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Veterans Memorial Park - Eastern Side

Barrington, Town of Barrington

2.5 miles of trail

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Very Easy

Trails that are smooth and relatively level with no steps, no roots, stones or uneven ground. These may be paved, crushed stone, continuous boardwalk and similar surfaces. These trails have a route that is quite obvious such as a single point to point trail or an easy loop or network of trails.

Easy

Relatively flat and smooth trails with a route that is quite obvious such as a single point to point trail or an easy loop or network of trails.

Moderate

May have a few hills or steep sections and multiple surface types including rocks and roots. Trails are generally well-marked but following them requires a trail map.

Difficult

Strenuous trails, trail systems that mostly involve multi-mile loops and trails that are narrow and may have obstacles such as stream crossings or rocky areas, some trails are less well marked.

Click on the "Trail Map (PDF)" button to download a PDF of the trail map that you can print and take with you on the trail.

Avenza maps are special, free maps that you can use in the Avenza app on your smart phone. These maps let you see your location on the map as you walk. Download the Avenza App for free in the Apple App Store or on Google Play

Click on the Avenza Trail Map button to "purchase" the free map for this trail from the Avenza map store. If this is your first time, Avenza will ask you to set up an account to check out. However, all Avenza trail maps listed on ExploreRI are free.

In Rhode Island the primary hunting seasons typically run from the second Saturday in September to the last day of February and from the third Saturday in April to the last day in May, however this can vary from year to year and depends on what game is being hunted. During hunting season you should wear at least 200 square inches (a hat OR a vest) of blaze orange. During shotgun deer season, which is typically in December, you should wear at least 500 square inches of blaze orange (a hat AND a vest). For more information see the RI DEM website.

What’s There:

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Established in 1946 as a public recreation and conservation area by the Town of Barrington, the park was named to honor veterans. The park land stretches over 230 acres including the 84-acre pond named Brickyard because this was the site of the local brick-making industry started in 1720 by Matthew Watson and continued until 1943. The excavated clay beds eventually filled with water from underground springs forming the beautiful pond. Connected to Narragansett Bay by a canal, the area is an important herring spawning ground.

Recent improvements at the park are the work of a partnership between the Town of Barrington including the Conservation Commission and the Parks and Recreation Commission, the Barrington Land Conservation Trust, the Bayside YMCA, the Barrington Preservation Society and the Boy Scouts; with assistance from the National Park Service River and Trails Program. We are still working to improve the trail system. If you are interested in volunteering, please contact the Town Planner at 401-247-1900. If you would like to be notified of upcoming guided walks and projects, you may also contact the Barrington Land Conservation Trust at info@blct.org.

In springtime, you will hear spring peepers. During the spring herring run, ospreys and sometimes bald eagles can be seen fishing from the pond. In summer, dragonflies are common and the air is filled with the fragrance of native summersweet (clethra). Near dawn or dusk you may hear or see screech owls and great horned owls. Each season and time of day offers something to see.

The 'Green Trail' walk is an easy figure-8 trail slightly more than 1 mile in length -- allow 20 to 30 minutes. The path may be wet in some sections after heavy rain or spring thaw, but hiking shoes are not needed; sneakers are fine. This interesting trail includes foot bridges across several slow-moving streams. This is a great walk for young families on foot, but trails would not be easily passable by stroller. This shady wooded trail passes fresh water wetlands, red maple swamp and vernal pools. More information and photos are presented at each trailhead kiosk. It is amazing that you can be completely surrounded by woods in such a central and convenient location.

See the trail map for details on the various trails in the park. The trail map is also posted on the kiosks at the trailheads.

Fishing, in season, is permitted per state regulations, at Brickyard Pond that is stocked with trout. Boat access is limited to electric and non-motorized boats.

There are no restrooms and no drinking water or trash facilities. Please help keep our park cleaner by carrying out all items you bring and any litter you find. Fires, hunting and camping are prohibited.

Swimming is strictly prohibited due to hazardous underwater structures. Ice skating on the pond is also strictly prohibited due to unstable ice caused by salt water and springs. (In season, outdoor skating is available on the rink in the western side of the park, off Middle Highway at Legion Way.)

Please report downed trees and other park issues to 401-247-1907.

Town of Barrington: Public Beaches & Parks

Dogs: Veterans Memorial Park is an excellent place to walk with your dog. Dogs must be on leash at all times. Waste must be picked up; no waste cans are provided at the park.

Horses: No accommodations are available for horses and riders.

Bicycles: Yes, only on designated trails.

Skiing/Snowshoeing: Nearly level trails in most sections make Veterans Memorial Park an excellent location for beginners to snow shoe and cross country ski whenever there is snow.

Other Amenities: Amenities include picnic tables, bicycle racks, and trail head kiosks with Veterans quotes, Brickyard and natural history and photos.

Getting There:

Main Eastside (Green Trail) Trailhead

Google Maps is the mapping system used on the new ExploreRI maps and shows the trailhead located on a terrain view, a street map or an aerial photograph. Clicking on this link will take you to the full Google Maps website, which is not part of ExploreRI.org.
Acme Maps shows the trailhead located on a topographic map. The Acme Maps website is not part of ExploreRI.org.

Driving Landmarks: From County Road, turn onto Maple Ave heading west; then turn left onto West Street. The Town/Bayside YMCA parking area is on the left, just after you cross the East Bay Bike Path. If the park gate is open, you may continue past the YMCA parking lot to a smaller parking lot 1/4 mile ahead. On the way you will pass the trailhead for the Green Trail (at the double kiosk).

Parking: Yes: , 100 spaces, no overnight parking

ADA Accessible Parking Spaces? No

Coordinates: 41° 44.159' N    71° 18.754' W   See this location in: Google Maps   Acme Maps


RIPTA Bus 60: use bus stop on County Road at the East Bay Bike Path/Barrington Shopping Center �- an approximate 1/2 mile level walk on Bike Path to the "Green Trail" trailhead near main park entrance. Other trailheads can be found along the Bike Path (see trail map).

The East Bay Bike Path offers convenient access to the eastern side of the park. Non-motorized bikes are permitted on designated trails and bikes may be locked at the available bike racks. To get to the park from the bike path, go about 500 feet south on West Street from where it crosses the bike path.


 

good place

Submitted by: eedkde; October 3, 2023; 11:57 am

im doing this for a spanish project looks cool tho

Rating:

starstarstarstarstar

Birding

Submitted by: Cheryl Maini; June 12, 2018; 9:34 pm

I was so happy to see an American Redstart bird for the first time here today. I'm not sure if there is another place to post bird sightings, oh, and the baby osprey sitting stop his nest while mom and dad hunted, was stunning!

Rating:

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This site report was last updated on February 11, 2020

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