View source for Prospect Terrace Park

{{Infobox park
| name = Prospect Terrace Park
| image = Prospect_Terrace_Park_sunset.jpg
| photo_width =
| photo_alt =
| photo_caption = The park after 2018 renovations
| type =
| location = [[College Hill, Providence, Rhode Island|College Hill]], [[Providence, Rhode Island|Providence]], [[Rhode Island]]
| coords = {{Coord|41.8298224|-71.4070008|type:landmark|display=inline,title}}
| area =
| created = {{Start date|1869}}
| operator =
| visitation_num =
| status =
}}
'''Prospect Terrace Park''' is a park located on Congdon Street in the [[College Hill, Providence, Rhode Island|College Hill]] neighborhood of [[Providence, Rhode Island]]. The park was founded in 1869, on land that was given to the city by residents of the neighborhood.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Hutchins Cady |first1=John |title=Highroads and Byroads of Providence |date=1948 |publisher=Akerman-Standard Press |location=Providence, RI |quote=Prospect Terrace was established 1869 on land given by Isaac Hale and others, enlarged 1925-27. Roger Williams Monument was dedicated in 1939 (Ralph T. Walker, arct.)(15) |author-link=John Hutchins Cady}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Annual report of the City Auditor showing the appropriations, receipts and expenditures of the city of Providence, for the year ending September 30, 1913 with a schedule of the city property|url=https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=uiug.30112108224517;view=1up;seq=140|website=Hathi Trust Digital Library|publisher=City Auditor|accessdate=24 April 2017|location=Providence, RI|pages=130|quote=PROSPECT TERRACE, on Congdon, opposite Cushing street, being lot No. 215 on plat 10, and containing 11,996 square feet. This lot was purchased by citizens of the second ward, and presented to the city Nov. 27, 1869, to be kept open as a public park.(130)}}</ref> The park is known as "The Jewel of the City"<ref name="ProMo1216">{{cite news|last1=Pacitti|first1=Tony|title=Fundraising Has Begun for Improvements to Prospect Terrace|url=http://providenceonline.com/stories/prospect-terrace-park-improvement-project,21641|accessdate=12 September 2017|publisher=Providence Monthly|date=22 December 2016}}</ref> for its dramatic elevated view of [[Downtown, Providence, Rhode Island|Downtown Providence]].
Author and Providence native [[H. P. Lovecraft]] frequently visited the park.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Rubinton|first1=Noel|title=How to Find the Spirit of H.P. Lovecraft in Providence|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2016/08/14/travel/hp-lovecraft-providence.html?_r=0|accessdate=24 April 2017|agency=The New York Times|date=August 10, 2016}}</ref>
==History==
A statue of theologian [[Roger Williams (theologian)|Roger Williams]] (designed by architect [[Ralph Thomas Walker]]) was built in the late 1930s after Williams' descendant Stephen Randall made a deed of gift for the monument. It was dedicated on 29 June 1939.<ref name=SIRIS/> The approximate 15-foot tall granite statue commemorates Williams' founding of the state of [[Rhode Island]] and his promotion for religious freedom, and the statue depicts Williams gazing over the city.<ref name=SIRIS>{{cite web|title=Art Inventories Catalog (Smithsonian)|url=http://siris-artinventories.si.edu/ipac20/ipac.jsp?&profile=all&source=~!siartinventories&uri=full=3100001~!12789~!0#focus|accessdate=1 February 2013}}</ref>
In 1939, Roger Williams' remains were moved into a tomb that lies directly beneath the statue. His body had been overgrown by the roots of an apple tree next to his original grave. The roots grew over the form of his body so that it looked similar to a human form. The remainder of his bones were reburied in a bronze casket and placed beneath his statue in Prospect Terrace. The so-called "Williams Root" is preserved and is now on display at the [[John Brown House Museum]] on the East Side of Providence.<ref>{{cite web|title=Roger Williams Root|url=http://www.atlasobscura.com/places/roger-williams-root|website=Atlas Obscura|accessdate=24 April 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last1=Bryant|first1=Sparkle|title=The Tree Root That Ate Roger Williams - Roger Williams National Memorial (U.S. National Park Service)|url=https://www.nps.gov/rowi/learn/news/the-tree-root-that-ate-roger-williams.htm|accessdate=24 April 2017|publisher=National Park Service|date=October 19, 2015|language=en}}</ref>
In 2006, vandals removed all five fingers of the statue's left hand, along with the thumb of his right hand. The damage was repaired in 2010.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Hurst|first1=Catherine B.|title=Roger Williams at Prospect Terrace Park|url=http://choosing-providence.blogspot.com/2011/08/roger-williams-at-prospect-terrace-park.html|website=Choosing Providence|accessdate=12 September 2017}}</ref>
In December 2016, efforts were started by the College Hill Neighborhood Association to raise funds for improvements and restoration to the park.<ref name="ProMo1216" /> New benches, signs, and landscaping, were planned.<ref name="ProMo1216" /> Previously, the park had not been renovated for 28 years.<ref name="ProMo1216" />
==The view==
[[File:Admiring_the_view_at_Prospect_Terrace_Park.jpg|thumb|right|Admiring the view]]
Prospect Terrace Park attracts visitors and locals alike for its panoramic view of the city. From the elevated location of the park, one can see many of Providence's most prominent landmarks, from [[Providence Place Mall]] to the [[Rhode Island State House]] to the Meeting House of the [[First Baptist Church in America]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Prospect Terrace Park Offers Commanding Views of Providence, R.I. |url=http://visitingnewengland.com/blog-cheap-travel/?p=256 |website=The Thrifty New England Traveler |accessdate=5 September 2019 |date=15 August 2010}}</ref> The park's west-facing view makes it ideal for taking in the sunset.
==Gallery==
<gallery>
File:Providence, from Prospect Terrace 1886.jpg|1886 engraving
File:Roger Williams state in Prospect Terrace Park side view.jpg|Statue of Roger Williams by Ralph Thomas Walker
File:RIstatehouse.JPG|View of the State House from the park
File:ProvidenceProspectParkWPA3539Eagle.jpg|A plaque embedded in the sidewalk of the page contains a [[Works Progress Administration|WPA]] logo
File:Roger Williams statue in Prospect Terrace (62440).jpg|Roger Williams statue
File:Prospect Terrace Park after snowfall, Providence, Rhode Island.jpg|After a snowfall
File:Roger-williams-drone.jpg|Drone photo
</gallery>
==References==
{{Reflist}}
{{commonscat|Prospect Terrace Park (Providence, Rhode Island)}}
{{Parks in Providence}}
[[Category:Geography of Providence, Rhode Island]]
[[Category:Protected areas of Providence County, Rhode Island]]
[[Category:Tourist attractions in Providence, Rhode Island]]
[[Category:1867 establishments in Rhode Island]]
{{RhodeIsland-geo-stub}}
{{ProvidenceRI-stub}}