3> <h2 class="title"><a href="/aarp-event/prepare-to-care-tiverton-ri-11162024-200-pm-et-p4n8v85dbrg.html" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-EVENTS-PREPARE-TO-CARE">Prepare to Care</a></h2> <p class="time">Saturday, Nov 16, 2024 at 2:00 p.m. ET</p> <p class="venue">Tiverton Library (Meeting Room)</p> <p class="loc">Tiverton, RI</p> </li><li class="item" data-pageindex="1"> <h3 class="topic">Featured Event</h3> <h2 class="title"><a href="/aarp-event/six-pillars-of-brain-health-east-providence-ri-1232024-1030-am-et-4xnw54cgr59.html" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-EVENTS-THE-SIX-PILLARS-OF-BRAIN-HEALTH">The Six Pillars of Brain Health</a></h2> <p class="time">Tuesday, Dec 3, 2024 at 10:30 a.m. ET</p> <p class="venue">East Providence Senior Center (Meeting Room)</p> <p class="loc">East Providence, RI</p> </li> </ul> <p><a class="link-red" href="/johnston-ri/aarp-events/" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-SEEALL-EVENTS">View All AARP Events<i class="ml-1 fas fa-chevron-right"></i></a></p> </div> </div> </div> <div aria-hidden="true" class="aarpe-ad-wrapper"> <div class="aarpe-ad en clearfix" id="300x250_53475" data-adsize="300x250"> <script type="text/javascript"> if(typeof AARP.ads !== 'undefined'){ AARP.ads.slots({ id:'300x250_53475', size:'300x250'}); } </script> </div> </div> <div class="card-tout card-dark membership-tout" style="margin:0 0 30px 0;"> <img class="img-responsive image" title="image of two AARP membership cards" alt="image of two AARP membership cards" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/tout-two-cards.png"> <div class="title">Only $12 your first year with Automatic Renewal</div> <ul class="list"> <li>Immediate access to your <a href="https://www.aarp.org/benefits-discounts/">member benefits</a></li> <li>Discounts on travel and everyday savings</li> <li>Subscription to AARP The Magazine</li> <li>FREE second membership</li> </ul> <div class="action"> <a class="btn" href="https://appsec.aarp.org/mem/join?campaignid=UAJFT3&intcmp=LNK-CSN-AARPLOCAL-JRTOUT-RR-A-JOHNSTON-RI">Join AARP</a> <div class="body">Already a member? 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It is a combination of farm land and" name="description"/> <meta content="Snake, Den, State, Park, Johnston, RI" name="keywords"/> <link rel="canonical" href="https://www.americantowns.com/place/snake-den-state-park-johnston-ri.html" /> <meta property="og:url" content="https://vccstaging.local.aarp.org/place/snake-den-state-park-johnston-ri.html"/> <meta name="twitter:card" content="summary_large_image"/> <meta name="twitter:title" content="Snake Den State Park"/> <meta name="twitter:description" content="Snake Den State Park History :The State of Rhode Island acquired the land, now known as Snake Den State Park in 1969. It is a combination of farm land and"/> <meta name="twitter:image" content="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/template/thumbs/generic-icon.jpg"/> <meta property="og:type" content="place"/> <meta property="og:title" content="Snake Den State Park"/> <meta property="og:description" content="Snake Den State Park History :The State of Rhode Island acquired the land, now known as Snake Den State Park in 1969. It is a combination of farm land and"/> <meta property="og:image" content="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/template/thumbs/generic-icon.jpg"/> <meta property="place:location:latitude" content="41.830002"/> <meta property="place:location:longitude" content="-71.538696"/> ', 'title_for_layout' => 'Place Detail - AARP' ) $content_for_layout = '<div class="row twoColumnLayout"> <div class="col-md-8 left-rail"><div class="module clearfix"><div class="ar-basic-box"> <div class="module-spacer"> <header><h1 class="article-headline">Snake Den State Park</h1></header> <div class="row"> <div class="col-sm-6 left module-spacer"> <p> <div> <div>2321 Hartford Avenue</div> <div> <span>Johnston</span>, <span>RI</span> <span>02919</span> </div> </div> </p> <div> <i