About Ballard Park
Ballard Park is a wild and natural open space of 13 acres located near the intersection of Hazard and Wickham Roads, directly
across from Rogers High School in Newport, Rhode Island. The
park was deeded as a gift to the City of Newport in 1990 by
Carol C. Ballard. It has been designated by deed as an area
to be used for conservation, education and passive recreation.
Its unique features include two 19th century quarries and a
diverse variety of native and introduced plan species.
Ballard Park allows for unobtrusive observation of the
abutting 54 acre wildlife refuge by providing paths suitable
for walking and bird watching.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Carol C. Ballard, President
Misi Narcizo, Vice President
Jill Spear, Treasurer
Colleen McGrath, Secretary
Frank Amaral
Linda Lee Butler
Meg Edenbach
Mary Ellen Grosvenor
Brian Kuchar
The park is remarkably diverse. It forms an unfragmented block
of habitat and open space with the contiguous 54 acre
wildlife refuge, Gooseberry Beach, Newport Country Club
and Brenton Point State Park.
In the Spring, Cooper Hawks and Northern Harriers (both
state listed species) scan the meadow quarry for prey. Deer
use the tall grass of the quarry meadow to bed and turtles
amble into the meadow to lay their eggs in the summer months.
In addition to high rocky ledges and thickly wooded ravines,
the park is home to a seasonal pond and several small
streams. Parts of Ballard park have spectacular views out
to the Atlantic Ocean.
Native trees, glades of ferns and wildflowers are also present creating glimpses of Aquidneck Island's 17th century past. In fact, in a city which has been continuously occupied since the earliest Colonial days, Ballard park contains unusually pristine landscape which has both esthetic and historical value.
