Wilcox Park, Victorian botanical garden in downtown Westerly, United States
Wilcox Park is a 14-acre botanical garden in downtown Westerly featuring diverse plantings including specimen trees, shrubs, flowering gardens, and specialized collections like dwarf conifers. The grounds showcase landscaped areas with water features such as a koi pond and perennial borders arranged across multiple sections.
The grounds were established in 1898 by Harriet Wilcox as a memorial to her husband Stephen, an industrial inventor and business co-founder whose work shaped manufacturing innovation. The original site underwent significant landscape redesign in the late 1920s and early 1930s, adding structural elements to its design.
The grounds serve as a gathering place for the community, hosting major events like the annual concert series that draws thousands of visitors each year. Local residents and guests alike use the open spaces for performances, celebrations, and moments of everyday leisure throughout the seasons.
The park is open daily from dawn until 9 pm with free entrance and multiple entry points throughout downtown. Walking paths throughout the grounds allow visitors to explore all sections at their own pace regardless of the season.
The park features stonework crafted from local granite that was incorporated during landscape work in the late 1920s and early 1930s by a notable designer. These stone elements remain an overlooked detail that demonstrates masonry skills of the period and adds textural depth to the grounds.
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