class="fa fa-external-link-square"></i> <a href="http://www.riparks.com/Locations/LocationSnakeDen.html" target="_blank">Snake Den State Park</a> </div> <div><i class="fa fa-phone-square"></i> 401-222-2632</div> </div> <div class="col-sm-6 module-spacer"> <iframe width="100%" height="220" frameborder="0" style="border:0" src="https://www.google.com/maps/embed/v1/place?key=AIzaSyCU5aZylcrTOLke9e3U0F2mXovlZ4bL8yk&q=Snake+Den+State+Park%2C+2321+Hartford+Avenue%2C+Johnston%2C+RI+02919" allowfullscreen> </iframe> </div> </div> <div class="module-spacer clearfix"> <p style="text-align: justify;">Snake Den State Park History :The State of Rhode Island acquired the land, now known as Snake Den State Park in 1969. It is a combination of farm land and woodland and comprises 744 acres. The prior owners were many generations of the Dame family and, before that the Steere family, an old family throughout Johnston and surrounding towns. DEM’s headquarters for the Parks and Recreation Division is housed in a 22 room former farm house of the Palazzi family.The name, Snake Den, derives from a canyon-like stone fissure located in the park. Like other farms in the Johnston area, the stone in the Snake Den outcrop was quarried for building material for Providence. The actual location of the quarry is on that portion of the property once owned by the Waterman family. Its stone was used in the building of the First Congregational Church in Providence, better known as the First Unitarian Church, designed by John Holden Greene, one the Benefit Street landmarks on historic College Hill. The nearby quarry of Bear Ledge provided the incredible columns for the Providence Arcade of 1828.It is thought that several of the farms including the Steere and Waterman farms were once owned by Moses Brown of Providence. Moses, the youngest of the famous four Brown brothers had removed himself from the family shipping business because the ties to the slave trade offended his Quaker sensibilities. While he is most famous for his financial backing of Samuel Slater’s path-breaking development of the American cotton textile industry at Pawtucket Falls in 1791, it was Moses Brown’s farms in Johnston and surrounding towns which provided the rental income to support Slater. On at least one occasion, Brown complained to Slater that his demand for more and more investment money was ‘spinning all my farms into cloth!’The Snake Den State Park was formally headquartered at 2321 Hartford Avenue, Johnston (route 6 to Greenville Avenue), but the Dame Farm portion of the park anchors the Brown Avenue historic district. Many former farms in the postwar era from 1945 until 1960, whose proximity to Providence were converted to suburban tract housing as Providence lost more population to the surrounding towns from 1950 to 1970 on a percentage basis than any other urban area in the country. Providence lost 90,000 residents out of a population of 250,000. Therefore rescuing open space and preserving part of Rhode Island’s farm history in 1969 was a major accomplishment.Except for the continuous improvements to the Dame Farm aspect of the park, the remaining acreage and woodland has been left much as it was when the park was established. An effort in 2005 to turn a portion of the land into a water park for the Providence metropolitan region was rejected by the Town of Johnston on the basis that such an attraction would create traffic congestion for the town. The current park’s plans are for more limited development of picnic areas and playing fields.