The park is named after Samuel Slater, a famous American industrialist who constructed America's first water-powered textile mill in Pawtucket.

The land of the original Daggett farm bore little resemblance to the park that exists today.

The heavy underbrush on higher ground was also cleared out, while the established pines and maples were carefully preserved.

At the same time, hundreds of oak and pine saplings were set out in selected areas, and grass was coaxed to grow once more on the abandoned fields.

The result of these programs is a park which today displays a nearly even balance between grassy fields and open woods.