It had been the family farm and was the last of the original land granted to Roger Williams in 1638 by Canonicus, chief of the Narragansett tribe.

[3] From at least 1915 to about 1949, the park contained a half-mile racetrack that ran from Elmwood Avenue to Broad Street.

[6] In June 2017, a dedicated bike and pedestrian lane was added to Frederick Green Memorial Boulevard as part of these renovations,[7] although this change was opposed by some Cranston residents,[8] including Cranston mayor Allan Fung.

[10][11] Designed by INFORM studio, the center is intended to increase community access to the park.

[11] The center provides information about public events, amenities, and services in Roger Williams Park and in the surrounding neighborhood.