Access: At the corner of Farnum Pike (Route 104) and Esmond Street in Esmond; parking lot is at the west end of the park along Farnum Pike.

• Google Map - Esmond Park

Features: Arching bridge, small waterfall, picnic tables, benches, river, cattail marsh, walking path, World War I monuments.

Long known as the Esmond Mills Park and Alexander M. Balfour Square-(a sign still identifies it as such), this spot in the heart of Esmond was greatly enlarged and enhanced in 1989 with town and Open Space funds. Now about 4 acres, it is a place for quiet walking or relaxing conversation.

The park retains some of its old charm with plaques on boulders that honor employees of Esmond Mills who served in World War 1 and other men and women in the village who saw service in that war, and now it adds pleasing new touches with a shady flowery sitting area and a walking path. Another boulder plaque says the park is dedicated to the late Leo Bouchard, “Mr. Conservation’, who grew up in the area.

Visitors can now cross the Woonasquatucket River on an arching footbridge just above a curving stone structure that creates a scenic little waterfall in the river. Just above the waterfall is a small cattail marsh that attracts numerous birds in the spring and summer. On the far side of the river, the walking path runs on what was the old Providence to Springfield railroad bed that once served the mills. In the future, this segment of the path may become part of a bicycle trail that will link with other bike paths in Providence and Lincoln.