</p> </div> <div class="reportthis" style="margin-bottom: 20px;"> <form method="post" action="/johnston-ri/report/place/snake-den-state-park-johnston-ri.html"> <button type="submit" class="btn btnregister pull-right" style="margin-bottom: 10px;">Flag This Place</button> </form> </div> <div class="report_button_message">Please use "Flag This Place" to alert us about content that is inappropriate or needs immediate attention. Nothing you submit will be shared with other site visitors. </div> <style> .report_button_message { color: #333; font-size: 12px; clear: both; } </style> </div> </div> </div><div class="module clearfix"><div class="module-spacer tout-homefit-750"> <a data-formelementid="CSN-LOCAL-HC-PLSK-02272024" href="/johnston-ri/home-and-community/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-HC-PLSK-02272024"><img class="img-responsive" alt="Explore the free AARP HomeFit Guide" title="Explore the free AARP HomeFit Guide" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/touts/HomeFit_750x150.png"></a> </div></div></div> <div class="col-md-4 right-rail thin-rhs"><div class="module clearfix"><!--default--> <!-- module_RHS - AARP Events --> <div class="ar-basic-box module-spacer"> <header> <div class="pull-right"> <a href="/johnston-ri/aarp-events/" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-SEEALL-EVENTS"> <img style="width:30px;" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/template/icons/aarp_event_icon.png" alt="Upcoming AARP Events" /> </a> </div> <h2 class="visible-lg">AARP Events for Johnston</h2> <h2 class="hidden-lg">AARP Events for Johnston</h2> </header> <div class="wrap"> <div class="ar-listing snippet"> <ul class="list"> <li class="item" data-pageindex="1"> <h3 class="topic">Featured Event</h3> <h2 class="title"><a href="/aarp-event/fraud-basics-the-scam-landscape-staying-safe-east-providence-ri-111424-1030-am-et-hqn36rll2xd.html" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-EVENTS-SPOTTING-SCAMS-STAYING-SAFE">Spotting Scams & Staying Safe</a></h2> <p class="time">Thursday, Nov 14, 2024 at 10:30 a.m. ET</p> <p class="venue">East Providence Senior Center (Meeting Room)</p> <p class="loc">East Providence, RI</p> </li><li class="item" data-pageindex="1"> <h3 class="topic">Featured Event</h3> <h2 class="title"><a href="/aarp-event/prepare-to-care-tiverton-ri-11162024-200-pm-et-p4n8v85dbrg.html" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-EVENTS-PREPARE-TO-CARE">Prepare to Care</a></h2> <p class="time">Saturday, Nov 16, 2024 at 2:00 p.m. ET</p> <p class="venue">Tiverton Library (Meeting Room)</p> <p class="loc">Tiverton, RI</p> </li><li class="item" data-pageindex="1"> <h3 class="topic">Featured Event</h3> <h2 class="title"><a href="/aarp-event/six-pillars-of-brain-health-east-providence-ri-1232024-1030-am-et-4xnw54cgr59.html" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-EVENTS-THE-SIX-PILLARS-OF-BRAIN-HEALTH">The Six Pillars of Brain Health</a></h2> <p class="time">Tuesday, Dec 3, 2024 at 10:30 a.m. ET</p> <p class="venue">East Providence Senior Center (Meeting Room)</p> <p class="loc">East Providence, RI</p> </li> </ul> <p><a class="link-red" href="/johnston-ri/aarp-events/" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-SEEALL-EVENTS">View All AARP Events<i class="ml-1 fas fa-chevron-right"></i></a></p> </div> </div> </div> <div aria-hidden="true" class="aarpe-ad-wrapper"> <div class="aarpe-ad en clearfix" id="300x250_53475" data-adsize="300x250"> <script type="text/javascript"> if(typeof AARP.ads !== 'undefined'){ AARP.ads.slots({ id:'300x250_53475', size:'300x250'}); } </script> </div> </div> <div class="card-tout card-dark membership-tout" style="margin:0 0 30px 0;"> <img class="img-responsive image" title="image of two AARP membership cards" alt="image of two AARP membership cards" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/tout-two-cards.png"> <div class="title">Only $12 your first year with Automatic Renewal</div> <ul class="list"> <li>Immediate access to your <a href="https://www.aarp.org/benefits-discounts/">member benefits</a></li> <li>Discounts on travel and everyday savings</li> <li>Subscription to AARP The Magazine</li> <li>FREE second membership</li> </ul> <div class="action"> <a class="btn" href="https://appsec.aarp.org/mem/join?campaignid=UAJFT3&intcmp=LNK-CSN-AARPLOCAL-JRTOUT-RR-A-JOHNSTON-RI">Join AARP</a> <div class="body">Already a member? 