Walk the PVD Crosstown Trail: A 13-Mile Urban Hike!

Inspired by the San Francisco Crosstown Trail, this walking route traverses both quiet neighborhoods and a variety of parks across the city of Providence. The first half of the trail (7.5 miles, 2.5 hours) starts at Neutaconkanut Hill and proceeds through Merino Park, the Woonasquatucket River Greenway, and Pleasant Valley Parkway to the downtown River Walk. We’ll stop for lunch at the Van Leesten Pedestrian Bridge (bring your own lunch!). You can peel off there, or continue for the second half of the trail (5.5 miles, 2 hours), a surprisingly easy walk from downtown to Roger Williams Park, Columbia Park, and the gorgeous Urban Coastal Greenway at Fields Point. Cross the city by foot for a whole new perspective on PVD!

Your guides: Justin Boyan, Providence dad and co-founder of Climate Action Rhode Island; Traci Picard, Public Historian, and Sarah Zurier, an Architectural Historian for the R.I. Historical Preservation & Heritage Commission. Organized by Providence Preservation Society.

This is a rigorous urban hike. Please bring water and wear comfortable walking/hiking shoes, and be prepared to be flexible with restroom stops as we will rely on using restrooms en route as needed in coffee shops and restaurants.

Parking and transportation information:

• Please meet in the parking lot of the Vincent Igliozzi Recreation Center, 675 Plainfield Street at 8:45am on the morning of the hike. The Center has ample public parking.
• We will begin our hike from Neutaconkanut Hilland proceed to the Van Leesten Pedestrian Bridge for our brown-bag lunch (lunch is not provided).
• Those doing the half-day hike who parked on Plainfield Street who would like to get back to their cars after lunch have two options: take a bus from Kennedy Plaza or take an Uber and submit a receipt (if you would like to be reimbursed) to PPS following the walk at [email protected]. Bus lines have different Saturday schedules; options include Bus 19, which lets off across the street from the Igliozzi parking lot or Bus 17, which lets off a 10-min walk from the parking lot (20-24 min bus ride).
• Those doing the full-day hike who parked on Plainfield Street can take an Uber back to the Igliozzi parking lot with PPS staff and the hike guide (20-min drive).

Host or Publisher Providence Preservation Society