Greystone Mill Pond

41º51'57.96" N    71º29'34.66" W   See this location in: Google Maps   Map Server   Acme Maps

This is a site for launching hand-carried boats such as canoes or kayaks.

Comments & Overview:

This boat launch is at a small town park in Johnston on Greystone Mill Pond, which is on the main stem of the Woonasquatucket River. This site provides a good take out if you are paddling down the river from Georgiaville or Esmond. You can also put in here and paddle 5/8 of a mile or so up the narrow, winding pond (stay right initially) until you get to where there is too much current to paddle against, and then turn around and paddle back down to where you started. The pond basically follows the old river channel and only looks pond-like right near the boat launch and the park. The shoreline of the pond is a mix of marshy woods and houses. The area is often rich with bird life, from water birds to herons to warblers and other small birds.

It is not possible to paddle downstream from this site. There is no good access to the river below the dam, there is a mill just downstream from here that spans the river and on piers that often completely blocks passage down the river with trapped brush, and just below the mill there is a Superfund site that includes the river and means recreational use of the river in the Centerdale area is both unwise and prohibited.

This site provides access to the following water bodies in the Woonasquatucket River watershed: Greystone Mill Pond.

Location:

Alternate Site Name: Cricket Park

Town: Johnston

Nearest Town Center: Centerdale

Driving Landmarks: From I-295 north or south take exit 7A for Route 44 and North Providence. This will put you on Route 44 east (Putnam Pike). Go 1 mile and turn left onto Angell Avenue at the blinking light. There is a Mobil station on the corner. Do not be confused by the fact that on the other side of Putnam Pike at this intersection there is a sign for Serrel Sweet Road. Go 0.2 miles on Angell Avenue and turn left onto Riverside Avenue at the stop sign. At this turn Cricket Park will be in front of you. After turning onto Riverside Avenue you can park along the guard rail next to the park or continue to the far end of the park and make a very sharp turn onto a rough gravel road that leads down to a small parking lot that is a little closer to the launch. If you park on the street please be careful not to block the road. It is too narrow in places to allow for safe parking. The canoe and kayak launch is in the corner of the park beyond the small playground.

Access & Waters:

Water 'Features' At Site: dam, pond

Note: Because one boat launch can access, say, both a lake and a river or both the upstream and downstream portions of a river, not all paddling trips at a given site will necessarily encounter all of the features listed.

Type of Access: Boat launch for hand carried boats

ADA Accessible Boat Launch? no

Shoreline: Gravel and semi-paved slope leading to the water. The shoreline is a bit rough and irregular as is the pond bottom. The pond bottom gets mucky in places.

Float/Dock: no

Approximate Length of Carry between Car Access and Water: 150 feet

Parking:

Parking: other, 30 spaces

ADA Accessible Parking Spaces? no

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