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It is a combination of farm land and"/> <meta property="og:image" content="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/template/thumbs/generic-icon.jpg"/> <meta property="place:location:latitude" content="41.830002"/> <meta property="place:location:longitude" content="-71.538696"/> ' $title_for_layout = 'Place Detail - AARP' $asset_version = '230831' $min = true $nowrapper = false $css = '' $highlighting = '<span class="highlighting">Highlighting Johnston</span>' $location = '<a href="/johnston-ri/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-NAV-HOME">Providence, RI</a>' $no_header = false $header_title = '<a href="/johnston-ri/things-to-do/">Places</a>' $header_subtitle = '' $isPR = false $navbar = '<nav class="section" role="button" aria-expanded="false" aria-controls="collapse"> <div class="section-toggle">Sections <i class="fas fa-chevron-down"></i></div> <ul class="secondary-menu" id="secondary-menu" role="menu" aria-busy="true"> <li role="presentation" class=""><a role="menuitem" class="menuitem" href="/johnston-ri/aarp-events/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-NAV-OLE" data-formelementid="LOCAL-LNK-CLK-EVENTS">Online & Local Events</a> </li> <li role="presentation" class="active"><a role="menuitem" class="menuitem" href="/johnston-ri/things-to-do/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-NAV-TTD" data-formelementid="LOCAL-LNK-CLK-THINGSTODO">Things to Do</a></li> <li role="presentation" class=""><a role="menuitem" class="menuitem" href="/johnston-ri/happenings/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-NAV-NF" data-formelementid="LOCAL-LNK-CLK-HAPPENINGS">News Feed</a> </li> <li role="presentation" class=""><a role="menuitem" class="menuitem" href="/johnston-ri/volunteering/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-NAV-VOL" data-formelementid="LOCAL-LNK-CLK-VOLUNTEERING">Volunteering</a> </li> <li role="presentation" class=""><a role="menuitem" class="menuitem" href="/johnston-ri/home-and-community/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-NAV-HC" data-formelementid="LOCAL-LNK-CLK-HC">Home & Community</a> </li> <li role="presentation" class=""><a role="menuitem" class="menuitem" href="/johnston-ri/movies/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-NAV-MFG" data-formelementid="LOCAL-LNK-CLK-MOVIESFORGROWNUPS">Movies for Grownups</a> </li> <li role="presentation" class="more nosep " id="submenu-more"> <span role="menuitem" class="menuitem" data-formelementid="LOCAL-LNK-CLK-MORE">More<i class="fas fa-chevron-down"></i></span> <ul class="secondary-submenu animate slide-in" id="secondary-submenu"> <li role="presentation"><a role="menuitem" class="menuitem " href="/johnston-ri/discounts/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-NAV-LO" data-formelementid="LOCAL-LNK-CLK-OFFERS">Local Offers</a></li> <li role="presentation"><a role="menuitem" class="menuitem " href="/johnston-ri/local-resources/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-NAV-LR" data-formelementid="LOCAL-LNK-CLK-LOCALRESOURCES">Local Resources</a> </li> <li role="presentation"><a role="menuitem" class="menuitem " href="/johnston-ri/jobs/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-NAV-WJ" data-formelementid="LOCAL-LNK-CLK-WORK&JOBS">Work & Jobs</a></li> <li role="presentation"><a role="menuitem" class="menuitem " href="/johnston-ri/events/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-NAV-CC" data-formelementid="LOCAL-LNK-CLK-EVENTS">Community Calendar</a></li> <!