[5] During the 19th century, Providence was growing some of the largest manufacturing plants in the country, including Brown & Sharpe, Nicholson File, and Gorham Silverware.

In return, the ships brought raw materials including cotton, wool, leather, iron, hides, and other products.

Architectural historian William McKenzie Woodward believed the effect was poorly mitigated by the pedestrian walkway.

[8] In the 1960s and 1970s, Providence underwent a concerted beautification effort, including, finally, the transformation of India Point into a public park dedicated in 1974.

The long period of neglect is still reflected in the condition of the Green Jacket Shoal, the section of the Providence River between Fox Point and Riverside, which has accumulated a century's worth of debris.

[15][16][17][18][19][20] India Point Park is the setting for many events, including an annual Fourth of July concert and fireworks display,[21] Cape Verdean Independence Day Festival (July,[22] said to be the oldest in the nation[23]), the Rhode Island Seafood Festival in September,[24] movie nights, poetry readings,[25] and various others.

The new linear park pedestrian bridge over Interstate 195 is six times wider than the one it replaced, and connects to East Street.

It features benches, decorative lighting and landscaping of flowers, shrubs and small trees on the bridge itself, and a stair/ ramp system on the park side.

[26] Other amenities include the Hilton Garden Inn Hotel, the Marston Boathouse, and a sports fields on the east end of the park.