The Town of North Kingstown’s Veterans Memorial Park, centrally located across Boston Neck Road from the historic Town Hall, has benefitted from the camaraderie and hard work of many residents, municipal staff members, and community-based organizations, coupled with generosity from several local benefactors upon approval and acceptance from Town Council with support from the Town Manager.

What was once a well-intentioned but overlooked small public space dedicated as Veterans Memorial Park in November of 2007, has transformed into a beautiful permanent tribute to late local service members from many generations. The overhaul began in late summer 2024, with significant land clearing and beautification projects undertaken by members of the Department of Public Works. Clearing overgrown shrubs, weeds and the planting of new grass allowed them then to unearth an existing brick pathway bordering the park’s Boston Neck Road frontage. Soon thereafter, in September 2024, WWII veteran and centenarian George Silva generously donated a 20’ nautical flagpole for display of an American flag flanked by a POW/MIA flag and a Rhode Island state flag, installed by DPW. 

Spearheading the shared vision of the park’s renovation was retired U.S. Navy Commander Randy Wietman, current Historic Wickford (HistWick) President, who worked alongside Town Council members including fellow veterans Matthew McCoy, and Commander David Ainslie, of VFW Post-152. Together, they enabled the relocation of the Never Forget Memorial Garden and marker from Wickford Village’s Updike Park to a prominent location within the park. The Never Forget Memorial Garden is a tribute to the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Arlington National Cemetery, intended “for those that have no other place to mourn and remember loved ones that served and sacrificed.”

Photo below shows the latest addition to the Wickford Walk Series. It celebrates NK’s rail history. More specifically, the Wickford Depot which was a stop for both the Sea View Trolley and the Newport and Wickford Railroad & Steamboat Company. The Wickford Depot, which was once located in the center of what is now Veteran’s Memorial Park, is now long gone but the original location and story are nicely captured in the new sign. HistWick commissioned Guy Cassaday to do an original painting for this sign. The digitized version is incorporated into the sign, and the original now hangs in the Town Hall with all other originals commissioned by Histwick.