-- <li role="presentation"><a role="menuitem" class="menuitem " href="/johnston-ri/healthy-living/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-NAV-HEALTHY_LIVING" data-formelementid="LOCAL-LNK-CLK-HEALTHY_LIVING">Healthy Living</a></li> <li role="presentation"><a role="menuitem" class="menuitem " href="/johnston-ri/arts-entertainment/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-NAV-ARTS_ENT" data-formelementid="LOCAL-LNK-CLK-ARTS_ENT">Arts & Entertainment</a></li> <li role="presentation"><a role="menuitem" class="menuitem " href="/johnston-ri/museums/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-NAV-MUSEUMS" data-formelementid="LOCAL-LNK-CLK-MUSEUMS">Museums</a></li> --> </ul> </li> </ul> </nav>' $header_custom = '' $breadcrumbs = array( (int) 0 => array( 'title' => 'Things to Do', 'slug' => 'things-to-do' ) ) $row = array( 'title' => 'Back to Things to Do', 'slug' => 'things-to-do' ) $i = (int) 0include - APP/View/Layouts/aarp_2023.ctp, line 244 include - APP/View/Layouts/aarp_2023.ctp, line 244 View::_evaluate() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 971 View::_render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 933 View::renderLayout() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 546 View::render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 481 Controller::render() - CORE/Cake/Controller/Controller.php, line 963 AppController::renderPage() - APP/Controller/AppController.php, line 136 PlacesController::display() - APP/Controller/PlacesController.php, line 501 ReflectionMethod::invokeArgs() - [internal], line ?? 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Warning (2): include() [<a href='http://php.net/function.include'>function.include</a>]: Failed opening '/var/www/vhosts/vcc_staging/app/Resource/aarp2_master.resource.footer.root.html' for inclusion (include_path='/var/www/vhosts/vcc_staging/lib:.:/usr/share/pear:/usr/share/php') [APP/View/Layouts/aarp_2023.ctp, line 244]Code Contextinclude (APP . "Resource/aarp2_master.footer.html");
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$viewFile = '/var/www/vhosts/vcc_staging/app/View/Layouts/aarp_2023.ctp' $dataForView = array( 'content_for_layout' => '<div class="row twoColumnLayout"> <div class="col-md-8 left-rail"><div class="module clearfix"><div class="ar-basic-box"> <div class="module-spacer"> <header><h1 class="article-headline">Snake Den State Park</h1></header> <div class="row"> <div class="col-sm-6 left module-spacer"> <p> <div> <div>2321 Hartford Avenue</div> <div> <span>Johnston</span>, <span>RI</span> <span>02919</span> </div> </div> </p> <div> <i class="fa fa-external-link-square"></i> <a href="http://www.riparks.com/Locations/LocationSnakeDen.html" target="_blank">Snake Den State Park</a> </div> <div><i class="fa fa-phone-square"></i> 401-222-2632</div> </div> <div class="col-sm-6 module-spacer"> <iframe width="100%" height="220" frameborder="0" style="border:0" src="https://www.google.com/maps/embed/v1/place?key=AIzaSyCU5aZylcrTOLke9e3U0F2mXovlZ4bL8yk&q=Snake+Den+State+Park%2C+2321+Hartford+Avenue%2C+Johnston%2C+RI+02919" allowfullscreen> </iframe> </div> </div> <div class="module-spacer clearfix"> <p style="text-align: justify;">Snake Den State Park History :The State of Rhode Island acquired the land, now known as Snake Den State Park in 1969. It is a combination of farm land and woodland and comprises 744 acres. The prior owners were many generations of the Dame family and, before that the Steere family, an old family throughout Johnston and surrounding towns. DEM’s headquarters for the Parks and Recreation Division is housed in a 22 room former farm house of the Palazzi family.The name, Snake Den, derives from a canyon-like stone fissure located in the park. Like other farms in the Johnston area, the stone in the Snake Den outcrop was quarried for building material for Providence. The actual location of the quarry is on that portion of the property once owned by the Waterman family. Its stone was used in the building of the First Congregational Church in Providence, better known as the First Unitarian Church, designed by John Holden Greene, one the Benefit Street landmarks on historic College Hill. The nearby quarry of Bear Ledge provided the incredible columns for the Providence Arcade of 1828.It is thought that several of the farms including the Steere and Waterman farms were once owned by Moses Brown of Providence. Moses, the youngest of the famous four