The Boesch Farm is the crown jewel of East Greenwich's Land Trust properties. It was bought by the town in 2001 and placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2003. It dates back to Richard Briggs c. 1704.
The farm is now a place for quiet walks as well as home to Ledge Ends Produce, which grows several different vegetables and fruits. Interested buyers can find the produce at area farmers markets or can become community supported agriculture (CSA) subscribers.
The property serves as the southern anchor of the town's greenway system, an interconnected network of protected open spaces that preserve the town's rural and scenic character, as well as the environmental quality of East Greenwich.
The 245-acre heavily wooded park borders historic and picturesque Brickyard Pond, the East Bay Bike Path and the Bayside YMCA at the end of West Street. It includes a picnic area, benches, grills, a baseball field and toilet facilities. Bikers, joggers and walkers can enjoy the views and wildlife from the bike path on the edge of the pond. Fishing is allowed in season. A dirt walking path that starts at the picnic area cuts through the grass and winds along the edge of the shallow pond, where you can easily launch canoes, kayaks, rowboats and even some sailboats. There is plenty of free parking available at the end of a gravel roadway that starts by the welcome sign at the ball field.
Established in 1950, the Norman Bird Sanctuary is a non-profit wildlife refuge that plays a vital role in environmental education and "place-based science" in Rhode Island. The 325-acre refuge is the largest open space preserve in Newport County. It is home to over seven miles of hiking through diverse habitats as well as many special and educational events throughout the year.
The expanse that is the George B. Parker Woodland Wildlife Refuge preserves a part of Rhode Island's flora, fauna and history. Hikers and wildlife enthusiasts can bask in this refuge's forest and fields or marvel at the sporadic cairn, an archaic stone landmark. Guests also can explore an 18th century house and barn. The barn is the park's nature center. This park does not allow alcoholic beverages, biking, camping, fishing, geocaching, horseback riding, hunting, letterboxing, littering, pets, picnicking or sample collection of any kind.
This 125-acre park is behind the town's Parks and Recreation Department headquarters on Frenchtown Road. At the front is Frenchtown Pond, a popular fishing spot on opening day where the Mawney and Frenchtown brooks meet. Behind the pond are numerous hiking and walking trails. One of them leads to a 19th-century mill site on Mawney Brook.
