Coastal Rhode Island is full of great outdoor areas to visit. You’ll rarely have to travel far from your new home to check out a park or beach, and many of these facilities are surprisingly quiet in the summer.
These outdoor spaces provide excellent places to meet with friends, take the kids for a few hours to blow off some steam, or participate in a sport or recreational activity.
West Kingston Park sits in a prime area just west of the University of Rhode Island. It’s also a 15-minute walk from Kingston Station and its surrounding industrial area.
There’s nothing but farmland and forests around the park, despite this location, creating a peaceful atmosphere for visitors.
Here’s a look at what you can expect when visiting West Kingston Park.
Sports Courts and Fields
Adults will generally visit West Kingston Park for the sports fields and courts.
First, the park has two softball diamonds that host league games during the spring and summer. These fields feature bleachers, outfield fences, and lighting for night games, making them one of South County’s best public softball facilities.
Next, the park has two tennis courts. These courts are free for visitors to use most of the time unless a private group has booked them. Generally, if a court is open, it’s okay for you to use it.
The same goes for the basketball courts, which are right next to the tennis area. This park has one full-sized court and two smaller ones to use while you’re there. There are six hoops in total, providing plenty of space.
Finally, the park has two beach volleyball courts. These facilities are popular with locals in the summer because they make organizing an impromptu game with friends easy.
Overall, West Kingston Park has pretty much everything you’ll need for an enjoyable afternoon in the outdoors.
The Playground
If you visit West Kingston Park with your kids, you’ll surely end up at the playground. Fortunately, it’s an excellent facility, although it is a little small.
The playground has a farm theme, which fits in with the surrounding area, and features a couple of slides, climbing equipment, and swings. This portion of the park is enclosed, as well, making it easier to keep an eye on your children.
There are some picnic tables nearby, too, so you can pack a meal and make a day of your time at the park.
Park and Ride
Although West Kingston Park only has a small parking lot, finding a space is rarely an issue. The lot is also notable because it’s a Park and Ride, so you can leave your vehicle there all day and take the bus to work or school.
Park and Ride lots aren’t overly popular in this part of Rhode Island but can save students significant money because they won’t have to pay for on-campus parking during the school year.
Nearby Attractions
Of course, if you’re spending the entire day at West Kingston Park, you might be wondering what else is available in the area.
For starters, if you are hungry and didn’t pack a picnic, you can always head down the street to Tilly’s Cheesesteaks. As you might expect from its name, Tilly’s specializes in Philadelphia-style cheesesteaks, but you can also get burgers, sandwiches, fried chicken, mac and cheese, and veggie dishes.
Another popular venue is Shaidzon Beer Company, a craft brewery with rotating taps and cans of beer for sale. They also have a small number of snacks available if you want a little something to eat. The brewery is a hit with softball players after their games.
The Courthouse Center for the Arts is a small theater located a few blocks from West Kingston Park. The facility hosts many cover bands and presents an affordable way to get out and enjoy some live music.
Living in West Kingston
Although West Kingston isn’t the most exciting community in South County by any stretch, it has many positives that make it an excellent place to live.
This village, which is part of South Kingstown, provides a quiet reprieve from the bustle of the Wakefield-Peacedale area and tends to have larger lots where you have a bit of privacy from your neighbors. It’s also close to the University of Rhode Island, and its location near the I-95 means that downtown Providence is only about half an hour away for commuters.
These aspects come together to make West Kingston one of South County’s most desirable places to buy a home.