Brown brothers had removed himself from the family shipping business because the ties to the slave trade offended his Quaker sensibilities. While he is most famous for his financial backing of Samuel Slater’s path-breaking development of the American cotton textile industry at Pawtucket Falls in 1791, it was Moses Brown’s farms in Johnston and surrounding towns which provided the rental income to support Slater. On at least one occasion, Brown complained to Slater that his demand for more and more investment money was ‘spinning all my farms into cloth!’The Snake Den State Park was formally headquartered at 2321 Hartford Avenue, Johnston (route 6 to Greenville Avenue), but the Dame Farm portion of the park anchors the Brown Avenue historic district. Many former farms in the postwar era from 1945 until 1960, whose proximity to Providence were converted to suburban tract housing as Providence lost more population to the surrounding towns from 1950 to 1970 on a percentage basis than any other urban area in the country. Providence lost 90,000 residents out of a population of 250,000. Therefore rescuing open space and preserving part of Rhode Island’s farm history in 1969 was a major accomplishment.Except for the continuous improvements to the Dame Farm aspect of the park, the remaining acreage and woodland has been left much as it was when the park was established. An effort in 2005 to turn a portion of the land into a water park for the Providence metropolitan region was rejected by the Town of Johnston on the basis that such an attraction would create traffic congestion for the town. The current park’s plans are for more limited development of picnic areas and playing fields.</p> </div> <div class="reportthis" style="margin-bottom: 20px;"> <form method="post" action="/johnston-ri/report/place/snake-den-state-park-johnston-ri.html"> <button type="submit" class="btn btnregister pull-right" style="margin-bottom: 10px;">Flag This Place</button> </form> </div> <div class="report_button_message">Please use "Flag This Place" to alert us about content that is inappropriate or needs immediate attention. Nothing you submit will be shared with other site visitors. </div> <style> .report_button_message { color: #333; font-size: 12px; clear: both; } </style> </div> </div> </div><div class="module clearfix"><div class="module-spacer tout-homefit-750"> <a data-formelementid="CSN-LOCAL-HC-PLSK-02272024" href="/johnston-ri/home-and-community/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-HC-PLSK-02272024"><img class="img-responsive" alt="Explore the free AARP HomeFit Guide" title="Explore the free AARP HomeFit Guide" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/touts/HomeFit_750x150.png"></a> </div></div></div> <div class="col-md-4 right-rail thin-rhs"><div class="module clearfix"><!--default--> <!-- module_RHS - AARP Events --> <div class="ar-basic-box module-spacer"> <header> <div class="pull-right"> <a href="/johnston-ri/aarp-events/" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-SEEALL-EVENTS"> <img style="width:30px;" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/template/icons/aarp_event_icon.png" alt="Upcoming AARP Events" /> </a> </div> <h2 class="visible-lg">AARP Events for Johnston</h2> <h2 class="hidden-lg">AARP Events for Johnston</h2> </header> <div class="wrap"> <div class="ar-listing snippet"> <ul class="list"> <li class="item" data-pageindex="1"> <h3 class="topic">Featured Event</h3> <h2 class="title"><a href="/aarp-event/fraud-basics-the-scam-landscape-staying-safe-east-providence-ri-111424-1030-am-et-hqn36rll2xd.html" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-EVENTS-SPOTTING-SCAMS-STAYING-SAFE">Spotting Scams & Staying Safe</a></h2> <p class="time">Thursday, Nov 14, 2024 at 10:30 a.m. ET</p> <p class="venue">East Providence Senior Center (Meeting Room)</p> <p class="loc">East Providence, RI</p> </li><li class="item" data-pageindex="1"> <h3 class="topic">Featured Event</h3> <h2 class="title"><a href="/aarp-event/prepare-to-care-tiverton-ri-11162024-200-pm-et-p4n8v85dbrg.html" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-EVENTS-PREPARE-TO-CARE">Prepare to Care</a></h2> <p class="time">Saturday, Nov 16, 2024 at 2:00 p.m. ET</p> <p class="venue">Tiverton Library (Meeting Room)</p> <p class="loc">Tiverton, RI</p> </li><li class="item" data-pageindex="1"> <h3 class="topic">Featured Event</h3> <h2 class="title"><a href="/aarp-event/six-pillars-of-brain-health-east-providence-ri-1232024-1030-am-et-4xnw54cgr59.html" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-EVENTS-THE-SIX-PILLARS-OF-BRAIN-HEALTH">The Six Pillars of Brain Health</a></h2> <p class="time">Tuesday, Dec 3, 2024 at 10:30 a.m. ET</p> <p class="venue">East Providence Senior Center (Meeting Room)</p> <p class="loc">East Providence, RI</p> </li> </ul> <p><a class="link-red" href="/johnston-ri/aarp-events/" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-SEEALL-EVENTS">View All AARP Events<i class="ml-1 fas fa-chevron-right"></i></a></p> </div> </div> </div> <div aria-hidden="true" class="aarpe-ad-wrapper"> <div class="aarpe-ad en clearfix" id="300x250_53475" data-adsize="300x250"> <script type="text/javascript"> if(typeof AARP.ads !== 'undefined'){ AARP.ads.slots({ id:'300x250_53475', size:'300x250'}); } </script> </div> </div> <div class="card-tout card-dark membership-tout" style="margin:0 0 30px 0;"> <img class="img-responsive image" title="image of two AARP membership cards" alt="image of two AARP membership cards" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/tout-two-cards.png"> <div class="title">Only $12 your first year with Automatic Renewal</div> <ul class="list"> <li>Immediate access to your <a href="https://www.aarp.org/benefits-discounts/">member benefits</a></li> <li>Discounts on travel and everyday savings</li> <li>Subscription to AARP The Magazine</li> <li>FREE second membership</li> </ul> <div class="action"> <a class="btn" href="https://appsec.aarp.org/mem/join?campaignid=UAJFT3&intcmp=LNK-CSN-AARPLOCAL-JRTOUT-RR-A-JOHNSTON-RI">Join AARP</a> <div class="body">Already a member? 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It is a combination of farm land and" name="description"/> <meta content="Snake, Den, State, Park, Johnston, RI" name="keywords"/> <link rel="canonical" href="https://www.americantowns.com/place/snake-den-state-park-johnston-ri.html" /> <meta property="og:url" content="https://vccstaging.local.aarp.org/place/snake-den-state-park-johnston-ri.html"/> <meta name="twitter:card" content="summary_large_image"/> <meta name="twitter:title" content="Snake Den State Park"/> <meta name="twitter:description" content="Snake Den State Park History :The State of Rhode Island acquired the land, now known as Snake Den State Park in 1969. It is a combination of farm land and"/> <meta name="twitter:image" content="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/template/thumbs/generic-icon.jpg"/> <meta property="og:type" content="place"/> <meta property="og:title" content="Snake Den State Park"/> <meta property="og:description" content="Snake Den State Park History :The State of Rhode Island acquired the land, now known as Snake Den State Park in 1969. It is a combination of farm land and"/> <meta property="og:image" content="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/template/thumbs/generic-icon.jpg"/> <meta property="place:location:latitude" content="41.830002"/> <meta property="place:location:longitude" content="-71.538696"/> ', 'title_for_layout' => 'Place Detail - AARP' ) $content_for_layout = '<div class="row twoColumnLayout"> <div class="col-md-8 left-rail"><div class="module clearfix"><div class="ar-basic-box"> <div class="module-spacer"> <header><h1 class="article-headline">Snake Den State Park</h1></header> <div class="row"> <div class="col-sm-6 left module-spacer"> <p> <div> <div>2321 Hartford Avenue</div> <div> <span>Johnston</span>, <span>RI</span> <span>02919</span> </div> </div> </p> <div> <i class="fa fa-external-link-square"></i> <a href="http://www.riparks.com/Locations/LocationSnakeDen.html" target="_blank">Snake Den State Park</a> </div> <div><i class="fa fa-phone-square"></i> 401-222-2632</div> </div> <div class="col-sm-6 module-spacer"> <iframe width="100%" height="220" frameborder="0" style="border:0" src="https://www.google.com/maps/embed/v1/place?key=AIzaSyCU5aZylcrTOLke9e3U0F2mXovlZ4bL8yk&q=Snake+Den+State+Park%2C+2321+Hartford+Avenue%2C+Johnston%2C+RI+02919" allowfullscreen> </iframe> </div> </div> <div class="module-spacer clearfix"> <p style="text-align: justify;">Snake Den State Park History :The State of Rhode Island acquired the land, now known as Snake Den State Park in 1969. It is a combination of farm land and woodland and comprises 744 acres. The prior owners were many generations of the Dame family and, before that the Steere family, an old family throughout Johnston and surrounding towns. DEM’s headquarters for the Parks and Recreation Division is housed in a 22 room former farm house of the Palazzi family.The name, Snake Den, derives from a canyon-like stone fissure located in the park. Like other farms in the Johnston area, the stone in the Snake Den outcrop was quarried for building material for Providence. The actual location of the quarry is on that portion of the property once owned by the Waterman family. Its stone was used in the building of the First Congregational Church in Providence, better known as the First Unitarian Church, designed by John Holden Greene, one the Benefit Street landmarks on historic College Hill. The nearby quarry of Bear Ledge provided the incredible columns for the Providence Arcade of 1828.It is thought that several of the farms including the Steere and Waterman farms were once owned by Moses Brown of Providence. Moses, the youngest of the famous four Brown brothers had removed himself from the family shipping business because the ties to the slave trade offended his Quaker sensibilities. While he is most famous for his financial backing of Samuel Slater’s path-breaking development of the American cotton textile industry at Pawtucket Falls in 1791, it was Moses Brown’s farms in Johnston and surrounding towns which provided the rental income to support Slater. On at least one occasion, Brown complained to Slater that his demand for more and more investment money was ‘spinning all my farms into cloth!’The Snake Den State Park was formally headquartered at 2321 Hartford Avenue, Johnston (route 6 to Greenville Avenue), but the Dame Farm portion of the park anchors the Brown Avenue historic district. Many former farms in the postwar era from 1945 until 1960, whose proximity to Providence were converted to suburban tract housing as Providence lost more population to the surrounding towns from 1950 to 1970 on a percentage basis than any other urban area in the country. Providence lost 90,000 residents out of a population of 250,000. Therefore rescuing open space and preserving part of Rhode Island’s farm history in 1969 was a major accomplishment.Except for the continuous improvements to the Dame Farm aspect of the park, the remaining acreage and woodland has been left much as it was when the park was established. An effort in 2005 to turn a portion of the land into a water park for the Providence metropolitan region was rejected by the Town of Johnston on the basis that such an attraction would create traffic congestion for the town. The current park’s plans are for more limited development of picnic areas and playing fields.</p> </div> <div class="reportthis" style="margin-bottom: 20px;"> <form method="post" action="/johnston-ri/report/place/snake-den-state-park-johnston-ri.html"> <button type="submit" class="btn btnregister pull-right" style="margin-bottom: 10px;">Flag This Place</button> </form> </div> <div class="report_button_message">Please use "Flag This Place" to alert us about content that is inappropriate or needs immediate attention. 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